Why has wolfberry become the "top trend" in the health industry?

What are goji berries?

Goji berries are native to Asia and are fresh, oval, orange-red berries. Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, grow on Lycium barbarum, a plant in the nightshade family. Dried goji berries are probably more familiar to consumers, looking like red raisins and tasting a bit like sweet cranberries. In addition to dried goji berries, there are also many ways to consume goji berries, such as goji berry powder and goji berry juice, which can add nutritional value to your diet in more diverse ways.

Possible health benefits of goji berries

Possible benefits for longevity

Goji berries have long been considered to have longevity benefits in Asian countries. In the Western world, goji berries are becoming increasingly popular, especially among senior eaters who are conscious of nutrition and health.
Like many other fruits, goji berries contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, which may have great health benefits. As a berry, goji berries provide a lot of protein and a variety of amino acids. Specifically, goji berries contain all eight amino acids that are essential to the human diet. Goji berries are also a special form of dietary fiber and a good source of various phytochemicals such as carotenoids and polyphenols.
Eating goji berries not only provides a lot of nutrients to the body, but also may have beneficial effects on overall health.

Possible benefits for blood glucose control

Human studies have shown that eating goji berries, under a reasonable dietary structure, may help optimize blood glucose and blood cholesterol levels, control blood pressure, relieve inflammation, and may help regulate oxidative stress biomarkers and cardiovascular health markers. Generally, the daily intake of goji berries can be between 14-30 grams, or about 3 to 6 tablespoons of dried goji berries. The results of several studies on goji berries are impressive. For example, in a 16-week controlled trial, 40 middle-aged and elderly people added 15 grams of dried goji berries to their main meals every day. The researchers observed several biomarkers such as vascular tone, blood fat mass levels, and blood pressure. Compared with the control group, these markers showed significant improvement in the group eating goji berries.

Possible Benefits for Oxidative Protection

The researchers noted that the combination of fruit and herbal phytochemicals may have a better oxidative protection effect than the intake of single phytochemicals through their synergistic effects.
One of the major diseases associated with oxidative damage is age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The macula is the area of ​​the retina responsible for fine vision. AMD has become a major cause of blindness in adults. The onset of AMD is associated with a decrease in the levels of two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, in the body.
AMD can be predicted by measuring the biomarker macular pigment optical density (MPOD), which reflects the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula. Since wolfberry is a source of zeaxanthin, one study examined the effects of wolfberry intake on macular pigment optical density and carotenoid levels in the skin of healthy individuals. In this study, 27 subjects aged 45 to 65 years were divided into two groups and consumed either 28 grams of wolfberry or a dietary supplement containing 6 mg of lutein and 4 mg of zeaxanthin (LZ) five times a week for 90 days. After 90 days, the macular pigment optical density of the wolfberry group increased significantly. In contrast, the macular pigment optical density of the LZ group did not change. The subjects who consumed wolfberry also had a significant increase in carotenoids in their skin, while the LZ group did not change. These results suggest that eating wolfberry may provide better protection against age-related macular degeneration caused by damage to the macula.

Possible benefits in delaying aging

The potential anti-aging effects of wolfberry are very attractive. Although there are many compounds known to delay aging, such as carotenoids and polyphenols (including flavonoids) and other phytochemicals, wolfberry is unique in its special dietary fiber content and key anti-aging compounds. 5 Studies show that these dietary fiber compounds may help protect against oxidation and may help regulate the body's defense system and cell protection.
In China, wolfberries have been prized since ancient times for their anti-disease and anti-aging effects, and Chinese medicine also uses wolfberries to improve vision and liver and kidney function. These applications do have some scientific basis. In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 60 healthy elderly subjects aged 55 to 72 years took 120 ml of wolfberry juice (equivalent to at least 150 grams of fresh fruit) daily for 30 days and showed that their body's defenses were strengthened and their overall sense of well-being was significantly improved. They also experienced less fatigue and showed a trend of improving short-term memory and attention. The placebo group did not change any parameters. The results of the trial suggest that the intake of wolfberry juice or dried wolfberries may have a role in delaying aging.