As the saying goes: "Eating goji berries throughout the four seasons can make one's life span as long as heaven and earth." This indicates that goji berries can be consumed year-round, and regular consumption can promote longevity. Goji berries are an excellent tonic that can clear the liver and brighten the eyes, nourish yin and moisten the lungs, and nourish the kidneys and benefit essence.
People often use them to make tea, add to soups, soak in wine, or cook with them. Ba Yi Nian nutritionists point out that drinking goji berry tea has different effects in different seasons. In winter, when the weather is cold and people need to ward off the cold, an appropriate amount of goji berries can be soaked in wine and can be consumed after 7 days of soaking. Alternatively, drinking goji berry tea can also nourish yin to resist cold and moisten the lungs to combat dryness.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that drinking goji berry tea has four major health benefits.
First, it whitens and beautifies the skin, and has anti-aging effects. This is also why women like to drink goji berry tea. This is because the β-carotene content in goji berries is higher than in carrots, the vitamin C content is higher than in oranges, and the iron content is higher than in beef.
Second, it is beneficial for sleep and improves physical constitution.
Third, it nourishes yin to brighten the eyes and reduces liver fire. People who often use computers are prone to eye fatigue; drinking goji berry tea can nourish yin and brighten the eyes. When the weather is hot, drinking it can clear liver fire.
Fourth, drinking goji berry tea regularly can strengthen vital energy, nourish qi and blood, and also enhance yang, earning it the nickname "natural Viagra".
Natural β-carotene has anti-aging, anti-cancer, and skin damage prevention effects from sun exposure. Therefore, women should often drink goji berry tea.
However, although goji berries are beneficial, they are not suitable for everyone and have side effects. There are also contraindications for drinking goji berry tea. Goji berries are "contraindicated for those with external pathogens, excess heat, weak spleen with dampness, or diarrhea" and should be used with caution by those with "declining original qi, yin deficiency, and seminal leakage." This means that patients with weak spleen and stomach, diarrhea, or inflammatory fever should not consume goji berries indiscriminately, as it will not provide nourishment and may instead be detrimental to health.
Thus, drinking goji berry tea offers excellent health benefits. However, the effect of goji berries to warm the body is strong, so people with high blood pressure, a very irritable temperament, or those who usually consume a large amount of meat should also avoid consuming large amounts of goji berries.