Chinese people still see goji berries as a health supplement, but foreigners have already elevated them to a "superstar" food. From salads and cakes to fried rice, the ways to eat them are incredibly varied.
Recently, the British newspaper The Guardian dedicated a special feature to goji berries, reporting that as a traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries have won high praise from Western gourmets. Why have goji berries become a global favorite? What are their health benefits?
Thousand-year-old goji berries become a new global favorite
As early as 2012, American media featured a recipe specifically for goji berries. It mentioned that goji berries are rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, which can boost metabolism. In an instant, goji berries became a trendy and healthy favorite, appearing in fruit salads and summer drinks. It's not uncommon for foreigners to use goji berries as health food. British netizens have even creatively "developed" goji berry masks, believing they can detoxify and beautify the skin, giving it a healthy glow.
Foreigners find goji berries very useful, drinking them in water every day or eating them as a snack, thinking they are magical with many benefits. They even coined the term "Goji Berry," and many fashion bloggers eat them daily and invent new ways to consume them.
In China, we usually drink goji berries in water or add them to soups. Some people also like to eat them directly, just grabbing a handful whenever they feel like it. However, goji berries are generally a favorite among middle-aged and older people. Young people who don't focus on health rarely eat them.
Why are goji berries so popular?
1. Kidney Tonification
Goji berries have been a renowned remedy for kidney health since ancient times. In the Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong used a paste of goji berries to treat eye diseases. In the Tang Dynasty, Sun Simiao used goji berries with other herbs to make liver-tonifying pills to treat liver meridian deficiency and blurred vision. Also in the Tang Dynasty, Li Ting's "Medical Introduction" included the Five-Seed Progeny Pill, made with goji berries and dodder seeds in a honey pill, taken with light salt water to treat male impotence, premature ejaculation, infertility, premature graying of hair, and urinary dribbling. Modern medical experiments on mice have also shown that goji berries have a unique effect in promoting kidney function.
2. Preventing Hair Loss and Promoting Hair Growth
Since hair growth is closely related to kidney health and blood circulation, and goji berries are excellent for tonifying the kidneys and promoting blood circulation, they are also one of the best remedies for preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth. Drinking goji berry water is very suitable for people with hair loss, as it can effectively improve the body's internal circulation and create a natural and healthy environment for hair growth.
3. Enhancing Immunity
Goji berries can comprehensively enhance the body's immune system and are very effective in inhibiting tumor growth and cell mutation. They also have a protective and promoting effect on the body's five major organs and blood circulation, making them very suitable for people with weak constitutions and poor resistance.
4. Protecting the Liver and Lowering Blood Pressure
The liver is the primary site for synthesizing cholesterol and neutral fats. Substances in goji berries, such as organic germanium, can protect the liver, inhibit fat accumulation in the liver, promote the activation of liver cells, and repair damaged liver cells.
5. Inhibiting Allergic Reactions
Research indicates that goji berries can enhance the phagocytic action of reticular cells, promote the growth of Lactobacillus, and regulate the immune response to alleviate allergy symptoms. They have an inhibitory effect on allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, and asthma.
Honey, Jujube, and Goji Berry Tea
Recommended Goji Berry Folk Remedies
Treating dyslipidemia: Prepare a mixture with goji berries,冬青子 (Dong Qing Zi), and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Take it twice a day, 6g each time, for 4-6 weeks as one course of treatment.
Treating morning sickness during pregnancy: Use 50g of goji berries and 5-10g of山茶根 (Shan Cha Gen). Steep in hot water and drink frequently while warm until the symptoms subside.
Treating atrophic gastritis: Dry goji berries, take 20g daily, chewed on an empty stomach in two divided doses. Two months is one course of treatment, which can help in the recovery of atrophic gastritis.
Treating impotence: Use 30-60g of goji berries and 500g of white liquor. Soak the goji berries in the liquor for 15 days, then take 5-10ml twice a day. This can treat impotence accompanied by blurred vision, soreness in the lower back and knees, and can also improve fitness and longevity.
Treating dry mouth at night: Chewing goji berries can treat dry mouth caused by reduced saliva secretion.
Honey-tree tea