A food that nourishes both the liver and kidneys.

Introduction: Goji berry is a common traditional Chinese medicine that is both edible and medicinal, with effects such as nourishing the liver and kidneys, nourishing blood and brightening the eyes, and preventing aging and anti-aging. Modern medical research has found that goji berries also have the effect of protecting the liver and preventing fatty liver. Goji berries contain an active ingredient—betaine, which is effective in treating liver diseases. Betaine is abundant in the leaves, fruits, and root bark. Pharmacological experiments have shown that betaine can inhibit the deposition of fat in liver cells and promote the regeneration of liver cells.

For patients with liver diseases, the betaine in goji berries can prevent excessive fat storage in the liver, which has the effect of preventing and treating fatty liver. The chlorophyll contained in goji leaves also helps the liver detoxify and can improve liver function. Therefore, patients with chronic liver diseases, especially those with fatty liver, might consider consuming goji berries regularly.

Goji and Walnut Porridge

How to Eat Goji Berries

Taking goji berries is suitable in all four seasons. They can be taken regularly like ordinary food by being added to tea, porridge, soups, and dishes, without the drawbacks of being greasy or causing internal heat. In spring, they can be taken alone or boiled with Astragalus root. In summer, they are suitable for brewing with chrysanthemums, honeysuckle, and crystal sugar to relieve eye fatigue. In autumn, they are suitable for making soups with snow pears, lilies, tremella, and hawthorn. In winter, they are suitable for cooking porridge with longans, red dates, and Chinese yam.

1. Use 3 grams of black tea and 20 grams of goji berries, steeped in boiling water to make goji berry tea.

2. You can steep 20 goji berries and 5 dried chrysanthemums together in water.

3. Use 15 grams of tremella and 25 grams of goji berries, simmer with an appropriate amount of water to make a thick juice, then add 20 grams of honey to make goji tremella soup. Take it every other day, mixed with warm water.

Generally speaking, it is more appropriate for healthy adults to eat about 20 grams of goji berries per day. Goji berries should be eaten regularly and not in large quantities at once. The most suitable people to eat goji berries are those with a weak constitution and poor resistance. Only by eating a little every day can you see the effect.

When you soak goji berries in water or cook them in soup, you cannot fully absorb the nutrients by only drinking the soup water. Because factors like water temperature and soaking time affect the release of medicinal components, only some of them are released into the soup. To better achieve the effect, it is best to eat the goji berries in the soup as well. Chewing goji berries directly allows for more complete absorption of nutrients. You can rinse the goji berries with water and chew them, but the dosage should be halved.

Chinese Yam and Pork Rib Soup with Goji Berries

Contraindications for Consumption

Because goji berries have a significant effect of warming the body, people who have a cold, fever, inflammation, or diarrhea should best avoid them. At the same time, goji berries also have a stimulating effect on the nervous system, so they are not suitable for people with hypersexuality. In addition, goji berries have a high sugar content, with 19.3 grams of sugar per 100 grams. Diabetics should use them with caution and not excessively.

Pumpkin and Millet Porridge with Goji Berries