(NaturalNews) With the superfood movement in full force, it sometimes becomes difficult to know which ones you should be incorporating into your diet on a daily basis to strive for optimal health. What is not in question, however, is the healing power of goji berries and the fact that they are at the top of the list for superfood healing powers and should be consumed on a consistent basis for optimal health.
Goji berry nutritional profile
Goji berries are a nutrient-dense superfood that contain many health promoting factors, including:• 18 amino acids, including all eight essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.
• Six essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).
• 21 trace minerals including calcium, copper, germanium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, selenium and zinc.
• Vitamin A, C, B-complex and E.
• A superior form of a wide range of antioxidants, including zeaxanthin, SOD (superoxide dismutase), polysaccharides, germanium and beta-carotene.
With a nutrient profile as strong as goji berries, it makes perfect sense to add them to your diet to increase your intake of various vitamins, minerals and other factors that are supportive of good health.
Areas goji berries support in the body
Goji berries support, improve and revitalize many functions of the body, including the following areas:• Cardiovascular
• Pancreas
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Immune
• Eyes
• Circulatory
• Muscles
• Mood
• Libido
• Skin
Goji berries for vision
The orange pigment in goji berries is a very powerful antioxidant called zeaxanthin that is easily absorbed and goes directly to our eyes and liver. It actually coats the lining of our eyes and keeps them youthful.
Goji berries as a beauty food
Goji berries are known as a beauty food in China and Asia, and eating an ounce or two a day can keep your skin silky smooth and clear as porcelain. Goji berries are rich in phospholipids, the main lipid component of all cell membranes.
Goji berries as a good source of betaine
Betaine is a phytonutrient that has a wide range of benefits in the body, including calming the nerves, enhancing memory, protecting the liver and especially protecting the cardiovascular system. Studies indicate that betaine helps reduce potentially toxic levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is produced by the body and can be harmful to blood vessels.
Goji also helps with cholesterol, inflammation and blood sugar and has been affectionately called the "happy fruit" due to its ability to enhance people's moods.
How to enjoy goji berries
Goji berries are a very versatile food and can be used in a variety of ways, including the following:• Cereal
• Trail mix
• Salads
• Smoothies
• Tea
• Baking (it has been proven that cooking does not destroy the antioxidant activity)
They can also be easily eaten on their own as a simple, powerful snack with their mild, tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour. A good quality goji berry will be moist like a raisin, but unfortunately, most on the market today are dried, which affects their palatability and digestibility.
For all these reasons, goji berries are one superfood I would suggest that you consider taking on a consistent basis to keep your body well mineralized and detoxified while supporting the key organs associated with optimal health. Their superior antioxidant activity will help negate oxidization related to poor diets, pollution, radiation and overexposure to the sun's rays.
Besides that, they are downright tasty.
Sources for this article include:
http://altmedicine.about.com
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.dragonherbs.com
About the author:
Motivated by his own story of being sick and crippled at age 30 to healthy and pain free 5 years later, Derek is an expert in helping people get on track in a fraction of the time it took him on his own journey. Actively engaged in the research of natural healing for over 6 years, Derek has spent over 3000 hours studying and collaborating with top minds in nutrition and utilizes that extensive knowledge to deliver protocols that help people overcome their own health challenges.
Derek is currently a Master Health Coach and writer of over 200 natural health articles, many of which are featured at his primary website, http://healingthebody.ca/ and his Healing the Body Facebook page.
Derek specializes in specific nutritional and wellness programs, from simple lifestyle transitions to complete healing protocols. Check out his popular free health consult.
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