| For a berry with such an intimidating name, the | | | | daily wolfberry serving (1.3 micrograms) provides |
| wolfberry certainly has a lot going for it. | | | | the complete daily requirement for our bodies, |
| Wolfberry comes from the Mandarin name Gou qi | | | | whereas soybeans and blueberries contain only |
| zi ("goo-chee-zee"), a red berry from the | | | | trace levels of this important mineral. |
| Solanaceae nightshade family that includes | | | | 7. Vitamin C: A universal antioxidant vitamin |
| tomato, eggplant, chili pepper, and potato. | | | | protecting other antioxidant molecules from free |
| In popular English, gou qi zi (literally 'wolf'+ | | | | radical damage, the vitamin C content in |
| 'energy'+ 'berry') has become "goji." For at least | | | | wolfberries (20 mg/100 grams) is comparable to |
| 2000 years, the wolfberry has grown wild in China | | | | an equal weighting of fresh oranges, blueberries or |
| and been used in common recipes and traditional | | | | soybeans. |
| Chinese medicine. Eighteenth century Chinese | | | | Phytochemicals |
| farmers nicknamed gou qi zi "wolfberry" when | | | | Wolfberries contain dozens of phytochemicals |
| they saw wolves feasting among the berry-laden | | | | whose health-enhancing properties are under |
| vines during late summer at prime harvest time. | | | | scientific study. Three phytochemicals of particular |
| Smart mammals! | | | | interest include: |
| The Chinese revere the wolfberry as a national | | | | Beta-carotene: A carotenoid pigment in orange-red |
| treasure regarded as among the most | | | | foods like wolfberries, pumpkins, carrots and |
| nutrient-dense of the nation's plants. This premise | | | | salmon, beta-carotene is important for synthesis |
| has stimulated scientific investigation about its | | | | of vitamin A, a fat-soluble nutrient and antioxidant |
| potential health benefits and systematic cultivation, | | | | essential for normal growth, vision, cell structure, |
| commercialization, and now increasing export to | | | | bones and teeth and healthy skin. Wolfberry's |
| first-world countries mainly in Europe and the US. | | | | beta-carotene content per unit weight (7 mg/100 |
| A significant source of macronutrients | | | | grams) is among the highest for edible plants. |
| The wolfberry contains significant amounts of our | | | | Zeaxanthin: Wolfberries are an extraordinary |
| body's daily macronutrient needs, including | | | | source for this carotenoid that plays an important |
| carbohydrates, proteins, fat and dietary fiber. The | | | | role as a retinal pigment filter and antioxidant. |
| content of a wolfberry consists of 68% | | | | Wolfberries contain 162 mg/100 grams. |
| carbohydrates, 12% proteins, and 10% each of | | | | Polysaccharides: Long-chain sugar molecules |
| fiber and fat, giving a total caloric value of 370 | | | | characteristic of many herbal medicines like |
| per 100-gram serving. | | | | mushrooms and roots, polysaccharides are a |
| Soybean, another ancient Chinese plant often | | | | signature constituent of wolfberries, making up |
| touted as one of the world's most complete | | | | 31% of pulp weight in premium quality wolfberries. |
| foods, is comparable across macronutrients. | | | | Polysaccharides are a primary source of |
| Although wolfberries and soybeans are similar in | | | | fermentable fiber in our body's intestinal system. |
| macronutrient content, wolfberries provide a | | | | During colonic metabolism, fermentable or "soluble |
| significantly higher source of calories as energy | | | | fibers" yield short-chain fatty acids which are |
| from carbohydrates (soybeans = 173 calories). | | | | known to: |
| Blueberries, by contrast, do not have as much | | | | 1. Improve the health of the colon epithelial lining |
| macronutrient or caloric value. | | | | 2. Enhance mineral uptake |
| The wolfberry seeds are equally beneficial, and | | | | 3. Stabilize blood glucose levels |
| contain polyunsaturated fats like linoleic (omega-6) | | | | 4. Lower pH and reduce colon cancer risk |
| and linolenic (omega-3) acids. | | | | 5. Stimulate immune functions |
| The wolfberry's big story on micronutrients | | | | Polysaccharides are also known to help in |
| Wolfberry's diverse and high concentration of | | | | antioxidant activity and defending against |
| micronutrients has earned it accolades as an | | | | threatening oxidants. |
| exceptional health food. At least 11 essential | | | | Functional Food and Beverage Applications |
| minerals, 22 trace minerals, 7 vitamins and 18 | | | | Wolfberries, which are prized for their color and |
| amino acids define its extraordinary micronutrient | | | | nut-like taste, are cultivated for a variety of food |
| richness, with examples below: | | | | and beverage applications within China. In addition, |
| 1. Calcium: The primary constituent of teeth and | | | | an increasingly amount is also used for export as |
| bones, calcium also has a diverse role in soft | | | | dried berries, juice and powders of pulp. Not |
| tissues where it is involved in cardiac, | | | | surprising, a major effort is underway in Ningxia, |
| neuromuscular, enzymatic, hormonal, and | | | | China to process wolfberries for "functional" wine. |
| transport mechanisms across cell membranes. | | | | Despite no "hard" evidence from clinical research, |
| Wolfberries and soybeans contain 112 mg and 102 | | | | the myths of wolfberry's traditional health benefits |
| mg of calcium per 100 grams serving, | | | | endure, including positive effects related to:o |
| respectively, providing about 8-10% of our | | | | Longevityo Aphrodisiao Analgesiao Antiviral |
| required daily intake. | | | | conditionso Immune-stimulating propertieso |
| 2. Potassium: An essential electrolyte and enzyme | | | | Muscular strengtho Energyo Vision health |
| cofactor, dietary potassium can lower high blood | | | | In laboratory and preliminary human research to |
| pressure. By giving us about 24% our daily needs, | | | | date, wolfberries have shown potential benefits |
| (1132 mg/100 grams), wolfberries are an excellent | | | | against:o Cardiovascular and inflammatory |
| source of potassium, providing more than twice | | | | diseaseso Some forms of cancero Diabeteso |
| the amount than soybeans. | | | | Premature agingo Memory deficitso Vision |
| 3. Iron: An oxygen carrier in hemoglobin, iron also | | | | degenerationo Lung disorderso Other diseases of |
| is a cofactor for enzymes involved in numerous | | | | oxidative stress |
| metabolic reactions. When intake is deficient, low | | | | Summary |
| iron levels cause iron deficiency anemia, a | | | | Although not adequately demonstrated yet in |
| condition that affects millions of children worldwide. | | | | published research, a synergy of antioxidant |
| Wolfberry's exceptional iron content is twice that | | | | carotenoids (primarily beta-carotene and |
| provided by soybeans, often regarded as the | | | | zeaxanthin) with polysaccharides suggest that |
| best plant source of iron. | | | | wolfberries are an exceptionally rich antioxidant |
| 4. Zinc: Essential for making proteins, DNA and the | | | | food source. |
| functions of more than 100 enzymes, zinc is | | | | Micronutrient density, combined with key health |
| involved in critical cell activities such as membrane | | | | phytochemicals like carotenoids and |
| transport, repair and growth, especially in infants. | | | | polysaccharides, give wolfberries their remarkable |
| The zinc found in wolfberries (2 mg/100 grams) | | | | nutritional qualities. All things considered, it's no |
| has a high content (double the amount of | | | | wonder this berry is vying for honors as the |
| soybeans), that meet 20% of our daily | | | | most nutritious plant food on Earth. |
| requirements. | | | | Expand your health horizons, try wolfberries! |
| 5. Selenium: Sometimes called the "antioxidant | | | | Reading |
| mineral", selenium is often included in supplements. | | | | Wolfberry data from independent contract |
| Selenium has unusually high concentration in | | | | laboratories, courtesy of Rich Nature Nutraceutical |
| wolfberries (50 micrograms/100 grams), almost | | | | Labs, Seattle; blueberries and soybeans, World's |
| enough for our daily dietary intake, and much | | | | Healthiest Foods, |
| more than blueberries and soybeans, which | | | | Gross PM, Zhang X, Zhang R. Wolfberry: Nature's |
| contain 8 micrograms or less per 100 grams. | | | | Bounty of Nutrition and Health, Booksurge |
| 6. Riboflavin (vitamin B2): An essential vitamin | | | | Publishing, North Charleston, 2006, ISBN |
| supporting energy metabolism, riboflavin is needed | | | | 1-4196-2048-7 |
| for synthesizing other vitamins and enzymes. A | | | | Copyright 2006 Berry Health Inc. |