Goji Berry Nutritional Facts

To understand goji berry nutritional facts you must first understand where goji berry comes from.

Also known as the wolfberry, goji berries originate from the Tibetan Himalaya Mountains. They have a reddish-orange colour and they are shrivelled or wrinkled much the same way raisins are. They are rich in nutrients and have gained massive popularity over the past decade. The nutritional facts of goji berry have led them to be called a super fruit.

When breaking down the nutritional facts about goji berry is it no wonder that they have been used for thousands of years in the subtropical regions of China, Mongolia and the Himalaya Mountains by traditional healers. They use the goji berry to treat a variety of health issues.*

If discussing goji berry nutritional facts, one must first look at the antioxidant properties of goji berry.

The goji fruit is rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins C, E and A. Goji berries have 500 times more vitamin C per weight than an orange. They also have on average more beta-carotene than carrots.

The combination of these two facts, along with the high content of flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids gives goji berries strong antioxidant properties that have many health benefits. Some of these health benefits supporting healthy immune systems and provide and antioxidant support*, support ocular health*, and rid our bodies of free radicals.

The building block of our bodies is made up of protein, but saying that the protein is, all the same, would be incorrect. The protein that is the building block of our bodies, the structure of the muscles, tendons, glands, organs, nails and hair all stem from amino acids.

Amino acids are the intermediates in metabolism and provide the structure for our bodies. There are also different types of amino acids. Some amino acids our bodies can produce from dietary sources. These types of amino acids are referred to as nonessential amino acids. The second type of amino acids cannot be produced by our bodies and they are called essential amino acids.

With regards to goji berries, they contain 19 different amino acids, including 8 of the essential amino acids. Thus the importance of consuming goji berries on a regular basis. The goji berry is an excellent source of protein, so good in fact that it is almost a complete source of protein.

Even though goji berries are small, they have a large list of vitamins and minerals. Goji berries contain B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin as well as 22 trace minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, selenium and phosphorus. A quarter cup of goji berries also has more iron than the same amount of spinach.

In the same quarter cup of goji berries, you would receive 24 percent of the recommended daily intake of potassium, 100 percent intake of iron, copper, riboflavin and 18 percent of zinc. It can it clear that goji berries contains a vast array of essential vitamins and minerals for your health.

While goji berry is like most fruits and contains sugar, it also contains something much more than simple carbohydrates. Goji berries contain eight polysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates. Polysaccharides are a primary source of dietary fibre as they are long-chain sugar molecules.

The polysaccharides found within goji berries have many health benefits in addition to providing important dietary fiber. The polysaccharides assist in strengthening immunity*, support digestive function*, lower the pH of the body, boost energy levels* and support cardiovascular function.* The polysaccharides content within goji berry is very unique among fruits found in nature. This is another reason why goji berries are considered super fruits.

In addition to its antioxidant properties, the vitamins and minerals and the polysaccharides found within goji berry there are still more nutrients that are contained within this tiny fruit.

Additional nutrients comprising phytochemicals, essential and nonessential fatty acids, and pigments are also found within goji berries. Goji also has beta-sitosterol, which further assists in cardiovascular function* as well as supporting a normal libido.* One last note about goji berries is that they also exhibit antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, which make it a great topical treatment for things such as mild burns, bug bites and other skin irritations.*

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.