| Recent years have seen a big buzz word | | | | more antioxidants than any other fruit, |
| around the healthy food market: Tibetan | | | | much more beta carotene than carrots, |
| or Himalayan Goji Berries. One can | | | | and much More iron than spinach. |
| easily see a red berry tree with snow | | | | Following are the short summary of its |
| mountain background in the goji berry | | | | benefits: anti-cancer, anti-aging, |
| website or in the packaging label. The | | | | weight loss, boost libido, enhancing |
| author has done a lot of research in | | | | immune system etc. |
| this area, and would like to unveil the | | | | For some strange reasons goji berries |
| "Emperor's New Clothes" for Tibetan Goji | | | | are mostly marketed in Europe and USA as |
| Berries. | | | | Tibetan Goji Berries or Himalayan Goji |
| Let's first look at what goji berries | | | | Berries. If you tell Chinese people that |
| are, then we combine "Tibetan" or | | | | you want Tibetan Goji Berries, however, |
| "Himalayan" word with it. Goji berries | | | | they will be completely confused, as |
| are also known as Lycium barbarum, or | | | | they all know goji berries are not from |
| wolfberries. There is also a misspelling | | | | Tibet or Himalaya, instead, they come |
| "gogi berries". It is a dark-red | | | | from northwest part of China: Ningxia |
| coloured sweet-taste dried fruit, and | | | | province. In fact there are also growth |
| has similar size of raisin. It is even | | | | of goji berries in Julu Hebei province |
| hailed by some newspapers as super fruit | | | | as well. But It doesn't mean that there |
| just because of its various benefits. | | | | is no presence of goji berries in Tibet, |
| First of all they are from China, and | | | | but means that there is no commercial |
| have been grown and consumed in China | | | | farming activity of this fruit in Tibet. |
| for many thousand years. Chinese doctors | | | | The possible reason for marketing it as |
| believe it is very effective on kidney | | | | Tibetan Goji Berries is that fruit |
| and liver disease, therefore they very | | | | coming from mountain area usually has |
| often prescribe it to treat liver and/or | | | | more polysaccharides content. Even Eearl |
| kidney problem. They also use it to | | | | Mindell admits in his website that goji |
| treat eye diseases because according to | | | | berries are not from Tibet. Therefore we |
| Chinese medical theory eyesight is | | | | have to take this new clothes "Tibetan" |
| governed by liver and kidney. | | | | or "Himalayan" off now. It is an |
| Furthermore, as Chinese medical theory | | | | excellent healthy food, but it doesn't |
| also believes that sexual capability is | | | | come from Tibet or Himalyan area. |
| dictated by the strength of kidney, it | | | | In the market you will also come across |
| is also widely used by Chinese doctors | | | | the word organic goji berries. Please be |
| to treat sexual impotency etc. Therefore | | | | careful with your purchase of organic |
| if a Chinese man would like to take some | | | | goji berries. The commercial growth of |
| medicine or tonic stuff to make his | | | | organic goji berries is not an easy |
| sexual capability better, such medicine | | | | process. It requires at least 3 years to |
| or tonic stuff usually contains goji | | | | get the land ready, along with other |
| berries. But the Chinese usage of goji | | | | measures. So far the annual yield of |
| berries is more than that, they also | | | | organic goji berries in China is still |
| consume it in day-to-day lives, for | | | | not significant by comparison with |
| example, to use it with chrysanthemum | | | | normal goji berries, simply because |
| for herbal tea, to add it to soup etc. | | | | there are not many lands ready for it. |
| According to my research I believe Eearl | | | | Therefore there is a big difference in |
| Mindell could be the first person who | | | | terms of pricing. So when you see |
| first introduced goji berries into USA. | | | | somebody sell organic goji berries in |
| Later this fruit also gained popularity | | | | eBay at dirty cheap price, would you |
| in the UK and rest of Europe. Why is it | | | | trust them? In addition, please do not |
| getting popular in Western countries? | | | | forget to ask for a certificate of |
| Traditional Chinese medical theory is | | | | organic goji berries which you would |
| not based on molecular biology, but | | | | like to purchase. |
| based on Yin, Yang, and Qi. When Western | | | | I would suggest to buy small packs of |
| people discovered this fruit, they | | | | goji berries, as once opened, it will |
| analysed its biological content, and | | | | suck the moisture, and become soft. A |
| explained why it is beneficial from the | | | | daily consumption of 30 grams is |
| perspective of western medicine. It has | | | | recommended, though it doesn't matter if |
| been found that goji berries contain 21 | | | | you want to eat more because essentially |
| trace minerals, 18 amino acids, Vitamins | | | | it is fruit. |
| B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E, much more much | | | | Enjoy your goji berries. |
| more vitamin C than kiwi fruit, much | | | | |