Image source: Internet
Goji berries are a commonly used medicinal food with properties that nourish the liver and kidneys, enrich blood, improve vision, and combat aging.Modern medical research has discovered that goji berries also protect the liver and prevent fatty liver disease. They contain an active ingredient—theophylline—which is effective in treating liver disorders. Theophylline is abundant in the leaves, berries, and root bark. Pharmacological studies indicate that theophylline inhibits fat accumulation in liver cells and promotes liver cell regeneration.
For liver patients, the theophylline in goji berries prevents excessive fat storage in the liver, helping to prevent and treat fatty liver disease. The chlorophyll in goji leaves also aids liver detoxification while improving liver function. Therefore, individuals with chronic liver disease, especially those with fatty liver, may benefit from regularly consuming goji berries.
How to Consume Goji Berries
Goji berries can be consumed year-round. They can be added to tea, porridge, soups, or dishes like ordinary food without causing greasiness or internal heat.In spring, they can be consumed alone or boiled with astragalus root. In summer, they pair well with chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, euryale seed, and rock sugar steeped in water, which helps alleviate eye fatigue when consumed regularly. In autumn, they can be made into soups with snow pears, lily bulbs, white fungus, and hawthorn. In winter, they are ideal for porridge when combined with longan, red dates, and Chinese yam.
1. Brew 3g black tea and 20g goji berries with boiling water to make goji tea.
2. Steep 20 goji berries and 5 dried chrysanthemum flowers in hot water.
3. Combine 15g white fungus,25g goji berries, simmered with water into a thick broth, then mixed with 20g honey to make goji silver ear jelly. Consume every other day, diluted with warm water. Generally, healthy adults should consume about 20g of goji berries daily. Goji berries should be eaten regularly, not in large quantities at once.Those with weak constitutions and low immunity benefit most from goji berries. Daily, small amounts yield the best results.
When steeping goji berries in water or simmering them in soup, drinking only the liquid doesn't fully absorb their nutrients. Factors like water temperature and steeping time limit the release of medicinal compounds into the liquid. For optimal effectiveness, consume the goji berries along with the soup.Chewing goji berries directly allows for more thorough absorption of nutrients. Rinse them thoroughly with water before chewing, but reduce the serving size by half.
Contraindications for consumption
Due to goji berries' pronounced warming effect on the body, individuals currently experiencing colds, fevers, inflammation, or diarrhea should avoid them. Additionally, goji berries stimulate the nervous system, making them unsuitable for those with excessive sexual desire.Additionally, goji berries have a high sugar content (19.3g per 100g), so diabetics should use them cautiously and avoid excessive consumption.
Three Ways to Spot Dyed Goji Berries
Identify by Color
Fresh goji berries vary in hue depending on origin, but they exhibit a soft, lustrous color with plump flesh;Dyed goji berries are often old stock from previous years. Visually, they appear poor in texture and lack luster, yet their surface is unusually bright and appealing. Therefore, when purchasing goji berries, avoid being tempted by their "color."Particularly, dyed goji berries are uniformly red, even the small white spot at the stem end. Normal goji berries typically have a yellow or white stem tip, while those dyed with pigments show a red stem tip. Those baked with sulfur appear dark brown.Since pigment-treated goji berries are highly water-sensitive, it's advisable to test them by placing a few berries in water or rubbing them with damp hands. If color transfers occur, it indicates pigment use.
Identifying by Smell
For sulfur-treated goji berries, simply grasp a handful, cup your hands over them briefly, then bring them to your nose. If you detect a pungent, choking odor, sulfur treatment is confirmed.
Identifying by Taste
Ningxia goji berries are sweet, with an exceptionally sweet taste, but leave a slight bitterness in the throat after eating;while goji berries from Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and other regions have an overly cloying sweetness. Those treated with alum will impart a bitter taste when chewed, while sulfur-treated berries exhibit sour, astringent, and bitter flavors.