Goji berries are a common medicinal herb with dual food and medicinal properties, known for nourishing the liver and kidneys, enriching blood, improving vision, and preventing aging. Modern medical research has also discovered their liver-protective effects and ability to prevent and treat fatty liver disease. Goji berries contain an active ingredient—theophylline—which is effective in treating liver conditions. This compound is abundant in the leaves, berries, and root bark.Pharmacological experiments indicate that theobromine inhibits fat deposition within liver cells and promotes their regeneration.
For liver patients, the theobromine 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, particularly those with fatty liver, may benefit from regular consumption of goji berries. How to Consume Goji Berries Goji berries can be enjoyed year-round. They may be incorporated into teas, congee, 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 goji berry tea by steeping 3g black tea and 20g goji berries in boiling water.
2. Steep 20 goji berries and 5 dried chrysanthemum flowers together in water.
3. Prepare silver ear fungus soup: Simmer 15g silver ear fungus and 25g goji berries in water until tender. Add 20g honey to make goji silver ear fungus soup. Drink warm with lukewarm water. Consume every other day.
Generally, take 25g goji berries with an appropriate amount of water over low heat until concentrated. Add 20g honey to make goji silver ear fungus soup. Drink warm with lukewarm water.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 berries along with the liquid.
Directly chewing goji berries allows better absorption of nutrients. Rinse them thoroughly before chewing, but reduce the dosage by half.Chewing goji berries directly allows for more thorough nutrient absorption. Rinse them thoroughly before chewing, but reduce the serving size by half.
Contraindications for consumption
Due to goji berries' pronounced warming effect on the body, individuals currently suffering from 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—19.3 grams per 100 grams—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 deliberately 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 exhibit a bitter taste reminiscent of alum when chewed. As for sulfur-treated goji berries, they present a sour, astringent, and bitter flavor.