What Are the Effects and Benefits of Goji Berries? How to Consume Them for Optimal Results?
Goji berries are a familiar ingredient in our daily lives, often heard of in conversations. Renowned for their strong health benefits, they can be consumed either as a tea or as a soup ingredient. However, to maximize their benefits, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of their functions and effects. Let's delve into the various benefits and optimal consumption methods of goji berries.
a. Anti-aging: Goji berries have been prized as a superior nourishing food since ancient times, known for their anti-aging properties, hence the nickname "Que Lao Zi". They contain higher levels of vitamin C than oranges, beta-carotene than carrots, and iron than steaks.
b. Enhancing Sexual Function: Goji berries exhibit surprising benefits in enhancing sexual function.
c. Skin Whitening and Beautification: For women, regular consumption of goji berries can help achieve skin whitening and beautification.
d. Nourishing the Liver and Improving Vision: Goji berries have a sweet and neutral taste, belonging to the liver and kidney meridians. They nourish the liver and kidneys, improve vision, and are often used in combination with other herbs such as prepared rhizome of rehmannia, chrysanthemum, yam, and dogwood fruit.
e. Strengthening the Body and Generating Essence: Goji berries can be used medicinally, as well as for brewing alcohol, cooking soup, and making tea. Regular consumption can strengthen the body and generate essence.
f. Cancer Prevention: Goji berries have a significant inhibitory effect on cancer cells in vitro, making them useful in preventing the spread of cancer cells and enhancing the immune function of the body.
a. Adding to Cooking and Porridge: Goji berries are rich in various trace elements and vitamins, which can nourish the yin and enhance immunity. However, their medicinal value can only be achieved through consistent consumption. Occasional intake will not yield significant results. While soaking goji berries in water is a common practice, most of the water-soluble vitamins in goji berries are easily destroyed by heat. It is recommended to soak the dried goji berries briefly and add them as an ingredient when cooking, making porridge, or steaming buns and boiling dumplings.
b. Consuming as a Regular Food: Goji berries are beneficial for the eyes due to their rich content of carotenoids, vitamins, calcium, iron, and other nutrients, commonly known as "Ming Yan Zi". In traditional medicine, goji berries have been used to treat blurred vision and night blindness caused by insufficient liver blood and kidney yin deficiency. A good way to consume goji berries is to incorporate them into meals, soups, and dishes, which not only nourishes the body but also avoids causing heatiness. However, goji berries may not be suitable for everyone, and those with weak constitutions and poor resistance may consume them in moderation.
c. Adding to Soy Milk: Goji berries are a valuable ingredient. Recent studies in the UK have also discovered their anti-aging properties. Many people soak goji berries in water for consumption, but this method may not fully extract their nutrients. When making soy milk with a soy milk machine, adding a small handful of goji berries can help fully utilize the various nutrients and trace elements contained in them.
d. Chewing Directly for Better Effect: When soaking goji berries in water or cooking them in soup, their medicinal effects may not be fully exerted due to factors such as water temperature and soaking time. Only a portion of the medicinal components in goji berries can be released into the water or soup. Chewing goji berries directly allows for a more complete absorption of their nutritional components, thus enhancing their health benefits. However, when chewing goji berries, it is advisable to halve the recommended dosage to avoid excessive nourishment.
