Side Effects of the Goji Berry

The goji berry--also known as wolfberry or Lycium barbarum--is a bright orange-red berry native of China and largely cultivated in Tibet and Mongolia. These delicate berries must be shaken from the vine instead of picked to avoid bruising. They have long played a role in traditional Chinese medicine and regularly appear in Asian dishes. Because of their high nutritional content and purported healing and age-defying effects, the berries are often referred to as a "superfood."

Nutritional Value of Goji Berries

• Although much hype surrounds goji berries, there can be no doubt the berries are packed with nutrients. They are rich in vitamin C (2,500g per 100g of fruit), beta carotene, vitamins B1 and B2, vitamin A compounds, iron, amino acids, and antioxidants. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, goji berries have one of the highest free-radical destroying potential of any food.

Health Benefits of Goji Berries

• For thousands of years in China and Tibet, goji berries have been used to treat various ailments, ranging from diabetes to high blood pressure. They were also eaten to brighten one's mood and to improve eyesight or complexion. It is believed that in light of the berry's extraordinarily high vitamin and antioxidant content, consuming goji berries can protect a person against cancer, heart disease and liver disease as well as protect against age-related macular degeneration, boost the immune system and slow the aging process. Goji berries are also credited with boosting the libido, increasing fertility and protecting the brain from the onset of Alzheimer's disease. But few of these benefits have been validated by scientific research.

Scientific Research on Goji Berries

• There have been many studies involving the effects of the goji berry. Among the most notable is the 1994 Chinese study (published in the Chinese Journal of Oncology) that showed patients undergoing treatment for cancer improved significantly when a goji berry extract was added to their medical regime. Also notable is the 2004 study conducted at the College of Public Health at Wuhan University. This study showed the diabetic rabbits given goji berry extract had an increase in HDL, or "good," cholesterol and a reduction in the level of their blood glucose. But further research needs to be conducted in both areas, and neither study should be viewed as definitive proof the goji berry can cure or prevent cancer or diabetes.

Negative Side Effects of Goji Berries

• If you are taking diabetes, blood-pressure or blood-thinner medication, you should avoid eating the berries as there is the potential for dangerous drug-herb interactions. In addition, the fruit probably should not be consumed by people with allergies to pollen.

Forms of Goji Berries

• Dried goji berries, goji berry juice and goji berry supplements can be purchased in health food stores. You can also find whole, raw goji berries in Asian markets. Most people find them to have a tangy, sweet-sour taste.

Warning

• While goji berries are beneficial to one's health, like any food, they should be consumed in moderation. You should probably eat no more than 10 to 30 grams per day. Also keep in mind there is no evidence goji berry supplements provide the same health benefits as the fruit itself.