Goji or Wolfberry? Getting to Know China's Ancient Herbal Treasure |
Goji berries, "wolfberries", Lycium barbarum L. Courtesy of Rich Nature Nutraceutical Labs Have you heard of the goji berry..... or wolfberry? Most of us on this (mainly) North American distribution list have not, but in its native region of Asia (particularly China), the wolfberry is known as "gouqi", pronounced "goo-chee", a Chinese national treasure. Now, if English-speaking "ears" heard that, might it not become "goji"? Gouqi or "goji" is Mandarin for "wolfberry". That's not what one might believe from the internet, however. Marketers are finding success claiming that goji berries from Tibet are the world's premium, a distinct specie different from Lycium barbarum L. from central China. And by the way, does anyone really think juicy, high-nutrient berries could be grown commercially in the 10,000 ft high altitudes of Tibet? My Chinese colleagues tell me no one in central China where goji berries are common believes that goji can be as good as their reputation than anywhere but the Yellow River valleys of central China. The Autonomous Region of Ningxia, the "Garden of China", is recognized by the Chinese government and by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine as the premier growing region for goji berries. Ningxia is the location of an annual festival for the wolfberry, a research institute for developing more productive wolfberry vines, and an international symposium for wolfberry research. But you'll find on the internet numerous references to Tibetan goji juice or berries being different from wolfberries (Lycium barbarum L.), the 2000+ year old healthfood revered in China as one of Nature's most complete foods. So I'm treating goji and wolfberry as the same. If you have a different point of view, drop me a note at drpaul@berrydoctor.com As we look more closely at goji berry, it is not unreasonable to propose that available literature (and now 3 books published over the past 3 years) propose goji berry as one of Earth's most nutrient-dense foods. Let's consider some of its characteristics, as this topic may be valuable for the western world to get back on track with good whole food nutrition, plentiful exercise, and a halt to modern world scourges of obesity, lethargy and premature disease. In August 2006, I published the following article in the Natural Products Insider Wolfberry: Nutritious Superfood Additional information is available at Wikipedia Wolfberry: Nutritious Superfood? Gouqizi (“goo-chee-zee”), the Mandarin name for wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.), is a red berry of the Solanaceae nightshade family that includes tomato, eggplant, chili pepper and potato. In vernacular English, gouqizi (literally “wolf”, “energy”, “berry”) or gouqi (the wolfberry plant) has become “goji”. For at least 2,000 years, wolfberry has grown wild in China and been used in common recipes and traditional Chinese medicine. Eighteenth century Chinese farmers nicknamed gouqizi “wolfberry” when they saw wolves feasting among the berry-laden vines during summer. The Chinese revere wolfberry as a national treasure among the most nutrient dense of the nation’s plants. This premise has stimulated scientific investigation about its potential health benefits and systematic cultivation, commercialization and now increasing export to the West. Nutritional Content Wolfberry contains significant percentages of daily macronutrient needs, including carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fiber. In fact, soybean, another ancient Chinese plant among the world’s most complete foods, is comparable across macronutrients. Although wolfberries and soybeans are similar for macronutrient content, wolfberries provide a significantly higher source of calories as energy from carbohydrates. Blueberries, by contrast, do not have as much macronutrient value. Seeds contain the wolfberry’s main complement of polyunsaturated fats such as linoleic (omega-6) and linolenic (omega-3) acids. It is the diversity and high concentration of micronutrients that brand wolfberry as an exceptional health food. With 11 essential minerals, 22 trace minerals, seven vitamins and 18 amino acids, it has a nutritional profile of extraordinary richness. For example, wolfberries provide up to 10 percent of the reference dietary intake (RDI) of calcium, and up to 24 percent RDI for potassium — twice the amount in soybeans. It has double the zinc content of soybeans and provides close to the RDI for selenium and riboflavin. Wolfberry’s exceptional iron content, 100-percent RDI, is twice that provided by soybeans, often regarded as the best plant source of iron. In addition, wolfberries contain dozens of phytochemicals with potential health properties under scientific study. Wolfberry’s beta-carotene content per unit weight is among the highest for edible plants, and the berry is an extraordinary source for zeaxanthin, an important carotenoid for retinal pigment development, light filtering capacity and antioxidant function. Further, there is a great deal of interest in polysaccharides, long-chain sugar molecules characteristic of many herbal medicines like mushrooms and roots. Polysaccharides are a primary source of fermentable fiber in the intestinal system. Upon colonic metabolism, fermentable or “soluble fibers” yield short-chain fatty acids (e.g., butyric, acetic and propionic acids) that are * valuable for health of the colon epithelial lining Polysaccharides are a signature constituent of wolfberries, making up 31 percent of pulp weight in premium quality wolfberries. Functional Food Applications Cultivated for a variety of food and beverage applications within China, but increasingly grown for export as dried berries and pulp or juice powders, wolfberries are prized for their versatility of color and nut-like taste in common meals, snacks, beverages and medicinal applications. A major effort is underway in Ningxia, China, to process a "functional"wolfberry wine. Despite a dearth of published clinical research, myths of wolfberry’s traditional benefits include longevity, aphrodisiac, analgesic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunestimulating, muscular strength, energy and vision health. In laboratory and preliminary human research to date, wolfberries have demonstrated potential benefits against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, some forms of cancer, diabetes, premature aging, memory deficits, glaucoma and other forms of vision degeneration, and lung disorders, among other diseases of oxidative stress. Micronutrient richness combined with key health phytochemicals give wolfberries remarkable nutritional synergy, making this berry one of the most nutritious plant foods in nature. Dr. Paul is senior author of a 2006 book entitled "Wolfberry: Nature’s Bounty of Nutrition and Health" (Booksurge Publishing), Amazon.com via the Dr. Paul |
