healthbriefs


The Goji Berry T


he goji berry,


known also as lycium barbarum, is nearing ce- lebrity status among fruit consumed in the


U.S. In its processed forms of juice, powders and dried berries, it is enjoyed in everything from mar- tinis and smoothies to granolas and nutritional supplements. According to the Wall Street Journal, since 2008, U.S. marketers have introduced 358 products containing the low-glyce- mic berry, which is a rich source of antioxidants that minimize the dam- age to cells from free radicals. The reddish-orange berry, also


called a wolfberry, contains 11 es- sential and 22 trace dietary minerals, 18 amino acids and six essential vi- tamins, as well as numerous phyto- chemicals, such as beta-carotene. Polysaccarides, which make up 31 percent of the berry’s soluble dietary fiber, enhance digestion, positively affecting the contents of the gastroin- testinal tract and the way that other nutrients are absorbed. Drier and more tart than raisins, the majority of commercially pro- duced goji berries have been grown for 2,000 years on large plantations in China for use in traditional herbal medicine. To satisfy the growing demand, farmers in Wyoming and Montana are also cultivating the ber- ries, which prefer a hot, dry summer with high daytime temperatures and cool nights.


Resource: Tropical Smoothie Café, TropicalSmoothie.com. See ad, back cover.


20 Collier/Lee Counties swfl.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72