Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, have been used as a medicinal ingredient in Asian medicine for many years but have only recently become popular in the US and Europe. Very quickly, they earned themselves a superfood status and are now a prized ingredient. Here are just five of the fascinating reasons why goji berries are a superfood.

They help to strengthen your immune system.

Goji berries contain a plethora of vitamins, including vitamin A and vitamin C, which can increase and support your immune function. Lab tests involving goji berries have found them to help improve the flu vaccine’s effectiveness, and so many people choose to eat them regularly throughout the flu season. 

They can help you to lose and maintain a healthy weight. 

Goji berries are low-calorie and low in sugar, which makes them a great substitute for other dried fruits, such as apricots or raisins, which have higher sugar content. For people trying to eat in a calorie deficit, a one-ounce serving of goji berries only contains around 100 calories while still providing the body with essential fiber and nutrients. Tasty, convenient, and healthy, goji berries make a great snack and are a useful ingredient to have in your pantry if you are looking to lose weight.

They are packed with antioxidants. 

Antioxidants are substances that can help to slow down or prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals. Goji berries contain a particularly high level of antioxidants, most notably zeaxanthin, which is responsible for giving them their bright red color. Although consuming antioxidants is beneficial for the entire body, there is preliminary evidence to suggest that zeaxanthin is particularly good for your eyes - helping to lower the incidence of age-related macular degeneration and decrease a person’s risk of cataracts. 

They can improve fertility. 

Goji berries have a long medicinal history and have been used as a fertility aid for many centuries. Recent studies have found that consuming goji berries can improve a person’s sexual ability and increase sperm count and hormone function. In fact, goji berries are such a famous fertility aid that some people prefer to use them in place of erectile dysfunction medications such as viagra. 

1. They can help to alleviate insulin resistance.

Generally, sweet foods, like fruit, can raise blood sugar levels and cause an insulin spike in the body. However, with goji berries, this isn’t the case. Goji berries have relatively low sugar content and can potentially lower blood sugar levels, improve sugar tolerance, and alleviate insulin resistance. This makes them a great fruit snack for those with diabetes or for people who are watching their sugar levels. Although goji berries may have a positive effect on your blood sugar, they should never be used in place of proper medication.

So what do you think? Do you believe that goji berries have earned their status as a superfood? We certainly love them and feel that they are a smart and healthy ingredient to have in your pantry.