Goji Berry Juice - 3 Facts And 3 Claims

Goji berry juice is made from a relatively rare berry grown in certain regions in China and parts of Central Asia. Also known as the Wolfberry in the West, the Goji berry has been in use for thousands of years for medicinal purposes in Asia and is now getting attention in the West for the same reasons.

In addition to being consumed as a juice, Goji berries are also eaten in the West in dried form. The taste of the dried berries has a hint of tomato and is similar to that of dates, dried cranberries or raisins. However, the berry is also drier and tarter than these other fruits.

Here are 3 facts and 3 claims about Goji berry juice you should consider before trying it for yourself.

First, the facts: the following facts have been determined by various independent scientific studies of Goji berry juice:

Fact #1: Contains 500 times more vitamin C than do oranges: Goji berries are loaded with vitamin C and have up to 500 times more of it than do oranges on a per-weight basis. 100 grams of Goji juice has between 29 mg to 148 mg of vitamin C.

Fact #2: Has 19 amino acids: The juice has 19 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of the proteins that your body needs to survive.

Fact #3: Holds more beta-carotene than carrots: Beta-carotene can be converted to vitamin A in the small intestine or stored "as is" in the liver to be converted to vitamin A later, as needed. Vitamin A is contributes to improved vision and to better skin health.

The claims: the following claims about Goji berry juice are made by both ancient Chinese herbalists and modern Western sellers of the juice. However, these claims have not been verified by any major Western study or by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration:

Claim #1: Boosts the immune system: Goji berries are said in both ancient and modern China to boost the immune system, a claim supported by most marketers of the berry in the West. The abundance of vitamin C found in the juice, along with other elements, lend validity to this claim.

Claim #2: Improves sexual health: The berries are purported to have an anti-inflammatory agent that boosts sexual health and increases sperm count.

Claim #3: Has anti-aging properties: Goji berries contain polysaccharides that control the pituitary gland, which in turn produces the human growth hormone (HGH). Human growth hormone is a powerful anti-aging hormone.

According to both Chinese and Western sources, Goji berry juice has a number of properties beneficial to human health. While it is a fact that the berry is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, it is always prudent to take the claims about the juice's health benefits with a grain of salt until further scientific studies in the West have been completed.