nicknamed “the fruit of eternal youth”, las bayas de goji They are a hit between nutritious and healthy foods. It is a small dehydrated red fruit, similar to raisins and with a sweet flavor that is known to strengthen the immune system and prevent the aging of body cells. For these reasons, in recent years its consumption has gone viral among followers of a conscious lifestyle.
Millenary food, it is native to China where it was used medicinally to improve longevity and treat respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
In the West it landed in the 19th century and its popularity has been increasing due to its multiple aesthetic and physical benefits. The hashtag #bayasdegoji gathers 217.1 million views on the Tik Tok video platform. There, users around the world can be seen filming themselves while tasting this product and listing its infinite virtues.
Considered a superfood, from the United States National Library of Medicine, reveal that goji berries gained special worldwide relevance two decades ago due to their high index of bioactive components, essential to promote good health. In this sense, Estefanía Beltrami, a graduate in Nutrition (MN: 8944) affirms that it is “a natural product, free of industrial processes and artificial preservatives.”
They come from a plant known as Lycium barbarum, characteristic shrubs of temperate climates that They grow wild in the Himalayas and in the Tibetan and Mongolia regions of Asia.
Goji berries contain fundamental properties for the body. For Beltrami, its chemical composition is completely complete: “It has all the macronutrients we need and that are responsible for generating energy and keeping the body’s tissues vital: 65% are carbohydrates, 15% protein, which in this case includes all the essential amino acids, and 10% unsaturated fats. says the nutritionist.
In turn, they are source of micronutrients. Analía Yamaguchi, a clinical nutrition specialist at the Italian Hospital, comments that they contain minerals such as potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium and iron. character components antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which delay cell aging and protect the intestinal microbiota, a set of microorganisms housed in the colon that are in charge of regulating the functions of the organism and keeping it in balance.
To this list are also added the vitamins of group B and C, required to strengthen the immune system and prevent the development of diseases and infections. In this regard, Yamaguchi adds that when vitamin C is ingested after lunch or dinner, “iron is better fixed, especially in vegetarians.”
On the other hand, goji berries are allies of vision They have carotenoids: organic pigments that give food their color, as in the case of carrots, tomatoes and egg yolk, which affect the eye muscles and prevent their deterioration. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of flavonoids, natural compounds that are part of plants, protect the brain and heart.
Faced with this scenario, from MedlinePlus, they mention that thanks to its substances, goji drops are used to treat conditions such as diabetes, weight loss and to care for the skin. However, they stress that there is not yet good scientific evidence to support all of these uses.
This food comes in different formats: dried, raw, powdered and as supplements y It can be consumed in multiple ways and adapted to personal tastes. Beltrami clarifies that one of the options is to combine this fruit in sweet dishes: “It can be mixed with yogurt, in preparations of puddings and sponge cakes or, for example, as topping of pancakes”.
For their part, fans of sweet and sour flavors “can add this fruit to salads or soups”, says the nutritionist and adds that another alternative is to blend it or use the powder to make juices, smoothies or to blend it into different drinks and enhance their tastes.
Regarding the recommended dose to be ingested, a MedlinePlus report maintains that for its intake to be safe, the daily amount should not exceed the 15 grams. However, the researchers suggest that it is best to consume it for a short period of time since it is not known with certainty if it can generate side effects in the long run.
However, as it is a specific and somewhat exotic product, goji berries can be found packaged in health food stores, dietetics or in the premises of the Chinatown of Buenos Aires.
Yamaguchi points out that although it is a natural food with great properties, it should not be attributed any magical quality because to obtain its benefits, it should be consumed in the context of a healthy diet.
However, there are certain population groups that must be careful not to exceed their intake. Among them Beltrami names those under anticoagulant treatment and who take respective medication. As he says, “in these cases, goji berries can interfere and nullify the effects of the medication.”
For its part, a statement from MedlinePlus suggests that people with a tendency to manifest allergies as well as pregnant or lactating women, avoid it since it is not known with certainty if it can have a negative impact.
Undoubtedly, this ancient food is gaining ground among the faithful followers of a natural lifestyle, those who return to their roots and are interested in habits of ancient cultures where organic, freshly harvested products were consumed without any type of intervention that promised quality of life and a path away from chronic diseases and stress.
