23 replies to this topic

[boily]

I just received a stack of dried Tibet grown goji berrys. Taste like nothing else, rich and sweet, I like em! They are said to have the highest ORAC rating of any food, and there are claims they cure or improve almost everything! Life extension too! Anyone experienced any noticable positive effects from consuming this berry? Do these berry's live up the many claims made by the sellers? Curiosity has won me over.... Ben

[DukeNukem]

I've eaten them for about two years. I can't say, though, that I can attribute any single benefit to eating them. I add them to my nut mix, from which I have a handful each day.

[boily]

I'll be adding them to my morning oatmeal. If Goji berrys have a tenth the nutritional value claimed it will be worthwhile. The red pigment in the fruit is the brightest of bright red....... Ben

Here's a link to check out:

http://www.gojiberry.../research6.html

[systemicanomaly]

According to Dr. Earl Mindell and other sources, it appears that Goji berry juice is preferrable to dried Goji berries.

"One liter of Himalayan Goji Juice contains the polysaccharides equivalent of 2.2 pounds of fresh goji berries. As an alternative, we suppose that one could simply eat dried goji berries. However, research indicates that the quality of commercially-available dehydrated berries can vary tremendously, and there's also a high probability that the polysaccharides in dried berries may have oxidized and degraded."

[scottl]

I'm think they are similar or identical to chinese wolkberries AKA lycium berries (I bought some gogi berries and they looked an tasted identical to one of the poorer grade lycium berries I've had). There are different grades of lycium i.e. one can get a pound for $5 or $20.

I've probably consumed 40 or 50 lbs of the stuff over the years. They are really good with walnuts and or pine nuts, and have certain...tonic properties. NB if you're thin and/or have cold hands/cold feet freqently they will probably taste great to you and they are probably really good for you. FROM A TONIC POINT OF VIEW if you're heavier, hot all the time, and you don't like their taste...perhaps they are not for you (not saying the phytochemicals would not be of benefit).

[Shepard]

NB if you're thin and/or have cold hands/cold feet freqently they will probably taste great to you and they are probably really good for you.  FROM A TONIC POINT OF VIEW if you're heavier, hot all the time, and you don't like their taste...perhaps they are not for you (not saying the phytochemicals would not be of benefit).

Is this related to things you've noticed over the years, or is this some TCM thing?

I take a goji berry powder, but that is because I don't like the taste of wolfberries very much.

[scottl]

Shepard,

Good question. I'll ask someone who knows both TCM and...this other stuff and get back to you.

[scottl]

Shepard,

"Is this related to things you've noticed over the years, or is this some TCM thing?"

The theory behind why or why not that people like the stuff comes from TCM. The fact that the above groups tend to like it/not like it comes from observations.


Short of seeing a chinese medicine practitioner and having him check your pulses (wrist) and tongue I can't be sure, but it is quite possible that lycium is not for you.

There are certainly enough sources of phytochemicals if I were you, I would simply pick other sources.

[Shepard]

Thanks for the update, Scott.

[stormheller]

Goji berries are what my grandma feeds me when I'm on my period. You're not supposed to eat them every day. If you do, you'll get a nosebleed or something bad. You're not supposed to eat them raw either. You're supposed to boil them down with grits. You're only supposed to eat large amounts of goji berries when you're 1. on your period 2. sick 3. pregnant or 4. old.

[scottl]

Goji berries are what my grandma feeds me when I'm on my period. You're not supposed to eat them every day. If you do, you'll get a nosebleed or something bad. You're not supposed to eat them raw either. You're supposed to boil them down with grits. You're only supposed to eat large amounts of goji berries when you're 1. on your period 2. sick 3. pregnant or 4. old.

THey are a blood tonic (from a traditional chinese medicine point of view) so that is understandable. Are you/is your grandmother of asian descent--or do you knwo where she learned about them?

HOw one reacts to them is individual and they were very helpful (and yummy) raw when I had them. I can see where those rules came from but....there are other cases where they'd be helpful.

[stormheller]

We are from China, so we know about these things. You probably haven't been eating them for a long time. People say that ginseng is good for you but if you're not old and you eat tons of ginseng you're gonna get problems like sore throats, fevers and shit. This is from looking at what happens to people who eat these things, especially rich white folks who go nuts over 'health food' and inadvertantly eat too much.

[trance]

According to Dr. Earl Mindell and other sources, it appears that Goji berry juice is preferrable to dried Goji berries.

"One liter of Himalayan Goji Juice contains the polysaccharides equivalent of 2.2 pounds of fresh goji berries. As an alternative, we suppose that one could simply eat dried goji berries. However, research indicates that the quality of commercially-available dehydrated berries can vary tremendously, and there's also a high probability that the polysaccharides in dried berries may have oxidized and degraded."

I know this topic is a bit old, but I ran across this video today that may be of interest:

http://www.cbc.ca/ma...07/01/goji.html

In summary ... no scientific proof backing up almost any of the claims of goji gurus, Mindell has a paper-mill doctorate diploma, false references from legitimate hospitals regading goji benefits, MLM scheme, etc.

Trance

Edited by trance, 30 March 2007 - 10:32 PM.

[Karomesis]

In summary ... no scientific proof backing up almost any of the claims of goji gurus, Mendell has a paper-mill doctorate diploma, false references from legitimate hospitals regading goji benefits, MLM scheme, etc.

Trance

not surprising, considering many of the "magical" cure alls seem to have slimy/sketchy MLM associations.

[hst1]

I agree that the claims are outrageous. But let’s not discount that it is indeed a berry and all berries have been found to have amazing health properties. Blueberry, cranberry, black raspberry, etc.

Avoid the juice.

I think that dried Goji/Wolfberry is a great addition to daily consumption of berries. Adds nice diversification.

Don't forget that Goji has the highest Orac of any berry. Actually over 10 times blueberry. goji has 25,000 and blueberry has 2,400

The higher Orac doesn't mean it has more benefits but gives some evidence pointing in that direction.

Just my 2 cents.

[OutOfThyme]

Nice find; I found the story interesting. It looked like Dr. Mindell had Goji juice welling up in his eyes when the reporter was lambasting him. Ha Ha. It must seep out of every orifice. [lol]

You could replace Goji with just about any health product and build a following like that based on hype. I think its human nature. If one made every decision based on all available evidence you'd suffer from analysis paralysis and have no time to live. It's sad those people got bamboozled. Too bad they lacked someone in their social network to bring them back down to earth. We all need someone like that. In a closely knit community of individuals, things like that are less likely to happen because people aren't afraid to speak up and point the finger of bullshit. We're all susceptible to one degree or another. I don't for second think it can't happen to me because it can, and it has. I think being aware of this vulnerability is our best defense.

Incidentally, another show on that website had the same reporter attempting to discredit antibacterial soap. In the constructed test, children washed their hands with both types of soap and then immediately swabbed for bacteria. Both proved to be effective, which is what I would expect since consumer versions of antibacterial soap have low concentrations of Triclosan, but they don't say that. What they fail to tell you is that Triclosan will inhibit the repopulation of bacteria better than ordinary soap. That bugged me. I'm no fan of Triclosan in household soap, but I realize it has its place in the world as an effective antibacterial agent.

[niner]

In a closely knit community of individuals, things like that are less likely to happen because people aren't afraid to speak up and point the finger of bullshit.

That's what I love about imminst!
http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B000008EDO

[durandal]

I picked up two 6oz containers of dried Gojis imported by Great Lakes for $2.29 each at the grocery store. Is that a good deal, and should I buy the lot?

[narcissistic]

I've probably consumed 40 or 50 lbs of the stuff over the years. They are really good with walnuts and or pine nuts, and have certain...tonic properties. NB if you're thin and/or have cold hands/cold feet freqently they will probably taste great to you and they are probably really good for you. FROM A TONIC POINT OF VIEW if you're heavier, hot all the time, and you don't like their taste...perhaps they are not for you (not saying the phytochemicals would not be of benefit).

I think how we experience different foods is wary important and probably gives a clue to whether or not its good for us, in a way we miss this aspect with supplements and dried powders. A side from a basic nutritional need what is good for us probably depends on our individual physique. What seams to be positive in a short perspective is often weaken in the long run (like cocaine for instance). Cocaine is extreme but I believe this is a principal which probably is applicable to many supplements and herbs.

Or at least that’s how a practitioner of the chine’s medicine probably would view this. But on the other hand we are expose to so much toxics, heavy metals, chemicals, alkohol, etc any way so maybe it doesn’t have any relevance in the modern world; where one extreme have to be compensated witch an other.

[wydell]

Hmm, I don't like the taste very much. I already take too many supplements and super foods for my cupboard to be manageable. So I will skip this one for now.

[ironchet]

I picked up two 6oz containers of dried Gojis imported by Great Lakes for $2.29 each at the grocery store.  Is that a good deal, and should I buy the lot?

I picked up a 16 oz package of goji berries for a little less than that at my local asian market [thumb]

[shifter]

I just finished off the last off my 100% goji pulp (from fresh berries). A serving size is 30ml. I had 2 full glasses (~500ml)

[shifter]

I just finished off the last off my 100% goji pulp (from fresh berries). A serving size is 30ml. I had 2 full glasses (~500ml)

[luv2increase]

Has anyone ever thought about just consuming a standardized extract of goji? I am currently thinking about adding this to my regimen.