Health Benefits of Goji Juice

The following entry is a contribution from Guest Blogger Grace who keeps a website on Goji Juice.

The goji berry is a small fruit that hails from Asia and Eastern Europe. Although it grows in many different areas, it is only found in real quantity around China and Mongolia, where it can be farmed in large amounts. The goji berry is a very unique food, and has been noted for thousands of years for its amazing properties. It is one of the most adaptive foods on the planet, with the ability to survive in nearly any climate. It contains many unique complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, which allow it to create amazing changes to compensate for different temperatures, climates, and environments. If, for example, the soil it is planted in is thick in bacteria, the goji berry will increase production different nutrients and enzymes in order to fight off infection and continue to thrive. It will perform similar actions if it experiences drought, flood, or extreme temperature changes.

More impressive, however, is the berry’s plethora of health benefits and its powerful store of nutrition. The goji berry is recognized as the “most nutritionally dense food in the world,” and has been used for medicinal purposes in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 1900 years, though its undocumented use extends back at least 4000 years. The people of the eastern world have long credited it with giving them improved energy, unrivaled health, longer lives, and for keeping them feeling younger much longer than normal. Chinese healers, both modern and ancient, strongly recommend its use to keep a person healthy and fit.

Though it has been common in use in the eastern world, it has only been recently implemented in the western world, where it has received popular attention from the scientific community and the media. Time magazine recognized the goji berry as the “Superfruit of the year,” while on the Oprah Show, Dr. Mehmet Oz recommended it for its health benefits and ability to improve athletic performance. The goji berry has created a large amount of interest from the scientific community, shown by the record number of scientifically published journals, reviews, and write-ups on it. On Pubmed.gov, a federally sponsored site that catalogues public scientific research, the goji berry has over 80 entries, nearly ten times greater than any other health fruit.

Eager to extend the amount of scientific study performed on goji, Freelife International, a company that sells a juice made from the goji berry, recently had several independent studies performed on their product, GoChi Juice, for peer review. GoChi Juice is made from the goji berry, and is the staple product of Freelife International. The studies were specifically conducted using the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled format, as it is the most scientifically valid and accurate format to date. It is important to note that no other natural health drinks have ever had peer reviewed scientific studies such as these conducted on them, and that these studies mark an important first in western medication. Three studies have been published as of current, yielding these results:

Study #1

The first study was to determine the effect GoChi Juice had on people in many different areas of their life. This test conclusively showed 13 different strong health benefits after 14 consecutive days on the product. Of these 13 different areas of health improvement, the placebo group only showed statistically significant improvement in one area, Increased Happiness. The group who were given GoChi Juice experienced improved athletic performance, reduced stress levels, increased energy, feeling calmer, increased ability to focus, sharper mental acuity, better quality of sleep, easier ability to wake up in the mornings, feeling more content, feeling healthier, feeling happier, and improved regularity. This study has also officially been accepted and published on PubMed.gov.

Study#2

The second study was designed to document the effect of GoChi Juice on the immune system. In doing so, some of the key components of the immune system were monitored.

Those who had GoChi Juice in this study showed an Increase in Lymphocytes by 27%. These are some of the most integral parts of the immune system, and make up T cells, B cells, and NK cells.

Those who had GoChi Juice showed a 58% increase in Interlukin-2, which is instrumental in helping the body fight off microbial infections.

Those in the study given GoChi Juice also showed a 19% increase in Immunoglobulin-G, an important part of the immune system which helps to locate and identify foreign invaders.

Study #3

The third study was designed to measure the antioxidant reaction in people who took GoChi Juice. This study is important because it documents antioxidant levels in the only applicable way – within the human body. While there are many tests that can be performed to measure antioxidant levels in certain foods, these can be incredibly inaccurate as they do not measure how well the body will actually absorb those antioxidants.

Those who took GoChi Juice in this study showed an 8.39% increase in SuperOxide Dismutase, a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

Those who took GoChi Juice in this study showed a 9.87% increase in Glutathione Peroxidase, responsible for detoxifying reactions.

Those who took GoChi Juice in this study showed an 8.66% decrease in malondiadehyde – one of the most toxic free radicals in the body.

These studies continue the strong scientific interest that the goji berry has come to accept. Although it is unusual for a fruit of any kind to garner such attention, convincing studies like the ones above have proven what those of the eastern world have claimed for thousands of years. Freelife International also has many more studies in the works, all of which will be peer reviewed. The studies above will be published in scientific press later in 2008. Although western medication has not yet embraced the usage of foods like the goji berry, the attention is has gained, along with scientific proof of its benefits, is quickly changing the minds of some very reputable physicians.