Universal Goji Berries (Whole) - 500 + 200g FREE

Goji Berry
Goji berry, or wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is a fruit that has been used in England and China for many years as an ingredient in cooked meals, wines and beer as well as in tea. The berry has a sweet tangy flavour somewhere between a cherry and a cranberry. Historically in China, gogi was used to protect the liver, benefit the eyes, improve sexual function and fertility, boost immune function, improve circulation, and promote vitality and longevity. Currently, goji is considered to be a superfruit because of its high antioxidant capabilities and its relatively high protein, trace mineral, and soluble fibre content by weight.

Antioxidant Effects of Goji
Antioxidants have the ability to neutralize free radicals in the body, which are reactive substances that damage nutrients and body tissues. We are exposed to free radicals in air pollution, UV rays, cigarette smoke, and even as biproducts of our own metabolism. Free radical damage results in potentially harmful cell growths, cardiovascular disease, and the visible signs of aging. One study found that goji supplementation for 30 days results in continued, and steady elevation in blood antioxidant levels. These antioxidant effects allow goji to be used to help support optimal cell growth, cardiovascular disease and the effects of aging. Goji berry, when given to animals, has been found to protect heart tissue from chemotherapy drug damage, to protect brain cells from oxidative harm, and to protect the liver from alcohol excess. One study examined daily consumption of goji extract for 14 days, and found increased subjective feelings of general well-being, improved neurologic/psychologic performance.

Adding Dried Goji Berries to Your Diet
Because goji berries are so versatile, it is quite easy to incorporate them into your daily living. Their tangy sweet flavour goes well in oatmeal, trail mix, yoghurt, salads, and even just eaten alone by the handful as a healthy snack. Many people bake with goji berries and incorporate them into muffins, cookies, snack bars, breads and cakes. In general, where you once may have used raisins, you can now incorporate goji berries into your diet.

Important Information
Goji berry supplementation should not be used by those on blood thinning medications or by pregnant or lactating women. Keep in mind that heating the goji berries while cooking or baking may cause a reduction in their antioxidant content.

Immune System Health
The immune system is the police force of the body. It is a complex system of cells that defend the body from invading organisms, regulate inflammation and control abnormal cell growth. Many organs are involved in the immune response, the bone marrow, lymphatic system, thymus, liver and spleen. Bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Poor dietary habits inhibit the immune system by creating deficiencies in protein, vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet, with sufficient protein intake, supports the immune system because the immune cells are made of protein and are in a constant state of renewal. The immune cells use a variety of vitamins and minerals to carry out their jobs. The most important nutrients are vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc and essential fatty acids. For example, vitamin C strengthens white blood cells and prevents the multiplication of bacteria and viruses. Deficiency of any one of these nutrients impairs the immune response.

Dietary sugar, especially white sugar, has been directly linked to depression of the immune system, immediately after its consumption. One study showed that eating three and a half oz. of simple sugar reduced the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria. Sugar also provides fuel for invading organisms, like bacteria and fungus, thus strengthening their attack.

Anti-Aging
We are now also discovering the importance that telomere health and longevity play in keeping us looking our youngest. The telomere is analogous to the plastic tip on a shoelace. It prevents fraying and sticking between the laces. In the case of DNA, it prevents deterioration of genetic material, while still making it possible for our DNA to divide.

Let's back-up for a minute. Cell division is a normal and essential process in our bodies, promoting healthy skin, blood, bone and other cells by constantly kicking out the old to let in the recently divided new cells. To keep it very simple, the process consists of paired DNA strands unwinding and splitting so copies can be made of both pairs. Once the new pairs are formed, they are joined by RNA. Without telomeres on the end of our DNA, we would actually lose a small portion of genetic material each time these cells divided. With the addition of telomeres, no genetic material is lost and our DNA is protected. That being said, the older our bodies get, the shorter our telomeres get, as they are shortened bit by bit during constant cell division and in protection of our DNA. When the telomere becomes too short, that cell can no longer divide and will eventually die, ageing and death are all in part due to this process.

Energy
Picture your body as a machine. In order to get your body to work your body needs fuel or food. It then transports that fuel to each cell. Inside each cell are little engines called mitochondria. They take in the fuel and process it to release energy.
The energy is used to power all cell processes and is the ultimate source of your body's energy. Another body system that impacts on energy is the glandular system. Picture it as the fuel injector of your body. It regulates what fuel gets into the body, which cells get the fuel and in what amounts. The blood cells are also a critical component of the body's energy system. They carry oxygen, a catalyst for many cell activities, around the body.

Lack of energy can be attributed to many causes. All of these causes must negatively impact on our body's ability to get fuel into the body, inhibit the mitochondria's ability to turn it into energy or alter the functioning of the hormonal and blood system.