Many people know that Goji Berries are very high in Antioxidants, but what does that mean you might ask. We hope this explains a little better why we need these in our systems. As the name implies, antioxidants are substances that are capable of counteracting the damaging, but normal, effects of the physiological process of oxidation in animal tissue. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins in your body that assist in chemical reactions). They are believed to play a role in preventing the development of some chronic diseases.
Antioxidants block the process of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals. In doing so, the antioxidants themselves become oxidized. That is why there is a constant need to replenish our antioxidant resources.
How they work can be classified in one of two ways:
* Chain-breaking – When a free radical releases or steals an electron, a second radical is formed. This molecule then turns around and does the same thing to a third molecule, continuing to generate more unstable products. The process continues until termination occurs — either the radical is stabilized by a chain-breaking antioxidant such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, or it simply decays into a harmless product.
* Preventive – Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase prevent oxidation by reducing the rate of chain initiation. That is, by scavenging initiating radicals, such antioxidants can thwart an oxidation chain from ever setting in motion. They can also prevent oxidation by stabilizing transition metal radicals such as copper and iron.
In 2005, the Los Angeles Times raved about the health benefits of the goji berry. In 2006, TIME magazine called the "Himalayan Goji Berry the Superfruit of the Year!" In 2007, it got even better. The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated talk show in television history, recommended goji to Chicago Bulls leading scorer Ben Gordon to maintain high energy levels and prevent post-workout crashes. Calling the goji berry ". . . the most potent antioxidant fruit that we know," America's Doctor, Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of the bestselling YOU: The Owners Manual, and Vice Chairman of Surgery at Columbia University, gave the recommendation on the October 1 episode. Seen by approximately nine million viewers around the world, Dr. Oz also stated that goji "grows in the Himalayas." There are so many wonderful benefits, miracle healings, delicious qualities about goji berries we will try to post them as they come available
Goji is the premier "brain tonic" in Asia, it contains betaine, which is converted in the body into choline, a substance that is believed to enhance memory and recall ability.
The nutritional benefits of Goji juice are being corroborated and confirmed by research and clinical studies. Studies with elderly people and those suffering from general debility have shown that consuming Goji juice can lead to a three-time increase in the T-cell transformation functions and the white cell interleukin-2 count can double. This opens up the possibilities of extracting even greater benefits from this berry, particularly for fighting tiredness, improving the working of the immune system, preventing the growth of free radicals, etc.
