What's in it Wednesday | Shakeology | Goji Berry

What's in it Wednesday?

Shakeology | Goji Berry

I've decided to do a new series every Wednesday called, "What's in it Wednesday?" to explain all incredible ingredients in Shakeology that are found all over the globe! :)

For this weeks What's in it Wednesday, I'm going to go over superfood, Goji Berry!

You might not have heard of goji berries, but their claimed health benefits could encourage you to check them out.

Goji berries aka wolfberries, have long been enjoyed in China and the Himalayas for their sweet taste and bright color. Their history as a medicinal plant has roots in ancient China, where goji berries still are used to treat eye, liver, and kidney ailments. A host of additional nutritional and medical claims have made the fruit popular in the United States.

Let’s check out some of the impressive stats on goji berries:

• Contain ALL essential amino acids
• Have the highest concentration of protein of ANY fruit!
• Loaded with vitamin C
• Contain more carotenoids than ANY other food
• Contain twenty-one trace minerals
• High in fiber and by high in fiber, I mean 15 TIMES the amount of iron found in spinach
• High in calcium, zinc, selenium and many other important trace minerals
• Contain natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds
• Powerful antioxidant properties and polysaccharides help to boost the immune system

It’s no wonder then, that in traditional Chinese medicine they are renowned for increasing strength and longevity. There is no doubt that the goji berry is a nutritional powerhouse, to say the least!

In traditional Chinese medicine, the goji is said to act on the kidney and liver meridians to help with lower back pain, dizziness and eyesight. They are most often consumed raw, made into a tea or extract, or as an ingredient in soups.

Goji's are most commonly available in dried form, and make a great snack eaten as is, added to trail mix, muesli or oatmeal. They can also be soaked for a couple of hours in enough water to cover them. Then the soak water can be drained off and makes a delicious drink, or both water and berries added to smoothies.

*Please note that there can be adverse interactions if you consume goji berries while also taking medication for diabetes, or blood pressure, or take the blood thinner warfarin. So be sure to consult your health care provider if that is the case.

*Watch for "What's in it Wednesday?" every Wednesday at 7:30 PM EST over at Facebook.com/RachelFaulFitness!

Stay tuned for next week! :)