Goji berries, also known as wolf berries are harvested from one of two species of the boxthorn (Lycium barbarum or Lycium chinense), a tree native of southeastern Europe and Asia. The boxthorn is in the nightshade family (Solanaceae).
Its common names include the following: Chinese wolfberry, Chinese boxthorn, Himalayan goji, Tibetan goji, mede berry, barbary matrimony vine, red medlar, and matrimony vine. In Central Europe, Lycium barbarum is an introduced species.
Culinary uses:
Boxthorn is used in China as an ingredient for cooking as well as in natural medicine. The berries are harvested in the summer and autumn and dried in the sun. They are then either cooked, if sweet, or eaten raw. Some varieties are very sour. The leaves of the immature plants can be eaten as leafy greens.
Only the berries are processed in the food industry in Europe because the other parts of the plant are not approved here. Producers first brought the juice to market and then later the berries were sold as a superfood under the name goji berry. Goji berries qualify as a supefood because of the exceptionally high percentage of nutrients and phytonutrients they contain. As a result, they became a trend food, and an ever increasing supply of these berries were imported. However, the imported berries often contain high levels of pesticide residues. For example, all random samples checked in 2009 were highly contaminated with the insecticde Acetamiprid. In addition, ten additional harmful substances were identified.
Since 2013, fresh goji berries have been grown in Erope that you can either freeze or dry for longer storage. Goji berry juice can be used for muesli, yogurt, and smoothies.2
Nutritional information:
Goji berries contain large amounts of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and iron. They are also rich in the orange-yellow plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which belong to a group of carotenoids called xanthophylls. Goji berries are also a source of polysaccharides, complex carbohydrates, that have a chemical structure similar to that of the immune-strengthening substances in echninacea.
Medicinal uses:
A number of scientific studies have claimed that goji berries have positive medicinal effects, in particular, as a result of their antioxidant effects and the pigments lutein and zeaxanthin. In regards to their nutrient density, goji berries are similar to many of our regional berries. For example, black currants containg 180 mg/100 g vitamin C, red currants 41 mg, and dried goji berries 48 mg.
Traditionally, the Chinese have used goji berries to increase yin, for example, in cases of dizziness, exhaustion, colds, diabetes mellitus, and anemia. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dried goji berries are believed to help against high blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as in the case of eye problems, to support the immune system, and to prevent and treat cancer.
Goji berries can cause allergies, and there are a number of allergic reactions and cross-reactions. If you are taking vitamin K antagonists (e.g., Marcumar), which are used to reduce blood clotting, you should also be careful as goji berries can increase this anticoagulant effect.
In conclusion, we can say that goji berries are healthy but that they aren’t the miracle cure they are often claimed to be. This is especially the case for goji berries imported from Asia that are highly contaminated with pesticides. Organic goji berries are a tasty addition to muesli, granola, and a variety of desserts.
General information:
The true origin of the boxthorn is not entirely clear; its natural habitat extends from southeastern Europe to China. A common region where goji berries grow in China is Ningxia. It is believed that the boxthorn (goji berries) spread as a cultivated plant from there to all of Asia, Europe, North America, North Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Etymology:
The common English name, "wolfberry", has an unknown origin. It may have arisen from the mistaken assumption that a previous Latin name, lycii fructus, was derived from Greek λύκος (lycos) meaning "wolf", when in fact it derived from λυκιον (lykion), referring to the ancient region of Lycia (Λυκία) in Anatolia. In the English-speaking world, the name "goji berry" has been used since around 2000. The word "goji" is an approximation of the pronunciation of gǒu qǐ (pinyin for 枸杞), the name for the berry producing plant L. chinense in several Chinese dialects, including Hokkien and Shanghainese. This name possibly derives from the same roots as the Persian language term gojeh (گوجه), which means "plum" or "berry". In technical botanical nomenclature, L. barbarum is called matrimony vine while L. chinese is Chinese desert-thorn.1
Literature/Sources:
- Wikipedia.Goji, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Goji
- Wikipedia.Gemeiner Bocksdorn, de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Gemeiner_Bocksdorn
Nutrient tables
The complete nutritional information, coverage of the daily requirement and comparison values with other ingredients can be found in the following nutrient tables.
Nutritional Information
|
per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Energy | 349 kcal 1'460 kJ | 17.4% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 2000kcal |
Fat/Lipids | 2.4 g | 3.4% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 70g |
Saturated Fats | 0 g | 0.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 20g |
Carbohydrates (inc.dietary fiber) | 77 g | 28.5% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 270g |
Sugars | 46 g | 50.7% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 90g |
Fiber | 13 g | 52.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 25g |
Protein/Albumin | 14 g | 28.5% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 50g |
Cooking Salt (Na:298.0 mg) | 757 mg | 31.5% Recommended daily allowance according to the GDA: 2.4g |
Essential micronutrients with the highest proportions | per 100g | 2000 kcal | |
---|---|---|---|
Vit | Vitamin A, as RAE | 1'341 µg | 168.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 µg |
Min | Copper, Cu | 1.2 mg | 120.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.0 mg |
Vit | Vitamin E, as a-TEs | 8.0 mg | 67.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 12 mg |
Vit | Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 48 mg | 61.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 80 mg |
Elem | Potassium, K | 1'104 mg | 55.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 2'000 mg |
Min | Iron, Fe | 6.8 mg | 49.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 14 mg |
Min | Manganese, Mn | 0.80 mg | 40.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 2.0 mg |
Prot | Threonine (Thr, T) | 0.36 g | 38.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.93 g |
Sodium, Na | 298 mg | 37.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 mg | |
Elem | Phosphorus, P | 194 mg | 28.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 700 mg |
Detailed micronutrients and daily requirement coverage per 100g
Explanations of nutrient tables in general
The majority of the nutritional information comes from the USDA (US Department of Agriculture). This means that the information for natural products is often incomplete or only given within broader categories, whereas in most cases products made from these have more complete information displayed.
If we take flaxseed, for example, the important essential amino acid ALA (omega-3) is only included in an overarching category whereas for flaxseed oil ALA is listed specifically. In time, we will be able to change this, but it will require a lot of work. An “i” appears behind ingredients that have been adjusted and an explanation appears when you hover over this symbol.
For Erb Muesli, the original calculations resulted in 48 % of the daily requirement of ALA — but with the correction, we see that the muesli actually covers >100 % of the necessary recommendation for the omega-3 fatty acid ALA. Our goal is to eventually be able to compare the nutritional value of our recipes with those that are used in conventional western lifestyles.
Essential amino acids | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Threonine (Thr, T) | 0.36 g | 38.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.93 g |
Isoleucine (Ile, I) | 0.26 g | 21.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.2 g |
Valine (Val, V) | 0.32 g | 20.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.6 g |
Leucine (Leu, L) | 0.46 g | 19.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 2.4 g |
Phenylalanine (Phe, F) | 0.27 g | 17.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.6 g |
Lysine (Lys, K) | 0.23 g | 13.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 1.9 g |
Methionine (Met, M) | 0.09 g | 9.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the WHO-Protein-2002: 0.93 g |
Vitamins | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Vitamin A, as RAE | 1'341 µg | 168.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 µg |
Vitamin E, as a-TEs | 8.0 mg | 67.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 12 mg |
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 48 mg | 61.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 80 mg |
Essential macroelements (macronutrients) | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Potassium, K | 1'104 mg | 55.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 2'000 mg |
Sodium, Na | 298 mg | 37.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 mg |
Phosphorus, P | 194 mg | 28.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 700 mg |
Calcium, Ca | 190 mg | 24.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 800 mg |
Magnesium, Mg | 51 mg | 14.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 375 mg |
Essential trace elements (micronutrients) | per 100g |
2000 kcal The numbers show the percent of the recommended daily value for a person who consumes 2000 cal per day. This number is for one serving of the recipe. A person normally eats multiple times a day and consumes additional nutrients. You can get all of the nutrients you need over a longer period of time and in this way ensure a healthy balance. |
---|---|---|
Copper, Cu | 1.2 mg | 120.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 1.0 mg |
Iron, Fe | 6.8 mg | 49.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 14 mg |
Manganese, Mn | 0.80 mg | 40.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 2.0 mg |
Zinc, Zn | 2.0 mg | 20.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 10 mg |
Selenium, Se | 0.40 µg | 1.0% Recommended daily allowance according to the EU: LMIV-2011: 55 µg |
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