Goji juice is made from goji berries, the bright red-orange fruit of an evergreen shrub native to Tibet and Mongolia. Goji juice contains vitamins, minerals and beneficial phytonutrients. Goji extracts have been studied for their antioxidant and chemoprotective properties. Although results are promising, Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health says goji research has been conducted primarily on animals. The effects have not been duplicated in human clinical trials. Goji juice may interact with prescription medications. Consult your doctor before using it.
Goji History and Traditional Uses
Goji berry -- called gouqi or gou qi zi in traditional Chinese medicine -- is from the spiny evergreen shrub Lycium barbarum. The plant is also called matrimony vine, Chinese boxthorn and English wolfberry. Goji berries are customarily dried and preserved, resulting in an appearance similar to that of a raisin. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health says medicinal use of goji is mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine texts dating back to the first century A.D. For centuries, herbalists have recommended goji to enhance immune function, improve eyesight, prevent diabetes and cancer, and protect the liver. Goji juice is sold in health food stores and online.
Goji Constituents and Properties
Goji contains the beneficial carotenoids lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene, as well as vitamin C and the minerals calcium, potassium, zinc and selenium, according to Drugs.com. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health says that goji berries are rich in another carotenoid -- zeaxanthin -- that may have protective effects on the retina. Drugs.com credits goji with potent antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial effects, and says goji extracts can improve insulin resistance, enhance the immune system, lower cholesterol levels and suppress sarcoma growth in mice.
Research
There is some research supporting the belief in goji's health-promoting effects. In a study published in the November 2004 issue of "Life Sciences," researchers found that goji berry extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels, serum cholesterol levels and triglyceride concentrations in rabbits. Ralph Moss, Ph.D., a medical writer and founding adviser to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, says that although a polysaccharide in goji has anti-cancer effects in vitro, there is only one study showing the effects of goji on human cancer patients. Moss points out that while goji extract appeared to double the response rate to cancer treatment, the study used an outdated therapy -- as well as unclear criteria -- to determine success. Moss adds that follow-up studies were lacking.
Dosage and Safety Information
To try goji juice, you can buy the commercially made beverage or make an infusion yourself. According to Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health, traditional Chinese medicine advises boiling 5 to 15 grams of the dried berry and drinking at least a half-cup of the liquid a day. Drugs.com says there have been few or no adverse reactions documented with goji juice, as of 2009.
References
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health: Goji Berry
- Chet Day: Goji - A Friendly Skeptic Looks at Goji Juice
- Drugs.com: Complete Goji Berry Information
- "Life Sciences;" Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects and Antioxidant Activity of Fruit Extracts From Lycium Barbarum; Q. Luo et al; November 2004
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