by Ashley Schaeffer

Created on: April 04, 2008

There is no doubt that the goji berry is an impressively nutritious fruit that can effectively boost the general health of those who add a handful to their daily diets. However, there have been some pretty sensational claims made about the extent of their magical healing properties. Restorative wonder berry! Cure for cancer! Antidote for all that ails the human body... and maybe your dog's too! The fact of the matter is that the same people that are making these claims are the same people that are selling these berries for astronomical prices. So on one hand, the goji berry (or Lycium barbarum) is a small red berry that is typically grown in the Tibetan and Mongolian Himalayas and is noted for its long history of effective use by herbalists. On the other hand, it is currently a marketing ploy that takes advantage of the sick, the naive, and the gung-ho health-conscious.

With so many amazing things packed into such a little berry, it's not too hard to fathom why it's so marketable. A whopping total of 21 trace minerals, 19 amino acids, and 6 fatty acids can be found within, in addition to Vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and E. By volume, they have more iron than spinach and more beta carotene than carrots. They contain zeaxanthin and lutein, which protect against cataracts and macular degeneration, keeping vision healthy and strong. And who could turn down a more vivacious sex life? Goji berries enhance the mood and stamina while also increasing the production of testosterone, which boosts the libido of both men and women.

Nevertheless, the polysaccharides and antioxidants are what make the goji berry a real catch. One of the four unique polysaccharides within goji berries stimulates the pituitary gland and actually produces more Human Growth Hormone, which is believed to slow down the aging process. It's also packed with antioxidants that keep free radicals in check by protecting cells from mutations that could cause cancer. The goji berry's ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value, which measures antioxidant levels, is literally off the charts.

So it's true that the goji berry is quite marvelous, but it's too often the case that importers and websites are selling their product to customers who are turning to alternative medicine as some kind of last resort to treat very specific health problems. Hopeful sufferers who don't experience any kind of miracle are often forced to continue their search for better health and left with an empty pocket to boot. There's just

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