Super Food?

There are many reports in magazines, newspapers and on the internet which claim goji berry is a super food or super fruit. What does this mean and is it really true?

A super food is a term which is typically used to describe a fruit which is particularly high in antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients. Pomegranates, blueberries, raspberries, acai berry, and goji berries are all examples of super fruits. Whether or not they are actually more beneficial than other fruits and vegetables is debatable. Here is what FoodWatch has to say about the health benefits of goji, in particular.

There is a bit of inconsistency with this claim as Goji berry websites and advertising material claim to have 19 amino acids, while others claim to have 18 amino acids – it’s either one or the other.

Ok, so goji berries contain either 18 or 19 amino acids.

Germanium can be found in a variety of foods including beans, tomato juice, oysters, tuna and garlic. However, it is not considered an essential trace mineral and isn’t needed for good health.

Germanium has been claimed to have beneficial effects on a number of conditions include cancer, AIDS, liver disease, hypertension, arthritis and malaria. The results of trials using spirogermanium as a cancer treatment are inconclusive.

Germanium in goji berries may or may not be beneficial to your health.

The vitamin C content of Goji berries ranges anywhere from 29mg to 148mg per 100g, according to Wikipedia. Oranges contain 53mg of vitamin C per 100g which is more than your recommended daily intake for vitamin C.

So you if you want to increase you intake of vitamin C, you are probably better off increasing your intake of oranges as this is a more reliable and much cheaper source of vitamin C.

Yes, goji berry is good for your health but so are many other fruits and vegetables. Moderation and variety is key to a healthy diet.