Wolfberry fruit facts

Information on Wolfberry Fruit

Wolfberry fruit is also known as the goji berry and is quite commonly used as an herbal remedy, in its dried form. Wolfberry is a wild bush that originated in the northwestern regions of China. It has been used in the traditional Chinese medicine for numerous health purposes for many centuries. When the Tang Dynasty ruled China, the wolfberry was considered as Yin. It was used for strengthening the vision and was an important ingredient in the production of wine and tea. It can also be used as an addition to various soup and stew recipes. The wolfberry can be dried and consumed in a similar manner as raisins. In its native China, people usually consume it in its fresh form but they also use it for the preparation of wine, tea, soups, stews and even bread.

Wolfberry Fruits

Wolfberry is commercially marketed as goji berry but people around the world also refer it to as Barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, mede berry, red medlar or Chinese wolfberry. The wolfberry plant is a woody deciduous perennial plant and its leaves grow alternately up the stem or in groups. The leaves can be oval or long and the plant can also be characterized by purple flowers which get succeeded by orange berries which ripen from July to October. Each berry may contain up to 50 seeds. Ripe wolfberries are commonly picked and then dried until they shrink. After that they are commonly exposed to sunlight so that they get crusted. The pulp inside the fruit remains intact, though. Wolfberry leaves can also be consumed as leaf vegetable.

Wolfberry Fruit Benefits

Wolfberry is an excellent source of various types of nutrients such as dietary fiber, fats, proteins and carbohydrates. They also contain 6 types of monosaccharides, 8 types of polysaccharides, 6 vitamins, 18 amino acids and various other types of phytochemicals and micronutrients. Each serving of 100 grams of wolfberries may contain up to 370 calories. Wolfberry is very efficient in treating retinopathy, improving the vision, treating cataracts, reducing macular degeneration and various other problems related to the vision. This is because it contains zeaxanthin and lutein. Wolfberry can also be of great help when it comes to slowing down the process of aging, preventing different types of cancer and preventing various kidney and liver diseases.

Wolfberry Fruit Side Effects

Wolfberry consumtion, can cause low blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, dizziness, medicament interactions, lightheadedness and fainting.