If you are ready for the next berry craze, then this Chinese secret is perfect for your next health kick. Known as the wolfberry, this bright orange and red berry packs quite the punch when it comes to your longevity. 
The Chinese have been eating this wonder food for centuries in hopes to increase their life span, treat various ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fever and even eye problems.
The Goji berry is a fruit from the Lycium barbarum family and offers a wide range of preparation options for the berry connoisseur.
Healthy breakfast fruit smoothie with mango, goji berries and chia seeds
Making a splash in the West, Goji berries are making their way into dried fruit bags, granola bars, yogurt and even tea products, making this high antioxidant super fruit easily accessible. Whether you like to eat the berry raw, dried, or ground up in your yogurt, finding the right combination of this sweet and colorful fruit has become an obsession for many Americans over recent years.
Benefits of the Goji
While the Chinese and Himalayan population have been eating this fruit for centuries, more recently scientists have taken a closer look into this highly acclaimed fruit identifying it’s potential for aiding one’s diet, fighting toxins, and providing an overall health boost.
National Center for Biotechnology Information took on the challenge to find out what makes this fruit so special, citing that “Wolfberry is widely used in herbal teas aimed at weight control (with cassia, poria cocos, chrysanthemum, and other herbs), antiaging (with astragalus, ganoderma, and others), and liver protection (with licorice, ganoderma, gynostemna pentaphylla, and others).”
According to Web MD, “Some studies using goji berry juice found possible benefits that included a feeling of well being and calmness, better athletic performance and quality of sleep, and weight loss. But those were preliminary studies that need to be repeated before drawing conclusions. All berries are good for you. It’s not clear if goji berries are better than other types of berries, or if goji berry supplements have the same health benefits as the actual berries.”
In addition, various other benefits are attributed to this colorful fruit including: 
- High Vitamin C
- Excellent Fiber
- Complex Carbohydrates
- Tons of Antioxidants
- Dietary Uses
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Arthritis Treatment
While this is not a complete list of all the things that the wolfberry can do for your diet and health, it does give you an idea of why so many have used this natural remedy for thousands of years. Combined with the versatile preparation options, the goji berry is quickly becoming the new super food that everyone must have.
Where to Buy Your Goji
If you are as excited about this cute and powerful little fruit as I am, then you are probably wondering where you can get your hands on it. 
One of the easiest ways to find it is to head over to your local Whole Foods Market. If you don’t happen to have a convenient Whole Foods near you, then Nuts.Com offers a dried fruit option for a decent price. Even Walmart is jumping on the health bandwagon offering Goji Juice on it’s shelves, giving you no excuse not to try out this new super food and test it for yourself.
Keep in mind, with any dietary supplement, you want to check with your doctor before changing your diet, and goji berries are no different. Some have reported possible side effects and interactions with various prescriptions such as warfarin, and various diabetes drugs, so be smart when picking out your next super food and always consider your overall health when trying new things. With that being said, I highly recommend this juicy treat and encourage you to give it a try. Happy snacking!
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