Wolfberry, Lycium barbarum L., also known as Chinese wolfberry, goji berry, barbary matrimony vine, is known in Asia as an extremely nutritious food. Wolfberries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 1700 years. The Shennong's Chinese Materia Medica, the first recorded herbal medicine book in Three Kingdoms (230-280 A.D) in China, describes wolfberry as "tonic medicine".
Wolfberry’s value to human health has been cited by several ancient Chinese Medica in the Tang Dynasty (1000-1400 A. D) for its multiple health benefits, such as: nourishing the Yin (Yin-Yang theory is the fundamental theory of Chinese Traditional Medicine. Yin represents the material part of the body and Yang represents the energy and function of the body), strengthening the eyes, liver and kidney and nourishing the blood. Wolfberry fruits are used in many herbal formulas to maintain overall health when suffering from chronic conditions, such as weariness of the loins and legs, dizziness and ringing in the ear, visual degeneration, headaches, insomnia, chronic liver diseases, diabetes, tuberculosis, and hypertension. Ancient people used wolfberry fruit to make tea, soup, stew and wine or chewed them like raisins. Scientists in modern China have extensively studied wolfberry fruits, their nutrients and their medical benefits. They have further substantiated the ancient medical applications such as: maintain healthy immune system (including specific and non-specific immune response), improving eye conditions, support healthy liver function, maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar. Wolfberry is also an excellent herb for anti-oxidant and anti-aging.
Macronutrients, Micronutrieents and phytochemicals:
Wolfberry contains significant percentages of a day's macronutrients needs - carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fiber. 68% of the mass of dried wolfberries exists as carbohydrate, 12% as protein, and 10% each as fiber and fat., giving a total caloric value in a 100 gram serving of 370 (kilo) calories, of which 272 come from carbohydrates, and 90 of which come from fat.
Wolfberries contain many nutrients and phytochemicals including 11 essential and 22 trace dietary minerals, 18 amino acids, 6 essential vitamins, 8 polysaccharides and 6 monosaccharides, 5 unsaturated fatty acids (including the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid), beta-sitosterol and other phytosterols, 5 carotenoids (including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene and cryptocanthin), and numerous phenolic pigments (phenols) associated with antioxidant properties.
Select examples given below are for 100 grams of dried berries. The data from Rich Nature labs.
• Calcium. Wolfberries contain 65 mg per 100 gram serving, providing about 5-6% of the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI).
• Potassium. Wolfberries contain 1,132 mg per 100 grams dried fruit, giving about 24% of the DRI.
• Iron. Wolfberries have 9 mg iron per 100 grams (100% DRI).
• Zinc. 2 mg per 100 grams dried fruit (18% DRI).
• Selenium. 100 grams of dried wolfberries contain 50 micrograms (91% DRI)
•Riboflavin (vitamin B2) At 1.3 mg, 100 grams of dried wolfberries provide 100% of DRI.
• Vitamin C. Vitamin C content in dried wolfberries has a wide range (from different sources) from 45 mg per 100 grams to as high as 100 mg per 100 grams (respectively, 50% and 110% DRI).
• Beta-carotene: 7 mg per 100 grams dried fruit.
• Zeaxanthin. Reported values for zeaxanthin content in dried wolfberries vary considerably, from 25 mg per 100 grams to 150 mg per 100 grams. The higher values would make wolfberry one of the richest edible plant sources known for zeaxanthin content. Up to 77% of total carotenoids present in wolfberry exist as zeaxanthin.
• Polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are a major constituent of wolfberries, representing up to 31% of pulp weight.
Comparison of nutrients and antioxidant of Superfruits
Superfruits | Nutrient Content | Antioxidant Quality | Research Intensity |
Wolfberry/Goji | high | high | low (new on market) |
Seabuckthorn | high | high | low (new on market |
Acai | high | high | low (new on market) |
Blueberry | moderate | moderate | moderate |
Cranberry | moderate | moderate | moderate |
Grape | moderate | moderate | high |
Guarana | n/a | n/a | low |
Mangosteen | low | low | low |
Noni | low | low | low |
Pomegranate | low | moderate | moderate |
data source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfruit
Rich NatureTM Wolfberry Products
Rich NatureTM Wolfberry fruits are cultivated in the northwest of China where the weather and the soil conditions is the best for growth. Rich Nature has several wolfberry or goji berry products offering to consumers and functional food industry: dried goji berries, 100% goji juice and goji juice concentration, wolfberry/goji powder, chocolate covered goji berries.
