Goji Berry lose weight? All the powers of the red berry –

The goji berry arrived in Brazil about three years ago, with the strength of fads, fame for losing weight and rejuvenating and a very rich nutritional composition: each 100 grams has 50 times more vitamin C than an orange. Its antioxidant power, measured by the Orac index (acronym for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, created by researchers at Tufts University, in the United States, for the US Department of Agriculture), is the highest among fruits, with a score three times higher than the second in the list, the black raspberry, as reported by nutritionist Libia Vieira, from Campinas (SP), specializing in nutrition applied to physical exercise. “In addition, it contains 19 amino acids, which help form proteins, including eight essential ones that are not produced by our body”, explains nutrologist Edson Credidio, doctor in food sciences from Unicamp. “It also offers 21 minerals, including germanium, which is believed to have anticancer activity. And it’s a great source of vitamins B1, B2 and B6.”

For the doctor, so many beneficial properties justify the daily consumption of a tablespoon of dehydrated goji, mixed with yogurt or mixed with green juice. Although it is also available in capsules, all the specialists heard for this report preferably recommend the consumption of the dehydrated fruit, as this way the body better captures its many nutrients.

When it was “released” commercially in the West, goji provoked distrust. The biggest studies came from China (of course) and involved few participants. “But serious publications soon brought relevant discoveries. Research published in the American scientific journal Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine even proved that regular consumption of goji berries increases disposition and athletic performance”, explains the doctor. The nutrologist Marcella Garcez, from Curitiba, director of the Brazilian Association of Nutrology (Abran), also recalls that goji is rich in polyphenols. “These substances can improve the intricate process of thermogenesis and slightly accelerate caloric expenditure”, says the doctor. And what about losing weight? Well, goji berry doesn’t work miracles. “It’s an interesting functional food, which concentrates many nutrients, but it’s not the magic solution for obesity”, says Marcella. “It makes sense to include it in a balanced diet and exercise program.”

Nutritionist Libia recalls that it is a calorie fruit: two tablespoons have about 100 calories. “As a carbohydrate, it is equivalent to two tablespoons of oatmeal or 80 grams of sweet potato, which makes it a good source of energy. It also contains a lot of potassium, and this fights fluid retention, ”she says. Nutritionist Edson Credidio makes just one warning: goji can interfere with the action of drugs against thrombosis or for controlling blood pressure and blood sugar. In such cases, intake should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

More nutritional properties of goji berry

1. Contains zeaxanthin, an antioxidant carotenoid that protects the eyes.

two. It is rich in beta-sitosterol, phytosterol with anti-inflammatory function that helps balance cholesterol levels.

3. It is supportive in the treatment of sexual impotence and acts in the prevention of prostate diseases.

4. Carries cyperone, a phytonutrient that has heart and blood pressure benefits.

5. It contains essential fatty acids, necessary for the synthesis of hormones and the regulation of the functioning of the brain and nervous system.