We all know about goji berries, they are a common ingredient in our daily life for health and wellness. Other than consuming them raw, they can also be used to make tea or cooked in porridge. So, what are the specific benefits of goji berries? And how can we correctly identify real goji berries?
Benefits and Effects of Goji Berries
1. Beneficial for the Spleen and Stomach
People with weak spleen and stomach, diarrhea, fatigue and weakness can eat seven red dates daily or consume them together with Codonopsis pilosula and Atractylodes macrocephala to replenish the middle, invigorate Qi, and strengthen the spleen and stomach, thus increasing appetite and stopping diarrhea.
Red dates and ginger, when used together with Pinellia ternata, can treat symptoms such as stomach distension and vomiting caused by accidental ingestion of improper food.
2. Qi and Blood Tonic
Red dates are an excellent nourishing food. Including them in the diet along with astragalus and goji berries can nourish the body, moisturize Qi and blood, and enhance the body's vitality and immune system.
3. Blood Nourishing and Calming
For women with irritability, crying, and restlessness, combining red dates with licorice and wheat can nourish blood and calm the spirit, soothe the liver, and relieve depression.
4. Mildness
Red dates are often used in strong medicinal formulas to reduce the side effects of strong medicines and protect the body's vitality. For example, in the "Ten Jujube Decoction," red dates are used to alleviate the toxicity of herbs such as Pinellia ternata, rhubarb, and euphorbia to protect the spleen and stomach from harm.
Methods to Identify Goji Berries
1. Differentiating by Color
Fresh goji berries have different colors depending on their origin, but the color is soft, glossy, and the flesh is plump. Dyed goji berries are usually old stock from previous years, and their flesh is of poorer quality, lacking glossiness. However, the appearance is bright and tempting, so when purchasing goji berries, one must not be greedy for "color."
2. Differentiating by Shape
Ningxia goji berries and Inner Mongolia goji berries are both elongated, but Ningxia goji berries float when soaked in water, while Inner Mongolia goji berries sink. Xinjiang goji berries, on the other hand, are round and easy to distinguish. These varieties of goji berries are considered top quality when they are large and plump.
3. Differentiating by Smell
For goji berries that have been fumigated with sulfur, simply grab a handful, cover it with both hands for a while, and then smell it under the nose. If there is a strong pungent smell, it can be confirmed that they have been fumigated with sulfur.
4. Differentiating by Taste
Ningxia goji berries are sweet and have a particularly sweet taste, but after eating them, there is a slight bitter taste in the throat. Goji berries from Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and other regions are overly sweet and somewhat greasy. Goji berries soaked in alum will have a bitter taste, and goji berries treated with sulfur will have a sour, astringent, and bitter taste.
