8 beneficial properties of goji berries and contraindications, as well as methods of use

The benefits and harm of goji berries

The secret of such remarkable properties of berries from Tibet lies in the vitamins C, E, A that they contain, as well as amino acids. They also contain iodine, zinc and other beneficial substances that help strengthen the body and help fight many diseases. This is an indispensable source of beneficial properties for:

losing weight – by properly consuming goji berries in your diet, you will effectively lose excess weight and improve your health;
poor vision, strengthening muscles and bones;
hypertension – fruits normalize intrablood pressure of cerebral vessels;
rejuvenation - thanks to the large amount of antioxidants they contain;
diabetes mellitus;
fight against cancer cells, due to the polysaccharides contained in Chinese barberry.

Miracle berries have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys, and also help eliminate toxins and reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood. It is very useful for pregnant women to consume them - the berries have a beneficial effect on bearing a child; produce a strong effect on the body’s immunity, improve sleep, memory, and help relieve stress.

This list of beneficial properties of goji fruits can be listed endlessly. However, it is worth focusing your attention on when taking this healing plant can have a negative effect and harm your health:

nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea (preservatives, which are sometimes used to store berries brought from distant countries, can cause poisoning);
sudden surges in blood pressure (you cannot combine taking fruits with medications for hypertension);
sleep disorders (fruits should not be consumed before bedtime, as they have an invigorating, energetic effect).

Since you cannot buy this plant in a regular pharmacy, beware of counterfeits and try to buy berries only from trusted distributors.

Choosing a landing site

You are interested in the goji plant, and you want to grow it on your plot, then keep in mind that growing goji is easy, but the bush quickly grows in width and it will not be easy to get rid of the plant. Goji quickly takes over an area and can crowd out other plants. Therefore, goji bushes should be planted at the end of the plot, near ditches, near the road, near the garden or garden. He will even like to grow in a vacant lot.

Goji loves the sun, so it needs to be planted in appropriate areas.

How to take it correctly for weight loss

This plant remarkably helps the body fight fat cells, normalizing metabolism, and preventing the formation of cholesterol plaques. To effectively use goji berries in the fight against excess weight, you need to know how to take them correctly:

When purchasing a Tibetan plant, it is important to know exactly where it was brought from: they are also grown in Spain, but in terms of medicinal properties such berries are inferior to those grown in Tibet itself.

To check whether this medicine is right for you and whether it will cause any unwanted reactions, take the minimum dose.
Washed dry fruits are eaten from 15 to 45 g daily as dried fruits, or brewed with hot water and added to various desserts, yoghurts, salads, drunk as tea or cocktails, eaten with breakfast cereal or porridge.
In order to effectively lose weight, you should reconsider your usual diet, eliminating foods that are harmful to a beautiful figure: fatty foods, flour, fried foods, sweets.
Taking berries is permissible only in dry form (initially they should be like dried fruits, only then steam them if necessary), otherwise it is poison.

How long to take them and in what dosage

Have you set a goal to lose weight? Nutritionists recommend combining berries with dietary nutrition, taking dried goji fruits daily up to 50 g for one month. If you need to lose weight intensively, then the length of the course must be increased to 2-4 months. As for the full course of treatment, it is necessary to take goji in the same doses daily, but for about six months.

When is it best to consume: before or after meals?

For the fastest possible weight loss, it is best to follow this regimen for taking goji fruits, calculating 50 g per day:

The first part of the berries (7-10 g) should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, about forty minutes before meals.
The rest of the dose should be spread throughout the day.
Keep in mind that the last dose should take place no later than 17.00 (before or after meals - it doesn’t matter).

Vegetative propagation

A very simple way to propagate wolfberries is by cuttings or rooting lower shoots. It is available only to those people whose relatives or neighbors grow this plant.

Growing shrubs using cuttings means that in July you should cut lignified shoots about 10 cm long. You need to make sure that each part contains at least 4-5 buds and at least 1-2 cm of old bark.

All cuttings must be dipped in a growth stimulator and planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. It is here that the optimal conditions for rooting of shoots are present. The ideal soil is a mixture of peat and sand. The shoots must be buried at least 3-4 cm in order for a sufficiently powerful root system to form.

The easiest way to propagate shrubs is by digging in the top or lower stems. The shoot, located underground, must be watered regularly to create sufficient moisture. In addition, this will allow roots to form faster. It is necessary to separate the new plant from the mother bush in early or mid-autumn in order to transplant it to a permanent place before frost and cover it well to prevent freezing.

What the instructions suggest

External description: red berries, reminiscent of barberry.
Origin of goji fruit: China.
They taste inexpressive and bland.
They are a universal remedy that can be consumed independently, like dried fruits, or used as an additive to dishes.
Widely used in the cosmetology industry, medicine, and cooking.

The instructions from Chinese healers indicate:

initially, treatment should be limited to 10 g every day;
gradually, when you feel weight loss, increase the dosage to 20 g;
The maximum norm that should be followed according to the instructions is no more than 30 g of goji berries daily.

Agricultural technology

Goji Tibetan is a shrub with creeping stems, in the wild reaching a length of 8 m (see photo). The branches have sharp thorns along their entire length, the leaves are long and narrow, completely covering the stem. Flowering occurs in spring and summer. The fruits are formed at the top of the stems. The berries are bright red in color and resemble cherry tomatoes in appearance. Inside there are small seeds, 8-15 pieces. Goji tastes sweetish with bitterness and slight sourness. The first harvest is harvested in the summer and continues until late autumn. Not only the berries are useful, but also the bark and leaves. In China, goji is popular as a seasoning for cold and hot dishes.

Goji berries are watery and difficult to dry. There are about 40 species in total, of which only Chinese and Tibetan goji have healing qualities. Fresh berries in contact with human skin cause severe oxidation and darkening of tissues. The whole plant is poisonous when fresh!

The crop is harvested on burlap, spread under the bush, and the ripe fruits are knocked down with a stick.

The climate conditions in central Russia make it possible to grow goji in the country. Rocky soil is suitable for the plant; on fertile soil the plant also grows and reproduces well. Care consists of watering, pruning, harvesting, and preparing for winter.

At home, the plant is provided with:

draft protection;
diffused light without direct sunlight;
1 month of wintering in January-February with an air temperature of 10 0 C;
frame for stems;
pruning and formation of fruit branches;
alkaline soil;
watering once a week.

Goji is propagated by seeds and cuttings. In specialized stores you can purchase seeds, seedlings and adult plants, but it is not always possible to grow and maintain fruiting. Growing Tibetan barberry from seeds and seedlings is a labor-intensive, time-consuming process. The plant begins to bloom and bear fruit only in 2-4 years.

Popular recipes

There are a huge variety of ways to prepare different dishes using Chinese barberry (goji). Some people like to add these berries to desserts, milk porridges, and prepare soups with them, health cocktails, tinctures, and teas. Below you will find several popular recipes that will help you learn how to take goji berries for weight loss with benefit and pleasure.

Yogurt in a slow cooker
Making homemade apricot pastille
Beer snacks: homemade recipes

Tea brewing recipe

The Chinese have long been preparing tea with goji berries and chrysanthemum, which is good not only for weight loss, but also for those who suffer from blood pressure or high blood sugar. This tea has a tonic effect, energizes you and gives you strength for the whole day. Here is its composition:

one teaspoon of black tea;
chrysanthemum flowers (3-5 pieces);
six berries.

Pour boiling water over all ingredients, then leave for half an hour and take. You will get 2-3 servings of tea, which is good to drink all day: complement your breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s also great to drink this drink before physical activity (for example, in the gym).

Medicinal cocktail

The recipe is simple:

take one liter of low-percentage milk;
add four tablespoons of Chinese barberry fruit, cover, leave to infuse in the refrigerator overnight;
In the morning, take out the milk with berries, beat it with a blender;
Add a little cinnamon to add flavor.

This cocktail makes an excellent dietary breakfast. Drink the remaining amount throughout the day - before and after training.

Porridge

For those who love dietary breakfasts, porridge should especially appeal. Take note of proven recipes:

Rinse one glass of brown rice, throw it in a saucepan along with 5 g of berries, add water (2 glasses), and boil. If your goal is weight loss, adding sugar, salt, and oil is not recommended.
Soak 3 tablespoons of oatmeal and boil in water, add 200 g of skim milk, 5-7 berries, one tablespoon of honey, let the resulting porridge steep for a couple of minutes. The porridge is ready!

Dereza from cuttings

If Tibetan wolfberry bushes are already planted on the site, the plant can be propagated by green cuttings, which are cut from the bushes in the second half of summer. Such plants cannot be planted in the ground in the fall, so growing new specimens of wolfberry from cuttings will require free space in greenhouses, where the plants should remain until spring.

For cuttings, you should choose a branch with weak bark, from the middle part of which cuttings 10-12 cm long are cut. The prepared cuttings are soaked in a solution of growth stimulants, and then planted in boxes with a nutritious earthen mixture based on peat. It is useful to add loamy soil to the peat base. The planted wolfberry cuttings are covered with film, creating greenhouse conditions.

The appearance of roots is observed after 2-3 weeks, when the growth of leaves reaches 3 pieces, the plants are transferred to pots of larger diameter, where young Tibetan barberry bushes will overwinter. Caring for plants during wintering includes periodic watering and inspections for the presence of pests, which should be destroyed in a timely manner.

Contraindications for use

Before engaging in treatment and weight loss, you should definitely familiarize yourself with all the contraindications that exist in the use of goji berries:

Do not use goji berries if you have a high fever or signs of inflammation;
those who suffer from allergies of any kind should avoid the use of Chinese barberry, because this is fraught with an allergic attack;
These berries should be used with caution by those who have diabetes or hypertension (those medications that are taken for treatment in such cases can negatively affect the body by interacting with the substances of goji fruits);
Goji fruits should not be consumed by those who suffer from poor blood clotting, people taking medications with anticoagulants and during menstruation - this can cause bleeding.

In any case, consult with your doctor, if you have any health concerns or are not sure that you know how to properly take goji berries for weight loss, make sure you are doing it correctly.

Propagation of Tibetan barberry by seeds

To grow a plant at home from seeds, collect ripe large berries. Soak the berries in water for a couple of hours. Small seeds (about 1 mm - see photo) are selected from the fruit shell of the berry and soaked for 1-2 hours in a plant growth stimulator. Epin and Zircon will do. The seeds have good germination.

Prepare a soil mixture of loam and peat (2:1) with a neutral pH reaction for seedlings. Arrange drainage in the pot (1.5-3 cm). The soil is deeply moistened. Several seeds are planted in one container. The seeds are buried 2-2.5 cm into the soil. The soil is constantly watered, preventing it from drying out. It is important to provide favorable conditions without temperature changes and protect from drafts. After 2 weeks, the first shoots appear. After germination of the seedlings, the container is moved to a bright place, but without direct sunlight.

The seedlings are transplanted into separate pots immediately or after two true leaves appear. The root system of goji seedlings is very developed and grows deep. Therefore, there is no need to waste time with the transfer. Pots for seedlings are chosen at least 7 cm deep. A plant grown from seeds at home begins to bloom the very next year.

Reviews about weight loss

Today there are many people who have tried the effective effects of these Tibetan fruits on themselves. Here are some reviews from girls about how they took goji berries for weight loss:

Marina, 25 years old “I’ve been taking the so-called Chinese barberry for a month now, the results in losing weight are still small - 3 kg, but considering the fact that I don’t do physical activity (I still can’t get to the gym), then this is an excellent result for me” .

Elena, 50 years old “Friends! I continue to recommend goji berries to everyone for weight loss. I don’t want to say a lot, I’ll just say about my results: minus 30 kg in six months. This is the most incredible transformation that happened to me thanks to this ancient Tibetan remedy. I feel like an 18-year-old girl, I forgot what it’s like to suffer from excess weight and have a bunch of illnesses.”

Marina, 25 years old “Dear Elena, I am very interested in the question, how long did the process of taking the fruits of this plant last to achieve such results, and also how did you take goji berries for weight loss? Thank you in advance for your answer!”

Elena, 50 years old “Dear Marinochka, I’ll tell you right away that I tried to follow a diet, excluded fatty foods, flour, made porridge with Chinese barberry, made cocktails, teas, which I drank throughout the day, and sometimes I made myself soups with the addition of these berries . This is how I lived and ate for exactly 6 months.”

Daria, 37 years old “A few years ago, a friend brought me goji berries as a gift from China. I had no idea what I would do with them and treated them like a useless souvenir. But as soon as I found out what this product was, I immediately started losing weight. I was very surprised after a while when I fit into a dress from my student days! Now I don’t know what rapid fatigue at work is, or the influence of weather on my physical condition, because before I suffered from migraines and was completely dependent on weather conditions. Great stuff! I advise everyone!"

Propagation by seeds

Another name for the goji plant is Tibetan barberry, common wolfberry. The shrub reproduces in several ways - by seeds and vegetatively. It depends on whether a person has the opportunity to find a mature plant in order to cut a small branch from it.

Goji seeds are best collected from fresh berries. Since the tree is mainly distributed in Tibet, this will be quite problematic. However, you can also use dry fruit, the seeds of which retain important properties and are characterized by high germination due to their thin outer shell.

Before sowing, the material should be soaked in a growth stimulator for several hours to increase the chances of success. For this purpose, you can use any available drug - Zircon, Epin, etc.

You must first prepare a suitable soil - mix 2 parts soil, 1 part peat and add a little wood ash. The soil should be placed in a shallow box, moistened well and small grooves made. The seeds are sown at a distance of about 1-2 cm from each other and sprinkled with a thin layer of peat, the height of which should not exceed 0.5 cm.

Goji berry "New Big"

To create the elevated temperature and humidity necessary for rapid germination, it is advisable to cover the box with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place. As soon as the first shoots appear, you need to move the container to a windowsill or other bright place.

The soil needs to be watered regularly. This must be done using a special sprayer so that the soil is moistened evenly and gently. This is necessary so as not to accidentally damage weak shoots. As soon as 4-5 leaves appear on the seedlings, each plant should be transplanted into a separate cup. Since wolfberry is characterized by a developed root system, 500 ml containers should be used for picking.

It is advisable to plant common wolfberry in open ground no earlier than May. This will eliminate the adverse effects of spring frosts on fragile goji plants. The hole must correspond to the volume of the glass in which the seedlings grew, since the plant must be moved together with all the soil.

Video

The miraculous properties of Chinese barberry have been known for many centuries, it is used all over the world, nutritionists never cease to recommend the fruits of this plant for excess weight, doctors not only agree with its healing properties, but also use it in the fight against a large number of diseases. Watch the video where Elena Malysheva talks about the healing properties and how to take goji berries for weight loss:

Goji berries in Live Healthy.flv

Growing wolfberry from seeds

This plant has many names, in Russia the most common is zamanika.

To plant an amazing plant with medicinal berries on your plot, you need to grow a sufficient number of seedlings to ensure a harvest of wolfberry in quantities sufficient to treat or prevent diseases. The undemanding plant takes root well in summer cottages in the Moscow region. Caring for plants is not anything special; wolfberry tolerates low-fertility soils of moderate salinity.

In nature, wolfberry (Tibetan barberry) reproduces by self-sowing - the berries, falling to the ground, germinate, forming new thickets.

At home, if it is impossible to take cuttings from adult plants, the shrub will have to be grown from seeds, carefully observing the agricultural techniques for growing this plant. Wolf seeds for planting in the country can be purchased in specialized stores, or you can use goji berries for propagation.

Seeds are planted in winter, around mid-February. Seeds freed from berries are soaked in a solution of growth stimulants; excellent results were noted when using Epin, Zircon and Humate. The seeds are kept in the solution for about 2 hours, after which they are immediately sown in containers filled with a mixture of peat and loam. For better seed germination, the bowl must be covered with glass or plastic film, creating greenhouse conditions.

The first shoots begin to appear approximately 2 weeks after sowing; at this time, weak shoots must be protected from direct sunlight. Young seedlings must be picked at the 2-3 leaf stage, and each plant should be transplanted into a separate pot.

Dereza quickly grows after transplantation, so before planting in open ground, it may be necessary to transfer it again to a larger container. It is useful to pinch out the growing point of young plants - this operation will allow you to obtain seedlings with a well-developed crown.

Bushes can be planted in a permanent location in warm weather, when there is no danger of morning frosts.