More and more people are waking up to the fact that a proper diet and nutrition can both prevent and heal many types of disease. By strengthening our immune system through proper food choices, a lot today’s serious ailments can be avoided altogether. We know that a diet rich in antioxidants is one way to prevent things like heart disease and even cancer. And more people are finding out that goji berries contain just about the highest antioxidant count of any food on the planet. In fact, goji berries benefits have been praised by Chinese herbalists for centuries. Keep reading to learn how you can help fight disease naturally by consuming more of these little red superfoods on top of an already healthy diet.

What are Goji Berries?

Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, are a highly nutritious type of berry native to China. Known by either their Latin names Lycium chinense or Lycium barbarum, they grow on deciduous shrubs called boxthorns.

Goji berries have always been a major part of traditional Chinese medicine, having long been recognized for their high antioxidant and longevity-boosting properties. Most of the goji berries on the market, in fact, still come from China, often the northwestern part of the country or the Himalayan regions like Tibet.

The red berries are usually sold in their dry form. Much smaller than raisins, they’re often packaged in clear plastic bags. Even if you’ve never tried them, it’s possible that you still may have seen them before at your local store without realizing what they were.

Why Goji Berries Are so Good at Fighting Disease

You only have to take a look at the vitamin and mineral content of goji berries to see how powerful they can be in the fight against various diseases.

Nutritional Content of Goji Berries:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Zinc

But there’s even a lot more to them than that! Goji berries are also rich in disease-fighting compounds like beta-carotenes, polysaccharides, selenium, and germanium, to name a few.

Goji Berries Benefits: Four Diseases Which Goji Berries Can Help Fight Against

Goji Berries Can Help Prevent Heart Disease

Goji berries have long been touted by the Chinese as an effective way to boost circulation. And having good circulation is incredibly important when it comes to heart health. One of the reasons for this could be the berries’ high fiber content, which is known to benefit the body’s circulatory system.

Goji berries also contain something called cyperone which is known to benefit the heart and improve blood pressure. Furthermore, nutritious goji berries are chock full of minerals like calcium and iron, which are also good for the heart. But that’s not all!

One major cause of heart disease is cell damage – namely when the lipids in the cellular membrane start to degrade. The high antioxidant content of goji berries can also help prevent this process from taking place, ultimately protecting the heart. (1)

One of the best ways to consume goji berries to improve heart health, and circulation in particular, is to drink a ‘goji berry decoction.’ According to “The Essential Herbs Handbook” by Lesley Bremness, you should drink it a few times a day to improve blood flow. The preparation method is a little bit tricky and time consuming, but it goes something like this:

Place about an ounce of dried goji berries into an enamel pot and add 1.5 pints (750ml) of water. Bring the water to boiling point, and then let the water simmer for about 1 hour. Whether you want to strain the decoction or leave the goji berries in there is up to you. This should be enough liquid for about three doses. (2)

Goji Berries Can Improve Type II Diabetes

In traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries have also been used to treat diabetes. More recently, modern Western scientific studies have been finding the berries helpful in the fight against diabetes as well.

One study done on a group of diabetic rabbits found that blood glucose and triglyceride levels were reduced after drinking a mixture of goji berries and water. Triglyceride levels were also found to be reduced in a separate study conducted on diabetic rats. (Triglycerides, by the way, are fat molecules that are commonly found in high amounts in people suffering from type II diabetes). (3)

Goji berries are also recognized for improving eyesight and reducing macular degeneration. Of course, many diabetes sufferers are at risk of poor eye health and even eventual blindness if the disease isn’t treated. Eye protection is another reason why those suffering from diabetes should be consuming more goji berries.

If you’re interested in learning more about curing diabetes naturally, check out my book ‘Diabetes: The Raw Food Diet for Diabetes Reversal.’

Goji Berries Can Help Fight Against Cancer

We already know that goji berries come packed with a tremendous amount of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients. The berries’ high anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits are reason enough for them to also be potent cancer-fighting agents. But goji berries even contain certain chemical compounds which have been shown to be effective against cancer.

Goji berries contain a compound called germanium. Germanium on its own has been extensively researched for decades as a potential cure for a wide variety of ailments. Touted as a ‘miracle cure’ by a number of researchers over the years, germanium protects the body from free radicals and increases the flow of oxygen throughout the body. Oxygen deprivation in cells is considered to be one major reason for abnormal cell growth. (4)

Additionally, goji berries contain selenium. Selenium is a detoxifying agent which helps expel mercury from the body and has also been known to protect against cancer.

And while there are a lot more studies to be done, a recent study also found goji berry extract to be effective at fighting breast cancer in particular. (5)

Goji Berries Can Help Protect Against the Flu

For those of you living in colder climates, you probably know al too well how common the flu is at this time of year. One of the safest and most natural ways to protect yourself against diseases like the flu would be to start stocking up on more goji berries!

Goji berries have been proven to help us produce more of what are known as ‘antibodies.’ These Y-shaped proteins are what our immune systems use to help neutralize foreign viruses in the body. Furthermore, goji berries’ high vitamin C content is also another reason why the red berries can give your immune system a boost.

There have been a number of studies conducted on how goji berries help combat the flu, although many of these have been done in conjunction with the flu vaccine. While goji berries have been shown to increase the effectiveness of flu vaccines, if you regularly eat foods like goji berries in the first place, then flu vaccines should no longer be necessary. (6)

As goji berries and similar foods are known to strengthen the immune system, eating these superfoods as part of an already healthy and alkaline-based diet should provide plenty of protection from things like flus and colds.

How to Eat Goji Berries

There are a few different ways to reap the multitude of goji berries benefits. But if you’ve never tried them before, you’re probably wondering: “How do goji berries taste?” In my, and many other’s opinions, goji berries taste . . . well, just OK. They’re mildly sweet but also tart, and the aftertaste can be a little unpleasant if you have more than a handful at once.

Luckily, a handful or so a day is all you really need to experience the benefits of goji berries. Simply sprinkle some on top of your cereal, or include them in trail mix and you’re good to go! Of course, we’re talking about dried goji berries here, as that’s the form they usually come in.

If you happen to come across fresh raw goji berries, it’s possible to eat them that way, too. I’ve only ever come across dried goji berries, but the raw variety is said to taste very bitter despite their juicy, sweet appearance.

As described above, one way to consume goji berries is by making a special decoction. You could also try making a goji berry tea.

Goji Berry Tea

Making a goji berry tea is really simple. Furthermore, it can be made hot or cold. Just take a handful of dried goji berries, put them in a glass or container, and then add about a cup and half of either hot or cold water. Let the mixture sit for 5 – 10 minutes, and then it’s ready!

You can remove the goji berries if you like and eat them separately, or just leave them in there. Combining goji berries with chrysanthemum tea is another popular combination.

For added flavor, try adding in some raw honey to taste.

Goji Juice

You can also try making your own goji juice, which is nearly as easy as making the tea. Simply add a cup of dried goji berries into a blender and add in about 600ml of water. Blend for a few minutes, and then enjoy! Instead of regular water, you can also try using coconut water. (7)

Where to Buy Goji Berries

If you live in Asia, even in countries other than China like Southeast Asia or Japan, you should have a pretty easy time finding goji berries at your local supermarket. The West has been slow to learn about the amazing health benefits of goji berries, though, but they’re slowly growing in popularity.

If you go to your specialty health food market or grocery store, you should be able to find them, though they tend to be tucked away in some random aisle. If you can’t find them locally, there are plenty of options for buying goji berries online. Since they’re in dried form, they’re very easy for suppliers to package and store.

The web site Superfoodly brings up some interesting points when it comes to trusting the label on goji berry packaging. Modern China, unfortunately, is known for its rampant pollution, and even “certified organic” goji berries may have been grown in an unclean environment. Furthermore, the true source of goji berries can be hard to identify, as they may simply be bought through wholesalers like AliBaba and then repackaged. (8)

On the other hand, Teya Skae writes that most goji berries are grown in Ningxia province, a region of China known for having an especially nutrient-rich soil. In fact, Ningxia-sourced goji berries may even be the most nutritious of all the goji berries on the market. (9)

I tried looking up some data on pollution in China, and out of 74 cities surveyed, Yinchuan in Ningxia Province was among the ten cleanest as far as air pollution goes. Therefore, ‘Superfoodly’ may have been painting all of China with too broad a brush. (10)

Regardless of whether you’re for or against Chinese-sourced goji berries, Chinese berries are most likely what you’re going to end up with. Despite there being plenty of other regions around the world in which they can grow, goji berry cultivation just hasn’t really caught on in other countries yet.

Since Ningxia has been a major center for goji berries for centuries, I’d like to think that I can trust that the farmers there know what they’re doing.

This product proudly declares the berries as being sourced straight from Ningxia on the packaging.

And while there aren’t any reviews for this one, the ‘Feel Good Organics’ company is clearly proud of where their berries are sourced as well.

Potential Goji Berries Side Effects

If you’re on any prescription medications, be sure to consult your doctor before consuming goji berries. Goji berries might not interact well with medications for blood pressure or certain diabetes medications.

Due to their high fiber content, goji berries might also cause digestive issues like diarrhea.

If you’re someone already suffering from low blood sugar, you should try consuming goji berries with other foods to keep your levels under control. (11)

Conclusion

Above we just went over only some of the powerful goji berries benefits there are. When it comes to fighting disease, few other foods can compare with goji berries and their high antioxidant content. And similar to other superfoods like chia seeds, goji berries are packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals in a very small package. So if you’re looking to give your immune system a boost this winter, or are already struggling with things like heart disease or diabetes, you could greatly benefit from giving goji berries a try.

Sources

(1) https://www.naturallivingideas.com/goji-berry-benefits/

(2) “The Essential Herbs Handbook” by Lesley Bremness

(3) https://www.thesuperfoods.net/goji-berry/goji-berries-and-diabetes

(4) https://www.stopcancer.com/germaniumstor2.htm

(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26525080

(6) https://www.organicauthority.com/flu-symptoms-goji-berries

(7) https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12173/homemade-goji-berry-juice-takes-5-mins-to-make.html

(8) https://www.superfoodly.com/where-to-buy-fresh-goji-berries-locally/

(9) https://www.naturalnews.com/022639_goji_berries_superfoods.html

(10) https://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/blog/bad-to-worse-ranking-74-chinese-cities-by-air/blog/48181/

(11) https://www.naturesbeststuff.com/what-are-the-side-effects-of-goji-berries/

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The new documentary What The Health has been making waves in the months since its release earlier this year. The film, which focuses on how our health is closely related to our diet, has already attracted its fair share of both detractors and supporters. While I strongly agree with the basic premise of the film (i.e., food is the best medicine), the documentary falls short by confusing viewers with half-truths and some highly questionable claims. In this What The Health documentary review, I’ve broken down the film’s main talking points. I hope to provide insight for both people who have yet to watch the film as well as those who saw it but remain confused.

First, let’s start with what I’d consider to be the film’s main valid arguments.

‘What The Health’s Main Valid Points

Processed Meats Are Bad For You

As I’ve discussed throughout many of my articles and books, processed meats are something we should be eating less of, if not eliminating from our diet altogether. They are carcinogenic and are often pumped with a ton of added man-made chemicals in addition to sodium.

Furthermore, while the animals are still alive, they’re often injected with antibiotics, hormones and are fed genetically modified plants. Or even more disgustingly, animals that are killed are commonly ground up and fed back to their brothers and sisters that are still living. Gross!

Processed meat is also acidic and causes inflammation while stiffening the arteries. A great number of health ailments plaguing modern society today, such as diabetes and heart disease, can be directly blamed on too much processed meat consumption.

But is all meat bad for you? According to What The Health, yes – consuming any type of meat whatsoever is always bad for your health, the film claims. This fundamentalist attitude is one of the main problems I have with the documentary, but I’ll get into that further down below.

The Food Industry is in Collusion with Major Health Organizations

How often do we hear about some kind of march for breast cancer awareness, or see people wearing ribbons to promote ‘awareness’ of such-and-such a disease? These types of campaigns are often organized by supposedly trustworthy and credible organizations like the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Heart Association (AHA) and other similar cancer awareness groups.

The truth is, however, that these organizations often receive funding from major food industry corporations. In many instances, it’s the food from these same corporations that are causing the above-mentioned diseases in the first place!

It’s no wonder then, that groups like the ADA or AHA often refuse to discuss how one’s diet can possibly either cause or prevent serious health ailments. It’s almost as if their main purpose is not really to help the people they’re supposed to, but to simply keep the average citizen in the dark.

We live in a truly corrupt and backwards system in which the organizations meant to help us are actually causing us harm. What The Health does a great job at exposing this.

The film also brings up the issue of how in the United States, the food industry is so powerful that their lobbyists have been able to push laws through Congress which criminalize whistleblowing! It’s very scary stuff, and if anything needs an awareness march, it’s topics like these.

Other Good Points

Dairy: The film also points out some of the negative effects that dairy can have on our health. Too much dairy consumption can lead to autoimmune diseases in addition to rheumatologic problems. Most of the world’s population is actually at least mildly lactose intolerant, so there’s little reason why we should be drinking milk past infancy. Many popular claims that milk is good for our bones are also false.

Organic Meat: Not everything labelled organic is 100% safe. The documentary makes the point that many so-called ‘organic’ meats come from animals that were given GMO food. Therefore, we are often unknowingly consuming GMO products even when we pay more money for organic.

Environmental Impacts of the Meat Industry: Cows and other livestock need an incredible amount of land to live on while they must also be protected from potential predators. As a result, the beef industry is responsible for a large percentage of wildlife devastation and the destruction of the rainforest. By eating less meat, we’re also helping protect endangered animal and plant species. Though I have yet to see it, this is one of the main points of the What The Health producers’ previous film, Cowspiracy.

Plant-Based Protein Sources: The film touches on a lot of the points I brought up in my article How to Get Enough Protein Without Eating Meat. They don’t mention anything about the amino acid balancing act you must go through if you choose to go full vegan, though. This is where many vegans tend to mess up.

Where the Film Falls Short

Extremist Viewpoint

The main flaw of What The Health is its extremist view that a 100% vegan diet is the only good diet for 100% of all people. Think I’m exaggerating? Near the end of the film one of the talking heads even says that “we haven’t seen that moderation works,” in regards to integrating animal products into one’s diet.

This unbalanced perspective leads to many of the documentary’s other questionable claims. The film goes so far to demonize all animal products of any kind, that it even features one person saying that eating one egg a day is as bad for you as smoking 5 cigarettes! Come on, Really?

Paleo diet blogger Robb Wolf went through the trouble of searching for the citation for this claim and was unable to find it. Honestly, I’m not surprised. It’s outlandish statements like these which greatly hurt the film’s overall credibility.

“All Fats are Bad, all Carbs are Good”

From the very beginning, What The Health makes it clear that it advocates for a high carb lifestyle. I have no problem with this, as I typically eat a diet high in (healthy and unrefined) carbs myself and have found it to be greatly beneficial.

In fact, I wrote a book called Diabetes: The Raw Food Diet for Diabetes Reversal about how a high carb, raw vegan diet is one of the most effective ways to reverse type II diabetes. One of the health professionals whose research I cited most often was Dr. Neal Barnard, who happens to be one of the main talking heads in What The Health.

What, then, is my problem with What The Health? Just because there are plenty of benefits to a high carb, low fat diet, does not mean that all carbs are good for you and that all fats are bad. Watching the film with little knowledge of the subject, a viewer could easily get the impression that processed sugar is safe while something like organic butter is dangerous.

The film completely skips over topics such as the dangers of refined sugars and grains. As I mentioned in a recent article, consuming too much refined sugar can potentially lead to tooth decay, diabetes and obesity, among other things.

It should be pointed out that while sugar may not directly cause diabetes as popularly believed, its role in obesity makes it indirectly responsible for the development of type II diabetes in many people. Dr. Barnard even mentions this on his web site, but this topic is glossed over in the documentary.

According to the film, ‘sugar’ is unfairly demonized in modern society. But hardly any effort is made by the producers to explain any difference between natural and refined sugar consumption.

On the same note, the film gives viewers the impression that all fats are bad for you. What about fats from avocados? From nuts? As I plan to discuss in a future article, we need to make sure we’re getting enough healthy fats. Even fat from certain animal products like all-natural butter can be beneficial.

The Longest-Living Cultures Consume Meat

Which part of the world is home to the longest-living people on the planet? Okinawa – once known as the Ryukyu Kingdom and now a prefecture of Japan. And what is a prominent dish in Okinawan cuisine? Pork, especially fatty pork. They also eat plenty of eggs.

Sure, pork and eggs don’t make up the majority of the Okinawan diet, but that’s not the point. After watching What The Health, one might get the impression that it’s impossible to live a healthy, long life while consuming meat to any degree.

I went to take a look at some other of the world’s longest living cultures and found this article by Dr. Axe.

Here’s a quote:

“Contrary to popular belief, longevity doesn’t belong in the vegetarian domain. These people do eat a large quantity of herbs, fruits and vegetables, but animal products play a large role in their diets. Meats, cheeses, butters, yogurts and lard are staple components in these diets. These animals are grass-fed, free-range and respected.”

I’m partially playing devil’s advocate here, as I am often encouraging people to cut back on meat or try out long-term vegan diets or cleanses for detox purposes. But I also think it’s overly simplistic and ignorant to demonize all diets and lifestyles that involve the consumption of any animal products.

Where I Stand

For the record, I myself try to follow a diet which consists mostly of plant-based foods. But yes, I do sometimes also consume fish, eggs and meat to a degree, though to a much lesser extent than the average Westerner.

I have tried 100% vegetarian and even vegan diets in the past. These have been beneficial for my body and mind, especially at times when I was trying to overcome other unhealthy habits. At least for right now, I find that moderate consumption of animal products works best for me as long as I’m also eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. I am certainly not against 100% vegan diets and would like to try out a more long-term vegan diet sometime in the future.

It’s important to remember, though, that vegan or vegetarian doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. I’ve known plenty of vegans with little to no nutrition knowledge. They eat tons of bread, pasta and other processed stuff. They tend to get sick often and have very little muscle mass. How to eat a balanced diet while vegan is another thing that What The Health skips over.

So while I am a proponent of a vegan diet in principle, it’s certainly not the only healthy way to live as the film suggests. And I’m also not against the idea of high fat, low carb diets as long as one can maintain that lifestyle while also avoiding processed meats and cheese.

At the end of the day, it’s not so much about herbivores vs. omnivores or carbs vs. fat. The overall key to health is eating more foods that are natural and organic and less foods which are processed or genetically modified. What The Health could’ve been a much more powerful and balanced documentary had it simply looked at health from this perspective.

Final Thoughts on What The Health

Though the film brings up a lot of important and valid points, at the end of the day I would not recommend this documentary. If you’re reading this site then it’s possible that you’re already familiar with holistic health topics yourself, but are looking for a film to show a friend or family member in order to “wake them up,” so to speak.

Maybe you have a loved one with diabetes that either continues to eat fast food or believes everything he or she reads on the ADA web site. Should you show this film to your friends? Unfortunately, no. The extremist vegan and high carb viewpoint ruin this documentary, even if the producers had the best of intentions while making it.

On the bright side, What The Health continues to attract a lot of attention, and hopefully some of its viewers who are new to these topics will start doing more independent research for a more balanced perspective on nutrition.

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