In temperate areas of the Himalayan Mountains in Tibet are found evergreen shrubs that produce a very special berry called the goji berry. Goji berries are also found in parts of China, but those found naturally in the Himalayas are believed to be superior to the other varieties. Which is not to slight other varieties - they're all very nutritious - but Himalayan goji berries are considered the "gold standard" in goji berries.
Goji berries have to be harvested with care. They are very fragile, which is why you don't see fresh goji berries in produce stores. To harvest the berries, the shrubs on which they grow are shaken, and the ripe berries fall onto a soft mat on the ground. These mats full of goji berries are left to dry in the sun, and the result is a fruit that resembles a large, deep red raisin. The taste of dried goji berries has been described as more tart than a raisin, and closer to the taste of a dried cranberry. They are delicious when eaten in their naturally dried form.
Himalayan goji berries are also made into gochi juice. Some goji berry juice manufacturers are careful to standardize the quality of the juice, so that it meets the nutritional properties that goji berry juice is known for. This juice is so dense nutritionally, that a one-ounce "shot" of goji juice is considered a full daily serving. What's even better is that Himalayan gochi berry juice tastes delicious. Some people have described it as tasting somewhat like tart cherries.
Himalayan goji berries have been used for centuries in eastern medicine, but in recent years, the Western world has "discovered" them anew. The nutritional profile of the average Western diet is not that great, as is evidenced by the high levels of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the west. Therefore, many westerners have turned to Himalayan goji juice as a part of a revamped, healthier diet.
The contributions of Himalayan gochi berry juice to daily nutrition are impressive. It is very rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, which mop up free radicals circulating in the body. It is also high in vitamin C, and contains advantageous levels of trace and essential minerals. Himalayan goji berry juice also contains four polysaccharides that are not found together in any other natural food, plus essential fatty acids, amino acids, and substances like zinc and selenium which are very important nutritionally, particularly as we get older.
Even though the Himalayan goji berry has only recently become the subject of rigorous nutritional studies and chemical analyses, the berries' history of several centuries in Chinese medicine as a holistic therapy shows that people have enjoyed benefits of this remarkable natural food for a very long time, even if they weren't sure why they enjoyed it so much. Holistic therapy aims to keep the mind, body, and spirit healthy, and natural, nutritionally dense foods like Himalayan goji berries and juice made from them have a definite place in that process. freelife juice - freelife.com
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