A research conducted by the University of California (USA) has discovered a new health benefit of eating goji berries. There are many beneficial effects that place goji berries as a superfood.
Regularly eating a small portion of dried goji berries helps prevent or delay the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in healthy middle-aged people, according to a trial conducted at the University of California (USA).
This new research, published in the prestigious journal Nutrients, highlights goji berries as a superfood for human health.
Goji berries, superfood to protect vision
In such a study, researchers have observed that thirteen healthy participants aged 45 to 65 years who consumed 28 grams of goji berries for five times a week for 90 days, increased the density of protective pigments in their eyes.
However, a total of 14 people who ate a commercial eye health supplement during the same period offered no such benefit. These results elevate goji berries as a superfood for eye health.
Specifically, the aforementioned pigments increased in the group that ate goji berries, zeaxanthin and lutein. “Lutein and zeaxanthin are like sunscreen for the eyes. The more lutein and zeaxanthin in your retina, the more protection you have. Our study found that even in normal healthy eyes, these optical pigments can be increased with a small daily serving of these berries,” explains the study’s main author, Xiang Li.
8 benefits of including goji berries in the diet
On the other hand, berries are a superfood with potent antioxidant power and high fiber content. Therefore, the intake of this food not only protects the eyesight, but also protects the skin and the aging process, preventing the development of various cardiovascular diseases.
- Strengthen the immune system.
- Protect vision.
- Lower cholesterol.
- Promote weight loss.
- Prevent cancer.
- Improve mood and reduce stress.
- Prevent premature aging.
- Regulate blood sugar.
The utility of goji berries in China
Xiang Li grew up in northern China, and apparently in the country’s medicine, goji berries have qualities to ‘brighten the eyes’. Because of this, this study arose out of Li’s curiosity to find out if there were any specific properties of this superfood that would cause the ‘shine of the eyes’.
Thus, he proceeded to analyze the bioactive compounds these berries, discovering that it contains large amounts of zeaxanthin and lutein.
In this sense, it is necessary to clarify that currently, for the intermediate stages of AMD, special dietary supplements are used, called AREDS, which contain vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, lutein and zeaxanthin.
In conclusion, Professor Li emphasizes that “our study shows that goji berries, which are a natural food source, can improve the macular pigments of healthy participants beyond taking nutritional supplements in high doses. The next step of our research will be to examine in patients with early stage AMD.”