Goji Berries: “Superfood” For Which There Are Good Alternatives

They should be full of vital substances and thus uniquely enrich our menu and promote health: Goji berries are touted as a true miracle fruit. We get to the bottom of the ingredients and the effects of goji berries.

Useful or not? goji berries

Many people are talking about them because they are said to have unique properties and do something good for us with their nutrients. Exotic superfoods such as goji berries, chia seeds, or algae come to us from distant countries and are said to promote health. As a rule, the plant-based products do contain vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that our body needs. Goji berries, which we usually sell dried, are rich in vitamin A or the precursor beta-carotene, vitamin C, and iron, they also contain calcium and have a high fiber content. The combination of iron and vitamin C is beneficial for iron deficiency, as the latter improves the absorption of the mineral. The other side of the coin when it comes to the ingredients is the pesticide load, which is often high in the goods that are almost exclusively imported from China. The consumer advice center points out that local fruit varieties such as blackcurrants meet the need for the vital substances mentioned just as well, are less polluted and do not have to be imported, which is harmful to the climate. What many people don’t know is that rowan berries are also edible and rich in vitamins A and C.

How to use goji berries

If you still want to try the supposed superfruits, you can, for example, prepare a superfood berry smoothie with them, sprinkle the goji berries in muesli, or make jam out of them. The taste of goji berries is sweet, which makes them well suited for fruit preparations and sweet spreads. In addition to dried fruit, you can also buy goji berry extract and goji berry capsules as dietary supplements. In powder form, the fruit can also be mixed into food, so you can refine yoghurt with it, as with our Acai Muesli Bowl. However, anyone taking anticoagulant medication should avoid goji berries: The fruits can increase their effect, which can lead to a tendency to bleed, warns the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.

Fresh fruits from our own garden

And what about fresh berries? Imported goods are still rarely found in supermarkets. The goji berry plant also thrives here, so you can bring in your own harvest and be sure that the fruits are not contaminated with pesticides. But make sure that you plant specimens that are suitable for consumption. Goji berries grow a lot, so there should be enough space in the garden. If you want to dry the goji berries that ripen in late summer, you can do this in the sun, in an oven at 50 degrees, or with a dehydrator. If you soak the fruit briefly beforehand, the slightly bitter taste will be reduced.