Goji Berries, worth the cost?

[hapahaole]

I've been contemplating buying goji berries through Frontier co-op, it's 1 lb. for $15. Is it worth the price? They come from China and I've read that China grown goji berries can be full of toxins. Is this true?

Thanks!

-K

[DebB]

Hi K ~ I'm just giving my humble opinion. I've heard a lot of "folks in the know" talk about 'superfoods' of which they say goji berries are... They say why go through the expense of buying a berry that's been grown in China (or Tibet, or ?) - picked and shipped all the way to the US when we have berries here that have wonderful properties...

The more I thought about that, the more I think I'll stick to our berries and skip the gojis. Although I would like to try to grow some of our own in our garden next year.

Sorry, I don't know if the berries grown in China are full of toxins or not. *Ü*

[RawSar]

I have no idea if that is true, if the berries grown in china are more toxic ...

What I do know is that we have quite a bit of goji berries that we slowly pick at. They dont taste very good IMO. I think I've only have had them with a trail mix, and I dont eat trail mix often... I'm not crazy about them at all and neither is my boyfriend..

[green jeanie]

YES

i am an herbalist trained by chinese doctors at bastyr

best case: patient who would not take herbs but had a terribly weak pulse that indicated need to build blood,

got her eat goji every day......pulse normal in 2 weeks, headaches gone etc.

yum! :p

[Revvell]

Goji Berries, worth the cost?

If you like 'em. I don't.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

Go for fresh local berries first. Preferably wild berries.
Goji berries are great, but way overrated in my opinion. A handful of blueberries fresh from the woods has so much more life force in them than a handful of dried goji berries from Asia.

Like DebB I will try to grow my own though. But I'll have to wait two years to try them since they don't bear fruit the first year.

[Seedy]

Ehhh. They're Ok, but I think blueberries are every bit as nutritious, taste better and are local. I bought 10 pounds for $10 when they were in season and froze them. Alas, they are gone already. I do love me some blueberry smoothies and Alissa's blueberry pie.
Seedy

[betty boop]

If there is a Chinatown in your city buy them at the supermarket there, they are dirt cheap compared to what healthfood stores charge and even other supermarkets. Our local supermarket sells them in bulk $5. for 100 grams but at a Chinese Supermarket I found many different brands $2-$4 for 300 gram bags.

I put them in my green smoothies (soaked first) whenever I remember.

You can also take the seeds out of the dried berry and grow them. I have a couple plants going now and one is blooming with the most gorgeous lavender flowers!!

[Dimond]

Goji Berries are definitely worth the cost, though Frontier's may not be a good quality to get. You need to make sure that they come from a raw, organic/wildcrafted supplier that tests to make sure their are no harmful chemicals.

I use to not like the taste, now I love them. Think it's due to being raw for so long. They're like candy to me.

They're one of the healthiest dried fruits you can get. Just compare the nutrients and benefits to any of the others.


Goji Berries are high in protein & contain 18 amino acids-including all essential, 21 trace minerals, more vitamin C than oranges, more beta carotene than carrots, & more iron than spinach or soybeans & many other nutrients. Goji berries contain polysaccharides & are high in antioxidants. Goji Berries are used to restore energy & strength, increase stamina & longevity, boost sexual libido & enhance fertility, strengthen the immune system, treat insomnia, improve eyesight (it's the world's richest food source of carotenoids), & aid in digestion.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Definitely worth the cost. Add them in your smoothie or with any recipe. They are rich of many nutrient but me i take them for the iron. They have 9 time more iron then red meat according to my nutritionist. It is true that our berries are rich and we need to take advantage of them, especially blueberries.

I try to get the gojji berries from Tibet because they apparently contain more nutrients.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

They have 9 time more iron then red meat according to my nutritionist.


Nah, it's more like 3-5 times more (depending on which kind of meat). So 50 grams of Goji berries will contain about as much iron as a regular steak.
I'm not sure how much the body actually will assimilate from those sources though.

[Rick2009]

Goji is considered medecinal by the chinese and I am told not to have more than a small handful per day.

Dr Oz's Longevity Shake includes Blueberries, Banana, Almond milk, Maca and.....Goji Berries.

As for chinese goji, if they are not organic...I checked with a chinese medecine specialist who recommends rinsing them and even soaking them a few minutes to remove any residual pesticides.

I have not found any organic ones, but those I purchase in China Town are so very inexpensive.. So I rinse them well and make a smoothie with them.

I do however prefer locally grown organic blueberries... huge life-force energy!

All good,

[TaupeRawMan]

I don't do gojis myself, but have found them cheaper than $15 for certified organic.