Goji Berries for Good Health and Long Life

Goji berries on a white porcelain plate.
The goji berry is a nutrient-rich fruit that grows in China. (Image: Marufish via flickr CC BY-SA 2.0)

Goji berries are a nutrient-rich fruit that grows in China. It is mostly found along the Himalayan valleys of China, Tibet, Mongolia, and on plantations in the Ningxia and Xinjiang regions. Goji berries have become more popular as the West has come to discover this superfruit.

The name goji comes from the Chinese gǒuqǐ (枸杞), indicating the plant where goji berries grow. The berries are a staple of traditional Chinese medicine. Goji berries are also known as wolfberries in English.

Eating goji berries leads to a long life

Legends detail how the fruit leads to increased lifespan. Legendary Chinese herbalist and martial artist Li Ching-Yuen was born in the 1600s. He lived straight into the 20th century, a lifespan of 256 years. He is believed to have eaten goji berries as part of a herbal diet.

A person with some goji berries in their hand.
Goji berries have become more popular as the West has come to discover this superfruit. (Image: Antonio Tajuelo via flickr CC BY 2.0 )

The best goji berries grow in Ningxia, along the Yellow River. People who live there eat them on a daily basis. You will notice a difference in the older people there. They live long and healthy lives full of energy, and living past 100 is more common there than anywhere else in China.

Besides long life, goji berries help maintain health in many ways. In Chinese traditional medicine, they are believed to strengthen the functions of the eyes, liver, and kidneys. They have also been notable for helping people fight cancer, lose weight, control diabetes, lessen fatigue, and improve sleep.

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  • Raven Montmorency

    Raven Montmorency is a pen name used for a writer based in India. She has been writing with her main focus on Lifestyle and human rights issues around the world.

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