We continue our review of nutritional values of foods. Goji berries are of two species: Lycium barbarum l. and Lycium chinense, both belong to the Solanaceae family (of this same family belong such as the potato, tomato, eggplant, tobacco, pepper and Belladonna).
This food comes in the form of red berries and grows spontaneously in the valleys of the Himalayas, in Mongolia, Tibet, China's provinces of Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia autonomous region. But before we talk about the nutritional values of goji berries, we try to understand where and how they are made. Despite being in our Western culture, an absolutely new and recent food, these berries are cultivated for thousands of years and are considered a key element in traditional Chinese medicine, with high nutritional value as well as for healing various diseases.
The fruit is a red berry slightly elongated shape and pretty obvious of several flattened seeds.
But what are the main substances contained in goji berries?
- Betaine
- Beta-sitosterol
- Cyperone
- Germanium
- Solavetivone
- Fisalina
- Zeaxanthin
- Lutein
Given the presence of Betaine and lutein agrees not to consume these berries during a pregnancy, so better avoid them during the gestation period.
Nutritional value of 100 grams of goji berries:
Total fat 5.7 g
Saturated fat 1.1 g
Protein 10.6 g
Carbohydrates 21 g
Sugars 17.3 g
24 mg sodium
112.5 mg calcium
8.4 mg iron
Crude fibre 7.70 g
Vitamin C mg 306
Carotene 7.38 mg
8.48 mg amino acids
0.15 mg vitamin B1
46.5 mg polysaccharides