Gogi Berries
With so much information about Gogi berries today, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. In this brief article, we'll cover the basics of Gogi berries and help you understand a little more about this nutritional phenomenon.
Who introduced the Gogi berry?
The Gogi berry has a very long history in Asian cultures. Reports place its earliest known use at 100 A.D. Records from the Divine Farmer's Handbook of Natural Medicine confirm this speculation. Anecdotally, both laymen and ancient shaman swore by the Goji berries’ ability to increase both the quality and length of life. Countries that made heavy use of the Goji berry in day-to-day life include India, Nepal, China and Mongolia.
What do Gogi berries grow on - a tree, a bush or out of the ground?
Technically speaking all Gogi berries grow out of the ground because that's where the bushes are. In all seriousness, Gogi is a perennial plant that is actually a member of the nightshade family. The nightshade family includes things you have heard of before such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and cash crops such as tobacco. The bushes grow in hot, humid weather, and do best in sandy soil.
As the Gogi blossoms, its lavender cone shaped flowers transform themselves into tiny fruit resembling a Christmas tree light. Once ripened, Gogi berries sparkle red which is what gives them the name "red diamond fruit". The fruits are ready to eat right off the vine.
Where can Gogi berries be purchased?
Today Gogi berries can be purchased in almost any health food store in either dried form, as a juice or as a dietary supplement. When you consider the nutritional benefit of including Gogi berries in your diet it's hard to imagine why you wouldn't want to give them a shot.
Gogi berries are tremendously beneficial from a nutritional standpoint, and they are very easy to include in your lifestyle. We hope that you have enjoyed our brief discussion of the who, what and where surrounding Gogi berries and wish you the best of health!