A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi
—————————————————————————————
To cite this paper:
Harunobu Amagase, Dwight M. Nance. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. May 1, 2008, 14(4): 403-412. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0004.

Harunobu Amagase, Ph.D.
FreeLife International, LLC, Phoenix, AZ.
Dwight M. Nance, Ph.D.
Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California at Irvine, Orange, CA.

ABSTRACT
Background: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is the first study reported from outside China that has examined the general effects of the orally consumed goji berry, Lycium barbarum, as a standardized juice (GoChi ; FreeLife International LLC, Phoenix, AZ) to healthy adults for 14 days.

Methods: Based upon the medicinal properties of Lycium barbarum in traditional Asian medicine, we examined by questionnaire subjective ratings (0–5) of general feelings of well-being, neurologic/psychologic traits, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular complaints as well as any adverse effects. Also, measures of body weight, body–mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, and visual acuity were assessed before and after consuming 120 mL of GoChi/day or placebo control solution. Data were statistically analyzed for changes between day 1 and day 15.

Results: Significant differences between day 1 and day 15 were found in the GoChi group (N = 16) in increased ratings for energy level, athletic performance, quality of sleep, ease of awakening, ability to focus on activities, mental acuity, calmness, and feelings of health, contentment, and happiness. GoChi also significantly reduced fatigue and stress, and improved regularity of gastrointestinal function. In contrast, the placebo group (N = 18) showed only two significant changes (heartburn and happiness). No significant changes in musculoskeletal or cardiovascular complaints were observed in either group. All parametric data (body weight, etc.) were not significantly different between groups or between day 1 and day 15 for either group.

Conclusions: These results clearly indicate that daily consumption of GoChi for 14 days increases subjective feelings of general well-being, and improves neurologic/psychologic performance and gastrointestinal functions. The data strongly suggest that further research is indicated to confirm and extend knowledge of the potential effects of Lycium barbarum upon human health.

Anxious about anxiety?

Here’s help on how to stay calm.

Fear and anxiety are an unavoidable part of life. You may feel anxious before a dental appointment, or when you’re walking alone down a dark street. This kind of anxiety is useful - it can make you more alert or careful. It usually ends soon after you are out of the situation that caused it. But for millions of people around the world, the anxiety does not go away, and it can even get worse over time, with symptoms such as chest pains or nightmares. Some may even be afraid to leave home. These people have anxiety disorders.

Here’s how to recognize the differences between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders, courtesy of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America:

Normal Anxiety

• Occasional worry about circumstantial events that may leave you upset, such as financial worries, family problems, or traffic jams
• Embarrassment or self-consciousness in the face of uncomfortable social situations
• Random case of “nerves” or jitters, dizziness, and/or sweating over an important event like an exam, job interview, or oral presentation
• Realistic fear of a threatening object, place, or situation
• Wanting to be sure that you are healthy and living in a safe, hazard-free environment
• Anxiety, sadness, or difficulty sleeping immediately following a traumatic event

Anxiety Disorder

• Constant, chronic, and unsubstantiated worry that causes significant distress, disturbs your social life, and interferes with work
• Avoidance of common social situations for fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated
• Repeated, random panic attacks or persistent worry/anticipation of another panic attack and feelings of terror or impending doom
• Irrational fear or avoidance of an object, place, or situation that poses little or no threat of danger
• Performing uncontrollable, repetitive actions, such as washing your hands repeatedly or checking things over and over
• Ongoing and recurring nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional numbing relating to a traumatic event in your life that occurred several months or years ago

If you can relate to any of the anxiety disorder symptoms, you may want to talk to someone who is professionally qualified to help. For normal anxiety, the following strategies will also help you to stay calm:

• Exercise. Physical activity helps your body and mind. It doesn’t matter whether you jog, work out, play tennis, or go for a walk. Just get off the couch and get moving!
• Eat a balanced diet. Don’t skip meals, and try to eat from all of the food groups.
• Limit alcohol and stimulant use. Alcohol can aggravate anxiety and can also cause panic attacks, and too much caffeine can do the same as well.
• Get involved. Being active in your church or community creates a support network and gives you a break from your everyday stress.
• Do your best instead of trying to be perfect. We all know perfection isn’t possible, so be proud of however close you get.
• Take a timeout. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and count to 10. Stepping back from the problem lets you clear your head. Practicing meditation, listening to soothing music, or getting a relaxing massage are great ways to calm down.
• Put things in perspective. Think about your situation. Ask yourself whether it’s really as bad as you think it is or if you might be blowing it out of proportion.
• Talk to someone. Don’t let things bottle up to the verge of explosion. Reach out to trusted friends or family if you’re feeling low.
• Find out what triggers your anxiety. Take notes or write in a journal when you’re feeling anxious or stressed, and then look for patterns.
• Drink 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi™ every day!

—————————————————————————————
GoChi™ – Participants in groundbreaking clinical study report experiencing increased feelings of happiness in just 14 days!

In a recent human clinical trial featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), participants drinking a daily serving of just 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi reported significantly increased feelings of calm, contentment, and happiness in as little as 14 days! The study participants drinking GoChi also reported experiencing significantly less stress when compared to the start of the study. The publication of our study by the independent experts of a peer-reviewed publication such as JACM represents a first for a functional juice beverage in the Direct Selling industry, and it demonstrates FreeLife’s ongoing commitment to supporting its claims with solid scientific research.

Don’t worry. Be happy. Drink GoChi!
————————————————————————————-
REFERENCES:

• “Got Anxiety? Get Help.” Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Silver Spring, MD. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
• “Medline Plus: Anxiety.” U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
• Amagase H, Nance DM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi™. J Altern Complement Med. 2008; 14(4), pp. 403-412. Abstract available on PubMed at http://www.pubmed.gov (PMID: 18447631)

Article Copyright:Health Watch Weekly Freelife International

DISCLAIMER: The article is to provide information on goji berry (“Lycium Barbarum”). The information contained within is collected from extracts of educational material from the latest scientific evidence available in the internet and public domain. No statements herein have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Click here for Goji berry opportunities

Click here for alternative of natural nutritional food that will increase your energy, stamina and athletic performance

Turn on Your Body’s Antioxidant Power!

Everyone’s talking about the age-defying benefits of antioxidants, but do you know what antioxidants are—and how they actually work?

The U.S. Government’s Medline Plus database defines antioxidants as substances that help to protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or by environmental sources such as tobacco smoke, radiation, and automobile exhaust. You even produce harmful free radicals when you exercise! Left unchecked, free radicals can damage or kill cells. They play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other diseases, and they can also contribute to the premature aging of your body and mind.

Fortunately, antioxidants can come to the rescue! The antioxidant process in your body is similar to stopping an apple from browning. Once you cut an apple, it begins to brown, but you can prevent discoloration by dipping each slice in lemon juice, which contains the antioxidant vitamin C.

Antioxidants are divided into two classes: the dietary antioxidants that you get from food, and the endogenous antioxidants that are made by the body. In addition to vitamin C, dietary antioxidants also include beta-carotene, vitamin E, selenium, and polyphenols such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, and xanthones. Polyphenols are found in some fruits and juices, and even though they may look impressive in antioxidant tests such as ORAC, those tests only measure antioxidant potential in a test tube. The truth is that most antioxidants in fruits and juices do not perform well in the human body because they are poorly absorbed and therefore remain trapped in the digestive tract, and this has been shown in important scientific studies.

We believe that it is far more meaningful to human health to maintain high serum levels of the body’s own endogenous antioxidants, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase. These vital antioxidant enzymes circulate in the blood throughout the entire body to neutralize all types of free radicals before they can do harm.

Here are some tips for increasing your body’s antioxidant power to help prevent premature aging:

1. “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” These words of wisdom are from Michael Pollan’s remarkable new book, In Defense of Food. His directives are simple, sensible, and to the point:
   • “Eat food” – Eat a wide variety of the kinds of natural and healthy foods that your grandparents ate, not today’s unhealthy processed or “engineered” foods that are loaded with salt, fat, or high-fructose corn syrup. The digestion and metabolism of processed foods can deplete your body’s vital endogenous antioxidants.
   • “Not too much” – The more calories you consume, the more free radicals you generate. Animal studies have shown that those that eat less live longer, healthier lives.
   • “Mostly plants” – Plant-based foods are healthier and put far less oxidative stress on the body. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts also contain beneficial phytonutrients that can contribute to health and well-being.
2. Drink 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi every day!

—————————————————————————————
GoChi™ – Participants in groundbreaking clinical study report experiencing increased feelings of happiness in just 14 days!

In a recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, blood tests on participants drinking GoChi showed highly significant improvements in serum levels of the important endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. This was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in blood levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a prime indicator of free-radical damage and a known health risk factor.

This antioxidant study is yet another demonstration of the remarkable power of GoChi, and it illustrates FreeLife’s ongoing commitment to lead the nutrition industry in clinical research, product efficacy, and evidence-based product formulation.

So raise your glass, and you’ll soon be well on your way to raising your antioxidant power.

Don’t worry. Be happy. Drink GoChi!
————————————————————————————-
REFERENCES:

• “Medline Plus: Antioxidants.” U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD. Retrieved June 28, 2008. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antioxidants.html
• Manach C, Scalbert A, Morand C, Rémésy C, Jiménez L. Polyphenols: food sources and bioavailability. Am J Clin Nutr 2004; 79: 727-47
• Scalbert A, Williamson G. Dietary intake and bioavailability of polyphenols. J Nutr 2000; 130(8): 2073S-2085S
• Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food (New York: Penguin Press, 2008), p.1

Article Copyright:Health Watch Weekly Freelife International

DISCLAIMER: The article is to provide information on goji berry (“Lycium Barbarum”). The information contained within is collected from extracts of educational material from the latest scientific evidence available in the internet and public domain. No statements herein have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Click here for Goji berry opportunities

Click here for alternative of natural nutritional food that will increase your energy, stamina and athletic performance

How’s your Happiness Quotient?

If you’re like most people, you are actively seeking more happiness in your life. But you may be looking in the wrong places, and that may not be your fault. Turn on your TV, read a magazine, or log on to the Internet, and you’re assaulted by a never-ending bombardment of advertising pitches. They’ll try to convince you that happiness can be yours for the price of a new car, an expensive watch, or a trendy cell phone, but the sad truth is that the pleasure of a new acquisition fades quickly and will do nothing to increase your happiness quotient.

Can wealth make you happier? You’ve often heard that money can’t buy happiness, but few of us actually believe it. And yet, research has shown that once your basic needs are met, additional income does little to raise your sense of satisfaction with life. Additional income can raise your future happiness index, however, by helping you to secure your retirement goals or your children’s education.

Some people believe that youth is the key to happiness, but the fact is that older people are more consistently satisfied with their lives than the young, and they’re less prone to dark moods, too. Perhaps you’re thinking that a move to warmer, sunnier weather might make you happier? Well, think again! Tropical islands and the romantic French Riviera may be happy places to visit, but a recent study at England’s University of Leicester has shown that the world’s happiest people are the Danes, even though the climate can be unrelentingly cloudy, cold, and damp.

The good news is that you don’t have to move to Copenhagen to be happy. You can increase your happiness quotient over the long term by adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and making time for friends and family.

But what if you’re feeling blue right now?

Here are some strategies that can help you to lift your spirits immediately (excerpted from Gretchen Rubin’s enlightening blog, The Happiness Project). Try to check off as many of the following items as possible, and you’ll really see a difference in your mood!

• Boost your energy. Stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, better still, take a brisk ten-minute walk outdoors. Research shows that the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information.
• Reach out to friends. Having warm, close bonds with other people is one of the keys to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch.
• Rid yourself of a nagging task. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long.
• Create a calmer environment. Clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent.
• Lay the groundwork for some future fun. Order a novel you’ve been wanting to read, or plan a weekend activity that brings you pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone.
• Do a good deed. Introduce two people who could help each other, or shoot someone an email with some useful information or gratifying praise. If you do good, you’ll feel good—this really works.
• Act happy. Put a smile on your face right now, even if you’re faking it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile has a positive influence on your emotions. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.
• Listen to your favorite music. Studies show that listening to music is one of the most effective ways to boost your energy and mood (second only to exercise). In fact, in one study, 92% of people felt happier when they listened to music they liked. For an added boost, dance around the room, too.
• Drink 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi every day!

—————————————————————————————
GoChi™ – Participants in groundbreaking clinical study report experiencing increased feelings of happiness in just 14 days!

In a recent human clinical trial featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), participants drinking a daily serving of just 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi reported experiencing significantly increased feelings of happiness and contentment in as little as 14 days!

The publication of our study by the independent experts of a peer-reviewed publication such as JACM represents a first for a functional juice beverage in the Direct Selling industry, and it demonstrates FreeLife’s ongoing commitment to supporting its claims with solid scientific research.

So raise your glass, and you’ll soon be well on your way to raising your antioxidant power.

Don’t worry. Be happy. Drink GoChi!
————————————————————————————-
REFERENCES:

• White A. A Global Projection of Subjective Well-being: A Challenge to Positive Psychology? Psychtalk 2007:56, pp. 17-20. University of Leicester (UK). Retrieved July 25, 2008. Available at http://www.le.ac.uk/users/aw57/world/sample.html
• Rubin G. (2008, June 4) The Happiness Project. Message posted to: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2008/06 /eight-tips-for.html
• Amagase H, Nance DM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi™. J Altern Complement Med. 2008; 14(4), pp. 403-412. Abstract available on PubMed at http://www.pubmed.gov (PMID: 18447631)

Article Copyright:Health Watch Weekly Freelife International

DISCLAIMER: The article is to provide information on goji berry (“Lycium Barbarum”). The information contained within is collected from extracts of educational material from the latest scientific evidence available in the internet and public domain. No statements herein have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Click here for Goji berry opportunities

Click here for alternative of natural nutritional food that will increase your energy, stamina and athletic performance

Don’t Distress Over Stress

“Stress is life. Life is stress,” says Dr. Esther Sternberg, Director of the Integrative Neural Immune Program at the U.S. Government’s National Institute of Mental Health. You can’t avoid stress, but although you might think of it only in negative terms, a little bit of stress can actually add excitement to your life and it’s essential for keeping you motivated. Too much stress, however, leads to distress, and that, according to many health researchers, can have negative effects on your immune system. People in distress also tend to secrete an overabundance of the stress hormone cortisol, with numerous health consequences including heart disease, stroke, obesity, respiratory disease, chronic inflammation, sleep disturbances, migraine and tension headaches, and even accident proneness.Distress can also affect your performance at work, at play, or at school. Dr. Elizabeth Droz, Director of Student Counseling at Binghamton University, lists some major causes of distress:

Change – Any change (either positive or negative) that requires adaptation to your daily routine can cause overproduction of the stress hormones that can lead to distress.

Attitudes – Negative, critical, fearful, and/or pessimistic attitudes about yourself or others can cause emotional distress. That can lead to “sickness behavior,” in which the sufferer loses interest in work, daily activities, and social interaction.

Poor Nutrition – An imbalanced diet causes physiological distress, reducing the body’s ability to maintain itself and to resist disease.

Lack of Physical Fitness – Exercise is more than just building muscle. It also tones the vital organs and promotes the flow of stress-fighting brain chemicals.

Other causes of distress include bad relationships, boredom, noise pollution, congested travel and living conditions, and economic pressures. All of these common conditions can wreak havoc on your health and well-being.

How can you help yourself to de-stress instead of distress? Here’s what the experts at the National Institutes of Health recommend:

1. Identify the things in your life that cause you stress: relationship problems, conflict at work, a death or illness in the family. Once you know what’s stressing you out, you can begin to figure out ways to change your environment and manage your stressors.
2. Take control of stressful situations. If there’s a problem that can be solved, it is better to solve it now than to let it become a chronic and distressing annoyance.
3. Manage those chronic stressors that you can’t control. Support groups, relaxation, meditation, and exercise are all tools you can use to manage your stress. If nothing you do seems to work for you, seek a health professional who can help. Also seek professional help if you find that you worry excessively about the small things in life.
4. Drink 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi every day!

Usual Dosage Level
Research suggests a daily usage of 2 to 4 ounces of high-quality standardized goji juice, taken with meals or before exercise.

DISCLAIMER: The article is to provide information on goji berry (“Lycium Barbarum”). No brand name are ever mentioned or promoted. The information contained within is collected from extracts of educational material from the latest scientific evidence available in the internet and public domain. No statements herein have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Click here for Goji berry opportunities

Click here for alternative of natural nutritional food that will increase your energy, stamina and athletic performance

FreeLife International Launches New Product Backed by Clinical Research

GoChi™

.fullpost{display:inline;}FreeLife International Launches New Product Backed by Clinical Research

Goji® Juice, recently announced a revolutionary new product in Laguna Beach, Calif. at the company’s annual Leadership Summit. Developed with input from scientists around the globe, GoChi™ represents a significant advance in the goji and nutritional beverage categories, and is one of the first and only juice products backed by clinical research.

GoChi is preservative-free, halal and kosher, and contains 30 percent more polysaccharides (the active ingredient) than FreeLife’s original Himalayan Goji Juice. It also tastes great. More importantly, 9 out of 10 people who used GoChi in a recent study felt a significant health benefit in the first 14 days.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, GoChi proved beneficial for human health in 13 key areas in just 14 days. Results included reduction of stress, less fatigue, increased energy, better quality of sleep, and increased regularity. The findings of this study were analyzed by top statisticians at the University of California, Irvine, and all were declared to be statistically significant, with an impressive confidence level of 90-99 percent. To the contrary, the lead researcher, who is a member of FreeLife’s Scientific Advisory Board, noted that in 12 out of the 13 areas studied, the test subjects taking the inactive placebo experienced no statistically significant improvements. FreeLife has verified these findings with similar results in a subsequent controlled follow-up study, and the company is in the process of designing and conducting further research.

“The study on GoChi represents a monumental leap in the entire juice category,” FreeLife CEO & Co-Founder Ray Faltinsky said. “It raises the credibility of this product to a standard never before seen in the juice industry. We have taken the science to a higher level with our own clinical research specifically on our product.”

Since Himalayan Goji Juice was introduced to the market by FreeLife in 2003, the company has achieved four straight years of record growth. “When we introduced Himalayan Goji Juice, no one had yet heard about the goji berry,” said Faltinsky. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people around the world have benefited from Himalayan Goji Juice and tens of thousands of sales reps have joined FreeLife.

“GoChi has been developed through FreeLife’s worldwide research efforts, and represents the next generation of Himalayan Goji Juice, delivering an unprecedented potency and balance of the unique Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the goji berry,” Faltinsky added. “We anticipate that millions of people around the globe will benefit from this new product.” The market in the United States alone represents about 300 million adults and children.

Founded in 1995, FreeLife International is a financially solid, Inc. 500 direct sales company based in Phoenix, Arizona. Operating in 24 countries, FreeLife’s leading products are GoChi and Himalayan Goji Juice. FreeLife’s mission is “to serve each other by promoting good health, well-being and the opportunity for an abundant life” and this statement is used to guide company decisions every day – starting with the Co-Founders and emanating to all employees at the corporate offices and the sales representatives in the field.

Article Copyright:Freelife International