Himalayan Goji - A Miraculous Wonder Goji Berry?

By Irwan Lee

What is the fuss about Goji? Why do people all over the world suddenly talks about Goji? Why do Hollywood celebrities like Ben Kingsley, Anthony Michael Hall, Madonna, Paula Abdul, Mischa Barton and Elizabeth Hurley and athletes like Mike De-Laval (Weight Lifter Champion), Jon Mark Owings (Professional Baseball Players), David Rodriguez (Boxing Champ) and Heidi Koster (Ms. Fitness Australia) to name a few, raved on Goji Benefits?

In 2005, the Los Angeles Times raved about “Tibetan and Chinese legends tell of people who live century-long lives while retaining the strength and beauty of youth - thanks to Lycium (goji).”

Woman’s weekly - “Chinese miracle berries that keep woman young!”

The Today Show - “Goji … Packed with antioxidants.”

In 2006 Time magazine - “This years’ breakout (super fruit) was the Himalayan goji berry, said to be a source of energy and longevity.”

New Woman Magazine - “The latest super fruit to take Hollywood by storm is the Himalayan Goji berry.”

BBC News Magazine - “Celebrities have been singing the praises of Goji.”

In 2007 the news breaking was even better as the highest-rated talk show in television history - The Oprah Winfrey Show - make an unsolicited, unpaid endorsement by a leading Medical Doctor - Dr. Mehmet Oz, (author of the bestselling “YOU: The Owners Manual”, and Vice Chairman of Surgery at Columbia University) - which carries considerable weight. Nobody is going to risk his/her credibility on National TV by endorsing something he/she doesn’t believe in. He recommended Goji to Chicago Bulls leading scorer Ben Gordon to maintain high energy levels and not to crash after working out. Dr. Oz said: “Goji - a bright colored fruits - grow in the Himalayas are the most potent antioxidant fruit that we ever know.”

So what is Goji berry? Are they a miracle “super fruit,” or just another product of hype machine? Let’s study it more carefully.

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