Nutritional Values of the Various Goji Berries and Products

There are many places on the Internet detailing the nutritional content of goji berries, but many of them reference the same source. Most of the information circulating comes supposedly from the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute, which in 1988 is said to have conducted detailed chemical analyses and nutritional composition studies of the dried Lycium fruit.  

According to sources citing the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute analysis, the fruit contains more beta carotene than carrots and 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges. The fruit also contains over 18 amino acids, 21 trace minerals, and substantial amounts of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin E. The analysis also apparently discovered the berries to contain essential fatty acids and to be an incredibly rich source of carotenoids. Many of these findings have been verified by subsequent studies, although the vitamin C content claim is interesting to note and will be discussed momentarily.

These nutrition facts have been found on various sources: 1/4 Cup portion, Calories 90, Fat 0g, Fiber 4g, Protein 4g, Carbs 24g, and Sugars 12g, Vitamin A 180% of DRI, Vitamin C 30%, Calcium 9% and Iron 15%. Another source noted that the berries contain 11 mg of iron per 100 grams.

It is important to note that different berries will contain different amounts of vitamins, etc. due to the fact that some may be of a different species. It is important where the berries are grown and what type of soil they are grown in is also important.

Another company selling the berries listed these as the average content per 100 grams:

  Total Fat: .7g
  Saturated Fat: 1.1g
  Protein: 10.6g
  Total Carbohydrate: 21g
  Sugars: 17.3g
  Sodium: 24mg
  Energy Value: 346kj
  Calcium: 112.5mg
  Iron: 8.42mg
  Crude Fiber: 7.7g
  Vitamin C: 18.4g
  Carotene: 7.83mg
  Amino Acid: 8.48mg
  Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 0.15mg
  Polysaccharides: 46.5mg

Another company, lists this information for their sun dried goji berries. It is very important fact to be remembered when purchasing the goji berries and namely that there are much more nutrients in the shade drying berries than in sun drying berries:

Serving Size: 28g

  Calories Total: 112

  Total fat: 1.4g

  Saturated fat: 0g

  Cholesterol: 0gm

  Sodium: 84mg

  Total Carbohydrate: 28g

  Dietary fibre: 4g

  Sugars: 4g

  Protein: 4g

  Vitamin A: 170%

  Vitamin C: 20%

  Calcium: 6%

  Iron: 12%

  The data above is inconsistent with the previous amounts of vitamin C content. The daily recommended intake of vitamin C is around 75 to 200mg, depending on the person and depending on who you talk to about it. If 100g of goji berries contained 18 or 20g of vitamin C, a typical 25g serving of goji berries would give you somewhere around 5g of vitamin C, about 66 times more vitamin C than you need in a day. Plus, the berries would be 25% vitamin C. I will look into this more, but for now, it is best to be cautious about what you believe in all of the hype about goji berries out there.

Even the nutrients found in goji juice itself will vary from what is found in the actual berries. The seeds of the berries are what contain the essential fatty acids, for example, but these do not go into the juice. Does this mean that actual berries are better? Not necessarily, but it is something to consider.

Tibetan Goji Berries are the authentic, very pure Grade A goji berries that are shade dried, organically cultivated wild plants. Tibetan Lycium Eleagnus (Tibetan Goji Berry) is the original source of this great energetic ancient Tibetica Lycium berry and these Tibetan Goji berries are the purest form of the Lycium berry and come from a compassionate culture that honors all life. These Tibetan Goji berries have been grown in protected valleys in wild and cultivated areas of Inner Mongolia in million year-old soils where pesticides have never been used.

You will know when you are eating true Authentic Tibetan Goji Berries because they are very sweet and delicious tasting. If you get a cardboard sensation you may not be eating the true Goji (gogi as some type it).

These Tibetan goji berries are a very rich source of vitamin C, having 500 times more vitamin C per ounce than oranges. They are also a superb source of vitamin A, more beta carotene than carrots. They have vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E and are becoming a famous antioxidant. They also are a rich source of both selenium and germanium. The goji berries have 18 amino acids higher than bee pollen) and 21 trace minerals, linoleic acid and other beneficial food co-factors.  

As a food, dried Goji Berries may be eaten raw or cooked. Their taste is somewhat similar to that of raisins. Dried Goji Berry is an ingredient often used in Chinese soups. Young shoots and leaves of the Lycium bush are also grown commercially as a leaf vegetable. A wine containing Goji Berries is also produced.

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