Chinese Wolfberries: Goji Berries, Ancient Chinese Longevity Secret Revealed

*Scientific documentation available in the book: Ningxia Wolfberry: The Ultimate Superfood by Gary Young.

What are Wolfberries?

Wolfberries (Lycium barbarum) have been used for over 5,000 years in China (called Goji berries in China). There are over 80 species of Lycium berries worldwide and 17 different species of wolfberries alone but there is only one Ningxia wolfberry. The Yellow River on the West Elbow Plateau, known for its fertile silt deposits, delivers minerals and nutrition to the pristine environment of the Ningxia province. This, in addition to plenty of sunlight and just the right temperature difference, has earned this area the title of "herbal medicine valley". There are 400% more centenarians (people age 100+) living in the Ningxia province than the rest of China. Chinese Olympic athletes considered the wolfberries (Goji berries) to be their "secret weapon" for endurance and stamina. The wolfberries from the Ningxia province are so treasured that there is a two week celebration in China for this most nutrient dense food on the planet. Wolfberries were the peasants' "ginseng" because they could harvest the wolfberries freely and could not afford the ginseng root.

 Wolfberries have:

• Higher beta-carotene than carrots

• Higher calcium than cauliflower

• More Vitamin C than oranges

• 18 amino acids

• 21 essential minerals

• 16% protein by volume

• Antioxidants and polysaccharides (containing all eight essential glyconutrients)

Scientific studies have shown wolfberries to:

• Improve vision

• Reduce inflammation

• Reduce cholesterol levels by 52%

• Reduce triglycerides by 71%

• Raise HDL cholesterol by 58%

• Increases glutathione in the liver by 50%

• Lower blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic)

Scientific ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) Testing

The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test, developed by USDA researchers at Tufts University, is one of the most valuable methods for measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb oxygen radicals. According to the ORAC test, the Ningxia wolfberry is one of the highest known antioxidant whole foods. This means the wolfberry has unsurpassed ability to absorb the bad free radicals that attack the body and contribute to cancer and aging. The most common and worst free radical is the superoxide radical. Elevated superoxides have been linked to asthma, allergies, heart disease, hepatitis, cancer and most chronic diseases. Therefore, there are two tests: the ORAC and S-ORAC. Here is a graph comparing the ORAC values for different foods.

© 2005 Young Living Essential Oils^TM

Plants carry most of their antioxidants and polysaccharides in their peel. Whole wolfberries have shown far better antioxidant activity than either the isolated polysaccharide or other extracts of wolfberries. Of any food, the Ningxia wolfberry has the highest content of potassium, a mineral with proven cardio-protective effects. Young Living Essential Oils now offers a whole wolfberry juice blend called NingXia Red^TM that contains 51% wolfberry puree by volume. This whole food puree uses the peel, pulp and juice of the prized Chinese Ningxia wolfberry. It also contains blueberry, pomegranate and raspberry juices as well as lemon and orange essential oils. Pomegranates are high in quercetin and ellagic acid while wolfberries are high in polyphenols and polysaccharides. There is tremendous synergy between the wolfberry and pomegranates juices.

The antioxidant power of NingXia Red^TM juice has been proven in independent tests. ORAC and S-ORAC tests were done on randomly selected consumer-bottled product by independent third-party Brunswick Laboratories. Results of the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test:

© 2005 Young Living Essential Oils^TM

© 2005 Young Living Essential Oils^TM

What Makes NingXia Red^TM unique?

1. Uses only wolfberries from the "herbal medicine valley" Ningxia province in China.
2. Contains only whole food juices (juice, pulp and peel of the wolfberries). No extracts, concentrates or chemically altered compounds.
3. Contains no "junk juices" such as apple, grape and pear. These cheaper juices are only used to sweeten the taste and have no antioxidant benefits.
4. Manufactured using the proprietary Nutrient-Guard^TM process developed after 7 years of research. This process preserves the bioactivity of enzymes, vitamin C and the rest of the nutrients by cooling the juice quickly after the heating of pasteurization (similar to flash pasteurization).

The wolfberries in the juice have the Green Certificate equivalent to organic certification, meaning it contains no fertilizers, pesticides or heavy metals and no sulfites, dyes or irradiation have been used.

The ingredients in NingXia Red^TM juice offer the following benefits:

• Ningxia Wolfberry puree—highest antioxidant food, rich in immune-stimulating polysaccharides, ellagic acid, cerebrosides, pyrroles, and other unique phytochemicals

• Blueberry juice—rich in proanthocyanidins. Tufts University studies show that it protects blood cells against free radical oxidation and slows brain aging; University of Mainz studies shows that it protects cell DNA

• Pomegranate juice—3 times the antioxidant activity of green tea or red wine, reduces oxidized cholesterol by 40%

• Raspberry juice—high levels of ellagic acid

• Lemon and Orange Essential Oils—high in limonene which combats cell mutation

The dried Ningxia wolfberries have a low food glycemic index of 29. Studies done by Young Living showed 50 g of NingXia Red^TM juice raised serum glucose levels less than half as much as a control of 50 g of glucose. This is important even for non-diabetics as a high-glycemic diet can accelerate aging and triple the risk of heart disease. (If you are a diabetic, consult your medical professional before ingesting dried wolfberries or NingXia Red^TM juice.)

We especially like the NingXia Red^TM juice because it contains whole wolfberries and whole food products are generally safer and more effective than isolated supplements. We do not sell herbs, liquid extracts or supplements because of the dangers of using these isolated, scientist-formulated or man-produced compounds. To learn more about the hazards of isolated supplements, click here.

Purchase NingXia Red^TM

Remember, you pay for what you get. NingXia Red^TM juice contains no "junk juices" of apple, grape or pear, only high antioxidant blueberry, pomegranate and raspberry juices as well as lemon and orange essential oils using a flash pasteurization process to preserve the bioactivity of enzymes, vitamin C and the rest of the super nutrients. Young Living only uses organic wolfberries from the 'herbal medicine valley' in the NingXia province of China. These is a difference in quality!

Other Wolfberry Products

Young Living also produces a whole line of other wolfberry products using the Ningxia wolfberries. Supplements include Be-Fit, ImmuPro and Sulfurzyme with MSM. Personal care products include the Wolfberry Eye Cream and the new A.R.T. (Age Refining Technology) line to help reduce wrinkles, diminish age spots, and increase elasticity of your skin. The A.R.T. kit includes a Gentle Foaming Cleanser, Day Activator and Night Reconstructor Cream. It’s like getting an anti-aging skin spa treatment in a package. Finally, Young Living offers Wolfberry Crisp Bars for those who want a quick energy snack on the go.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat any medical condition. Please consult your qualified medical practitioner for any health condition. Scientific studies citing all the above facts are available at www.YoungLiving.com. (For those using Warfarin or aspirin, wolfberries may thin the blood too much, so caution is in order. Grapes are toxic to some dogs so giving NingXia Red^TM juice to dogs is not advisable.)

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