Saturday, May 12, 2012

What are the side effects of Goji Juice?

What are the side effects of Goji Juice?

These small red berries are found, and harvested in the Himalayas.

While they are only relatively new to the worldwide market, they are creating quite a stir because of their claims to incredible longevity enhancement, and health benefits of those taking them.

In the Himalayas, where the goji berry is found growing naturally, the locals respect the berries, and as a part of their culture, there is an annual two-week celebration held to honor the berry.

According to some scientific research, the Goji berries contain four master molecules that do not appear in any other food, anywhere in the world.

It is said that the discovery of these unique molecules called Polysaccharides is the biggest breakthrough in nutrition in over 40 years. Along with these Polysaccharides; there are also a number of other beneficial nutritional goodies found in the berries.

While Goji berries seem like the nutritional breakthrough of the past 40 years, one of the most important questions to ask is whether this nutritional supplement is safe, and what, if any, are the side effects of using Goji berries?

When speaking of side effects, and medication, or supplements of any type, even those that your doctor prescribes, it is important to remember that almost anything can cause a reaction in one patient, while another seemingly responds well to the treatment.

With that said, there has been no reported cases of anyone being allergic to the Goji berry supplement, or having noted any serious, or life threatening side effects, although it is in the early days since the world wide discovery of the supplement.

It is not recommended that Goji berries be taken at nighttime, as they may increase alertness, making it difficult to sleep at night. It is also suggested that those taking the berries be wary of the other fruits they mix with the berries, as they may have an allergic reaction to other fruits.


Another recommendation to reduce the likelihood of having side effects from using Goji Berries is to take them in moderation. Do not take over the recommended dosage, especially if you are a pregnant woman, as there has been evidence to suggest that over dosing on Goji berries could cause pregnancy complications.

It is also important to know that Goji Berries, like some other natural products may have anti-coagulant activity, which in most cases is desirable for those taking the supplement.

If you are taking a prescription medication containing coumadin, or better known as Warfarin, there is a risk that one of the side effects of taking the both together could be dangerous episodes of bleeding.

While Goji Berries can have the capacity to have some side effects, there have been no serious side effects noted for those taking the berries, and considering the known side effects they are less dangerous to the ones that you may face when taking prescription medication for common ailments.

Alien writes for sunburn . He also writes for herbal medicines and aloe vera benefits

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

CRANBERRY GOJI RELISH

CRANBERRY GOJI RELISH
Loaded with vitamins, minerals, flavinoids and anti-oxidants, this energizing relish is delicious by itself, as a colorful side dish for holidays, or a beautiful garnish with fruits and lettuces. A great winter or summer food.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2 tbsp red onion, chopped
  • 4-6 dates
  • 1 -2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 tbsp jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
  • 1 orange, peeled, sectioned
  • 1 Tbs. lime juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1/4 cup Tibetan Goji berries, soaked
  • 1/4 cup black seedless raisins, soaked
Blend ingredients except berries and raisins to a coarse texture in a food processor with the “S” blade. Stir in raisins and berries by hand and serve immediately or refrigerate overnight to blend flavors. Keeps up to 1 week. Store in glass bowl or jar.

Goji Juice Side Effects 2

Goji Juice Side Effects 2

However, many people are now wondering if the berries and the juice they produce are actually safe to consume. The question of possible side effects from Goji berries and juice has been brought up on many occasions. To put things in perspective though, just about every type of medication and supplement can cause different side effects in different people. Not everybody reacts the same. It’s when there’s a visible trend in these effects that people start to become concerned. It’s natural for some people to suffer from side effects with anything.

The berries have been harvested in Asia for centuries, but are relatively new to the worldwide market. Since Goji juice is seen as something new, there haven’t been any reports of serious side effects as of yet. There have been some minor ones though and people taking the berries and juice may want to consider a few things regarding the supplements.

Alertness and Allergies

The juice causes alertness in some people, so you might not want to drink it before going to sleep. The berries may also react with other types of fruit. This could cause an allergic reaction with people who are allergic to other types of fruit as they’re often mixed together.

Anti Coagulant Properties

The juice should be consumed in moderation since it could have anti-coagulant properties. This means it acts as a type of blood thinner. If you’re already on medication such as Coumadin the blood could become too thin and there’s a risk of internal bleeding and external bleeding could be hard to stop.

The blood flow can be increased in a person, which is a benefit to most, but for others, it can be dangerous. This includes people on Coumadin as well as the elderly and hemophiliacs. The best thing to do is visit a doctor if you’re concerned about the effects of the berries on your blood system.

Atropine Effects

Goji berries also contain varying amounts of atropine, which is a toxic alkaloid. Too atropine can cause nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, imbalance, and eye pain in some people. It may also trigger bouts of hallucination and confusion in elderly people.

One of the most talks-about effects of the juice concerns pregnant women. Some people believe it helps the women and others believe it’s harmful to them. This is because the selenium content in the fruit is quite high and it could possibly lead to certain types of birth defects in babies. Studies have also shown that high levels of selenium can cause lower sperm counts in some male rats and causes alterations in the productive cycle of female rats.

When it comes to Goji berries and juice it’s generally considered to be good idea to watch out for any of these symptoms and side effects. If you notice some of them are happening to you after taking the berry juice you may want to think twice about drinking it. It’s never a bad idea to consult a doctor or other medical professional before you take any type of health supplement. This is done to make sure there are no added risks involved.