The Goji Berry is a natural product that is used in the health food industry. It has also been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine.
The Goji plants themselves grow in both China and in certain regions of the Himalayas. Their berries are small, vibrantly red, and extremely delicate. In fact they are so delicate that they cannot be harvested by hand. Instead the plant is shaken gently to release its precious clutch of berries, which are then left to dry in the abundant sunshine.
In recent years, the goji berry has been associated positively with weight loss; it is believed that this is related to their low Glycemic index.
The Glycemic index describes that speed at which the foods that we eat are converted into blood sugar or glucose. The lower the Glycemic Index (GI) of a food, the slower the rate at which it converts into blood sugar. One of the big problems that most people encounter in relation to diet and weight control is the craving and urges to eat sugary, starchy foods that have a high GI index. What happens then, when we give in to the craving and indulge our desire, is that blood sugar levels soar or spike.
The bodys natural defense to high blood sugar levels is then automatically triggered, and the pancreas creates insulin. The result is that the blood sugar level nose dives, starting off a chain reaction of craving more sweet and starchy foods. The viscous cycle has begun.
The other effect of this see sawing in blood sugar levels is that you dont feel as if you have sufficient energy in your body to perform regular exercise. Consequently, youve got the worst case scenario; high intake of sweet starchy foods; and lack of exercise; a classic recipe for obesity.
Coming back to the Goji Berry, this has a Glycemic Index of 29, which compares to 38 for apples, and 42 for oranges. In addition to having a low GI, Goji Berries have got some other very interesting ingredients. They are rich in fiber, and fiber is well known for its ability to moderate blood sugar levels. They also contain Chromium which is a mineral that can enhance blood sugar control and is also known to help to retain muscle mass even whilst weight loss is being experienced. Because muscles use up more calories than fat, this can help to stimulate a more efficient metabolic rate.
Goji Berries also contain a number of nutrients that aid in turning food into energy, and not allowing it to become stored body fat. These nutrients include: thiamin, calcium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and zinc.
When we are younger, our bodies are naturally producing growth hormones which help to keep us slim. As we age, our bodys become less efficient at generating growth hormone which leads to less muscle tissue being formed and the greater formation of body fat. Goji Berries contain amino acids and potassium, both of which help us to produce higher levels of growth hormone.
As great as the goji berry is, it is not the sole solution to diet and weight loss, and they do not claim to be. However they can be helpful when used in conjunction with a good diet and exercise plan including meal replacement plans like Medifast.
Medifast is a leading weight loss and meal replacement program, and if used along with the goji berry should enhance the program's affects for your body and stimulate more weight loss.
On their own, Goji Berries will not cause any significant weight loss, but to use their potential benefits to the max, you could use them in this supplemental capacity.
The Goji plants themselves grow in both China and in certain regions of the Himalayas. Their berries are small, vibrantly red, and extremely delicate. In fact they are so delicate that they cannot be harvested by hand. Instead the plant is shaken gently to release its precious clutch of berries, which are then left to dry in the abundant sunshine.
In recent years, the goji berry has been associated positively with weight loss; it is believed that this is related to their low Glycemic index.
The Glycemic index describes that speed at which the foods that we eat are converted into blood sugar or glucose. The lower the Glycemic Index (GI) of a food, the slower the rate at which it converts into blood sugar. One of the big problems that most people encounter in relation to diet and weight control is the craving and urges to eat sugary, starchy foods that have a high GI index. What happens then, when we give in to the craving and indulge our desire, is that blood sugar levels soar or spike.
The bodys natural defense to high blood sugar levels is then automatically triggered, and the pancreas creates insulin. The result is that the blood sugar level nose dives, starting off a chain reaction of craving more sweet and starchy foods. The viscous cycle has begun.
The other effect of this see sawing in blood sugar levels is that you dont feel as if you have sufficient energy in your body to perform regular exercise. Consequently, youve got the worst case scenario; high intake of sweet starchy foods; and lack of exercise; a classic recipe for obesity.
Coming back to the Goji Berry, this has a Glycemic Index of 29, which compares to 38 for apples, and 42 for oranges. In addition to having a low GI, Goji Berries have got some other very interesting ingredients. They are rich in fiber, and fiber is well known for its ability to moderate blood sugar levels. They also contain Chromium which is a mineral that can enhance blood sugar control and is also known to help to retain muscle mass even whilst weight loss is being experienced. Because muscles use up more calories than fat, this can help to stimulate a more efficient metabolic rate.
Goji Berries also contain a number of nutrients that aid in turning food into energy, and not allowing it to become stored body fat. These nutrients include: thiamin, calcium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and zinc.
When we are younger, our bodies are naturally producing growth hormones which help to keep us slim. As we age, our bodys become less efficient at generating growth hormone which leads to less muscle tissue being formed and the greater formation of body fat. Goji Berries contain amino acids and potassium, both of which help us to produce higher levels of growth hormone.
As great as the goji berry is, it is not the sole solution to diet and weight loss, and they do not claim to be. However they can be helpful when used in conjunction with a good diet and exercise plan including meal replacement plans like Medifast.
Medifast is a leading weight loss and meal replacement program, and if used along with the goji berry should enhance the program's affects for your body and stimulate more weight loss.
On their own, Goji Berries will not cause any significant weight loss, but to use their potential benefits to the max, you could use them in this supplemental capacity.
About the Author:
Dorthy Weatherbush is a leading expert in diet and weight loss for both men and women. She has used the Medifast diet plan in conjunction with the goji berry to help her customers achieve optimal results. In addition to Medifast , Dorthy utilizes lots of cardio activity and weight training to get her customers the bodies of their dreams.
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