Goji Vs. Blueberries

Goji berries

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Berries are versatile fruits that offer a number of health benefits. Berries are widely used in beverages, ice cream, yogurt, milkshakes, jams and smoothies. Berries are high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and folic acid. Two berries that are particularly high in health promoting antioxidants are goji berries and blueberries.

Goji Berries

The goji berry is a small red berry native to certain regions of Asia and now available around the world. The goji berry has long been a part of Chinese alternative medicine. Goji berries are a nutrient dense fruit with anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-fatigue and anti-tumor properties. In addition, goji berries may increase metabolism and may help control glucose levels in diabetics, reports Harunobu Amagase and colleagues in the May 2008 issue of "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine."

Blueberries

Blueberries are native to North America, Europe and Asia and get their name from their deep blue color. Blueberries are an excellent source of anthocyanins, which are potent antioxidants. Blueberries are also a very good source of vitamin C, E, manganese and fiber. The health benefits of blueberries are primarily due to their antioxidant content. Blueberries contain one of the highest levels of antioxidants of all fruits and vegetables, according to "The Condensed Encyclopedia of Healing Foods."

Goji Versus Blueberries

Both goji and blueberries derive health benefits from the high amount of antioxidants they contain. Goji berries typically contain two to four times the amount of antioxidants of blueberries. Antioxidants help protect your body against free radicals. Free radicals are electrically charged molecules that cause damage to your cells. Free radicals are produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposure to things like tobacco smoke and radiation, reports MedlinePlus. Free radicals may play a role in heart disease and cancer and may quicken signs of aging.

Other Benefits

Goji berries contain chemicals that might help might help lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Blueberries may help prevent you from developing a bladder infection by stopping bacteria from attaching to the walls of the bladder. Both Gogi and blueberries are high in fiber and may help with digestive function. More research is needed to determine how effective these berries are in disease prevention, according to MedlinePlus.