| The Ningxia Wolfberry (pronounced "Ning-sha") is | | | | up by hard science. Scientists have discovered |
| a tasty red berry which is grown organically in the | | | | that supplementing the diet with lutein and |
| Ningxia Province of Northern China, near inner | | | | zeaxanthins (pronounced "zeeah-zanthins") can |
| Mongolia. Here it is fed by pure glacial water, and | | | | remarkably reduce the progression of macular |
| a mineral rich soil. Although there are many | | | | degeneration, because these compounds act as |
| varieties of Wolfberry in China (commonly called | | | | the eye's natural sunscreen, screening out |
| Goji Berries), it's the Ningxia variety of Goji Berry | | | | damaging blue light. |
| (botanical name Lycium barbarum v. ningxia) that | | | | Studies have shown that if you take 6 mg/day |
| is renowned throughout China for its powerful | | | | of lutein/zeaxanthin, it will reduce your risk of |
| properties. | | | | macular degeneration by 57%, and reduce your |
| The Ningxia Goji Berry is not just your average | | | | risk of senile/metabolic cataracts by 20%. And if |
| fruit. It's a powerful superfood, containing more | | | | you take 10 mg/day it will lead to a 43% |
| betacarotene than carrots, more calcium than | | | | improvement in central vision. |
| cauliflower, more protein than bee pollen (it's 16% | | | | The problem is that the average intake of lutein |
| protein by weight, making it a high-protein fruit), | | | | and zeaxanthin (combined) in our diet is |
| more vitamin C than oranges, 18 amino acids, 21 | | | | approximately 3 mg/day. This isn't enough. And |
| trace minerals, 6 essential fatty acids, and | | | | most supplements have a lutein to zeaxanthin |
| vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and E | | | | ratio of 20:1 (and the American diet is 12:1), |
| The Ningxia Goji Berry stands out among the | | | | whereas the ideal ratio is 1:2.5. This means that |
| many varieties of wolfberry by containing the | | | | the proportion is wrong in our diets - we need |
| highest concentration of immune stimulating | | | | more Zeaxanthin than Lutein. |
| polysaccharides. It's therefore no surprise that | | | | Zeaxanthin was tested in various foods, and |
| that it's become a secret weapon used by | | | | showed that the Ningxia Goji Berry contains by |
| Chinese Olympic swimmers (and is declared a | | | | far the highest concentration of all foods tested, |
| national treasure by the State Scientific and | | | | at 278 µg/g. Compare this with Zeaxanthin |
| Technological Commission in China). Nor is it | | | | in Spinach (3 µg/g), Egg yolk (12 µg |
| surprising that Chinese scientists found it reduced | | | | g), and Capsicum (16 µg/g). Even better, |
| tumor size in mice by up to 58%. | | | | the zeaxanthin contained in the Ningxia Goji Berry |
| Its acid binding, and alkaline forming properties | | | | occurs in the form of an ester, which is far more |
| have made it a natural liver protectant. This is a | | | | bioavailable than common zeaxanthin, so it means |
| great attribute, because an acidic body is the | | | | your body can more easily get the benefit from |
| foundation of disease. The Western diet is highly | | | | it. |
| acidic (containing an excess of acid foods like red | | | | Studies have shown that having 15g (3 |
| meat, alcohol, sugar and dairy), and disease can | | | | teaspoons) of dried Goji Berry per day will triple |
| only live in an acidic body. Any food that is alkaline | | | | the amount of zeaxanthin in your blood over 30 |
| and can help bind to acid in the body is going to | | | | days. But Goji Berry nutrients are even more |
| move your body in the right direction - away | | | | accessible to your body when they come in the |
| from disease. | | | | form of a liquid - Goji Juice. |
| Chinese scientists began studying the Ningxia Goji | | | | Ideally, look for a Juice that contains the whole, |
| Berry when they learnt that farmers who were | | | | pureed Ningxia Goji Berry, rather than |
| eating it every day were living to 100 or more | | | | reconstituted Goji Juice. If it contains the whole |
| years of age with no disease, and not requiring | | | | Ningxia Wolfberry, it will have the added benefits |
| glasses. This contrasted with other locals in Ningxia | | | | of the skin and seeds of the goji berry, where |
| Province whose average lifespan was 10 to 20 | | | | many of its nutrients lie. Also look for a Goji Juice |
| years less, and who were victim to the common | | | | formula that uses natural low glycemic index |
| diseases. | | | | sweeteners and other high antioxidant fruits, |
| It's stated in the Chinese Physician's handbook | | | | rather than fillers like pear or apple juice. And |
| (1593AD) that a Goji Berry elixir was given to a | | | | most importantly, drink Goji Juice every day, as a |
| man, and he lived for over a hundred years. This | | | | very cost effective vision insurance. |
| man could walk extremely fast, and his grey hair | | | | This article includes extracts from the CDRom |
| turned black again. The same text states that the | | | | Ningxia Wolfberry Facts, published by The Health |
| Goji Berry will improve vision. | | | | Garden. |
| This historical information has now been backed | | | | |