New Discovery on the Chinese Wolfberry
The
story began five years ago when Professor Chao visited me at our
Riverton office. He was on a special teaching and information-gathering
assignment from the Natural Science University in Beijing, China.
He had heard of essential oils and was fascinated by their potential.
As we started discussing the medical properties
of essential oils, he told me of another powerful botanical that
had been used for centuries in Inner Mongolia but had only recently
been researched. It was called the Chinese wolfberry (also known
by its Latin name, Lycium barbarum, or colloquial name, "goji
berry".
The people who consumed this
fruit apparently lived free of common diseases like arthritis,
cancer and diabetes. Moreover, their life expectancies reached
over 100 years.
Both the wolfberry and ginseng
have been highly regarded for centuries as the foremost nutritional
and therapeutic plants in China. In fact, the Chinese hold a strong
belief that human life might be extended significantly by using
either of these herbs for an extended period of time.
Unfortunately, ginseng is considered
too strong for continuous use, and large amounts may not be suitable
for people with high blood pressure or heart disease. On the other
hand, the wolfberry is much milder, with no known risk from continuous
use.
Contains 500 Times More Vitamin
C Than Oranges
In
1988, the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute conducted detailed
chemical analyses and nutritional composition studies of the dried
wolfberry fruit.
What they discovered was stunning.
The wolfberry contained over 18
amino acids (that is six times higher in proportion than bee pollen),
21 trace minerals, more beta carotene than carrots, and an astonishing
500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges. It is also packed
with vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and vitamin E.
The fruits and pedicels of wolfberry
were effective in increasing white blood cells, protecting the
liver and relieving hypertension. The alcoholic extract of wolfberry
fruits inhibited tumor growth in mice by 58%, and the protein
of wolfberry displayed an insulin-like action that was effective
in promoting fat decomposition and reducing blood sugar.
Another clinical experiment by
the Ningxia Institute (Register No.870306, October 1982 to May
1985) studied the effects of wolfberry on the immune, physiological
and biochemical indexes of the blood of aged volunteers. The results
were amazing, indicating that the wolfberry caused the blood of
older people to noticeably revert to a younger slate.
Can the Wolfberry Boost Immune Function?
According to a report of the State
Scientific and Technological Commission of China, the wolfberry
contains compounds known as lycium polysaccharides, which appeared
to be highly effective in promoting immunity. These results were
validated in a number of clinical trials.
In one study on a group of cancer
patients, the wolfberry triggered an increase in both, lymphocyte
transformation rate and white blood cell count (measures of immune
function).
In another study involving a group
of 50 people with lower-limit white blood cell counts, the wolfberry
increased phagocytosis and the titre of serum antibodies (another
index of immune function). Unhealthy levels of titre of serum
antibodies have long been associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(also known as Epstein-Barr). Does this mean that the wolfberry
could be used as a weapon against Epstein-Barr? The possibilities
are intriguing.
In another study, consumption of
wolfberry lead to a strengthening of immunoglobulin A levels (an
index of immune function). Because the decline of immunoglobulin
A is one of the signs of aging, an increase in these levels suggests
that the wolfberry may enable injured DNA to better repair itself
and ward off tissue degeneration.
Is the WoIfberry a Powerful Antioxidant?
As we grow older, the levels of
lipid peroxide in our blood increase, while levels of health-protecting
antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), decrease. In a
clinical study of people who consumed doses of wolfberry, SOD
in the blood increased by a remarkable 48% while hemoglobin increased
by 12%. Even better, lipid peroxide levels dropped by a whopping
65%.
Does the WoIfberry Protect Eyesight?
A test was conducted on the effects
of wolfberry on eyesight. Twenty-seven people were tested and
showed a dramatic improvement in both dark adaptation and vitamin
A and carotene content of their serum (measures of eyesight acuity).
Gary Sees Dramatic Changes
Over the past six years, I had
become somewhat lax with my exercise regimen because of two badly
damaged ankles. So this Christmas, I buckled down and started
a fitness program, combining moderate exercise two to three times
a week with two daily servings of Power Meal alone and with meals.
By the middle of March, while I
was studying in Turkey, I started noticing physical changes: My
skin looked brighter and my energy level was higher. I averaged
a fifteen-hour day between my studies and lab practice.
When I returned home, I discovered
that I had dropped 12 pounds, paired off three inches from my
lower abdomen, and gained three inches in my chest.
Then, two weeks ago while I was
in Phoenix, I went out for a one-mile run. I felt limber and energetic
and performed the run with ease. Last week at my home in Utah,
located at an altitude of over 5,000 feet above sea level, I went
out for a 2.7 mile run and was not fatigued at all--even in the
thinner high-altitude air.
Two days later, I ran 4.3 miles
without feeling tired and without leg pain. I could have continued
on another three or four miles but decided not to push it. These
results take on even more significance when you consider that,
prior to my try-out in Phoenix, I had not run in over six years.
News for Athletes, Dieters and Cancer, AIDS and
MS Patients
These types of physiological effects
prompted me to probe deeper into the chemistry of the wolfberry.
What I discovered was startling:
The wolfberry not only contains
super oxide dismutase, phenylpropanoids, anticancer factors and
antisenility factors, but it also sports a high concentration
of the branched-chain amino acid L-leucine.
Leucine is an essential amino acid
that we do not make in our bodies, so we can only get it from
our diet. It is present in small quantities in both, plant and
animal food, and is a natural component of breast milk.
But leucine is regarded as more
than just an essential amino acid: It also supports immune function,
burns fat and builds muscle.
How?
Because leucine forms the building
block of a very unique compound called HMB (Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate).
Through its phenylpropanoid activity, the wolfberry helps convert
leucine into HMB.
What makes HMB such a breakthrough
in health-maintenance? According to noted researcher, Richard
Passwater, Ph.D.,
HMB showed that it lowered total
and LDL cholesterol levels in blood and helped strengthen the
immune system while building muscles and burning body fat. This
news is certainly of interest to body builders and other athletes,
but it may also become of interest to cancer, AIDS and muscular
dystrophy patients.
Tapping the Power of Wolfberries
Following my meeting with Professor
Chao, I started importing wolfberries straight from Inner Mongolia
and went to work formulating products. We developed several dietary
supplements using wolfberries, which include: BeFit, Berry Young
Delights, Wolfberry Power Bar, Power Meal, Sulfurzyme, MightyVites,
and ...
Berry Young Juice™
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The Berry Young Juice™ contains: 80% Ningxia
Wolfberry Juice, Pomegranate Juice, Blueberry Juice, Apricot Juice,
Raspberry Juice, and the essential oils of Orange (Citrus sinensis)
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Berry Young Juice™ is a super antioxidant berry juice containing
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