Wolfberry: Nature's Bounty of Nutrition and Health

By Xiao-Ping Zhang, Richard Zhang, Paul M. Gross

Book Overview

This book objectively considers nutritional evidence that the Chinese wolfberry, Lycium barbarum L., is the world's most nutrient-rich food. 81 scientific publications are summarized and interpreted as a foundation for this evidence. Wolfberry's diverse phytochemicals, including its rich content of protein, 8 polysaccharides (dietary fermentable fiber) and 4 carotenoids (antioxidants), 6 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 11 essential minerals, and 5 omega fatty acids provide compelling definition for wolfberry's superlative nutrition. Data comparisons are made to more common 'superfoods', such as flax seeds, spinach and blueberries. A chapter is devoted to the 2000 year old legend of wolfberry as China's herbal treasure and 5000 year old applications of traditional Chinese medicine. Factors influencing nutrient density and quality, such as taxonomy, geography, Yellow River loess (silt from flooding), cultivation practices and processing, are given separate chapters. Using available research literature dated to 2005, the book fulfills the scientific credibility needed to benchmark wolfberry as a nutrient-rich food valuable for western diets and health.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419620487
• ISBN13: 9781419620485
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Super Goji!

This is a wholistic documentary research on this wolfberry aka as goji berry in the west. This book is an honor to remember the famous Chinese TCM Doctor Zhang whose children help compose this wonderful masterpiece. Goji berry is well known and use for good health as it is a wholesome powerful berry. But some in the West promote the juice as panacea for everything, especially elixir of longevity. It is gross exaggeration. However, the authors included many research papers on the benefits this wonderful berry for health. It includes a chapter on home grown plants to yield your own fresh harvest to get the health benefit. It is a TCM guide to this supper berry for the max health benefit, this guide is a must read and keep for reference. Hope their next book centers on black goji berry on their beneficial nutrition.