Are
Goji Berries Good For Losing Weight?
Goji
berries have been touted as one of the superfoods of modern
times. These bright red fruits also known as wolfberries are
native to China, Tibet and Mongolia. Nowadays goji berries can
be found in a lot of countries apart Asia. People who like to
lose weight the natural way with proper exercising and nutrition
can consider goji berries in their diet due to their powerhouse
of nutrients. Here are a few reasons why goji berries are good
for losing weight:
High
in protein
Goji
berries are high in protein and protein is vital for anyone
on a weight loss diet. Protein builds muscle and although the
protein in goji berries is plant-based, it still helps in the
muscle development process. Having more muscle mass definitely
speed up your metabolism which in turn helps in the fat burning
process. 1 ounce of goji berries(28 grams) contain 3 grams of
protein.
High
in dietary fiber
Dietary
fiber is important in any weight loss diet. It slows down digestion,
keeps you satiated and keeps hunger pangs at bay, hence it prevents
unnecessary snacking and binging which can lead to unwanted
calories. Dietary fiber also regulates proper bowel activity
and easy stool release, thus preventing constipation which can
be counterproductive for weight loss. 1 ounce of goji berries(28
grams) contain 2 grams of dietary fiber.
Low
in calories
Goji
berries are nutrient-dense but yet low in calories. 1 ounce
of goji berries(28 grams) contain only 23 calories. When you
are trying to lose weight, it's best to stick with foods which
are rich in nutrients but don't pack too many calories.
Low
glycemic index(GI)
Foods
which have a low glycemic index value means they digest slow
and take time to get converted to glucose(also known as blood
sugar) and used as energy thereafter. What this means is your
body will get a sustained release of energy making you less
prone to fat storage. When your diet consists mainly of foods
with a high GI, you are more susceptible to build fat tissues.
Goji berries rank rather low in the GI ladder at a score of
only 29.
Perfect
tonic
Consuming
goji berries regularly can contribute to better results with
your exercise routine thus enabling you to lose weight faster.
In herbal medicine, goji berries are also known as adaptogens.
An adaptogen is simply a natural substance which can aid your
body adapt to stress much more effectively, in other words,
it's a perfect tonic. Goji berries have the ability to boost
your body's immune system and increase resistance levels, hence
you'll be able to prolong your exercising and burn more fat
for more weight loss results.
Goji berries are also a good source of vital nutrients like
calcium, thiamin, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin,
potassium, chromium, copper and selenium which are all essential
for your weight loss journey.
The
most popular way to buy goji berries is in its dried form and
some of the ways you can consume them is boiling them in soup
or eat them with hot quinoa or oatmeal.
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