Goji berries are among the world’s most nutrient-enriched berries and fruits. These sour berries are suitable for practically all people, regardless of their blood type, metabolism, or overall health.
While fresh goji berries are considered edible, several manufacturers may introduce an excess lead to their products. The FDA controls lead levels in specific meals, foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics due to their dangers to human health.
Most of the lead in soil comes from industrial use and environmental contamination, but some naturally occur. Even though lead is now prohibited in most products and processes in the United States, it was once widely used. This is why some people ask if they should wash goji berries or soak goji berries before consuming them.
High amounts of lead exposure are particularly harmful to children’s brain and nervous system development. Even low-level chronic exposure to lead can be detrimental over time because lead builds up in the body.
Because it’s in the environment, lead ends up in food. High levels of lead exposure in early life can cause neurological problems such as learning deficits, behavioral issues, and a decreased IQ.
- Because plants produced for fruits or vegetables or used as food additives, including dietary supplements, can settle on or absorb lead in the soil, it may end up in our food supply.
- Washing or other food processing methods will not eliminate all of the lead into or on plants.
- Manufacturing procedures might introduce lead unintentionally. Contaminated water can be utilized in food production, for example, if the piping includes lead.
- While cooking, storing, or serving, the lead in some ceramics and other surfaces that come into touch with food can leach into the food or drink.
- Animals that eat plants or water that contain lead, which is later swallowed and absorbed by humans, are at risk of becoming poisoned.
Do Goji Berries Contain Lead?
Goji’s flavor is one of the most versatile and may be used in various ways in cooking and as a snack. Nutrient-dense, easily absorbed, clean-burning, and long-lasting, they come in a variety of forms.
As mentioned earlier, high content of lead may be present in some food due to mishandling. While lead is naturally found in soil, lead poisoning incident occurs through improper manufacturer management. The natural presence of lead in the environment also pushes people to ask if goji berries have lead content.
Lead poisoning affects people of all ages and health conditions. However, those most at risk of lead poisoning are babies and young children, pregnant women and their unborn children, and people with pre-existing medical issues.Â
The lead content of Food to Live Organic Goji Berries exceeds the state of California’s Prop 65 law, under the ruling released by the Pacific Justice Center. The mandate letter also suggested supermarkets and retailers alert their customers about lead in Food to Live Organic Goji Berries goods or lessen the amount of the chemical in question.
According to the goji berry warning letter, these violations will be raised until removed from the products or reduced to allowable levels. There should also be warnings supplied to customers concerning the lead content Food to Live products.
Are Goji Berries Toxic?
Goji berries can be purchased on local Asian markets or fruit stalls, depending on where you live. In addition, fresh and dried goji berries may be added to a wide range of foods such as trail mixes and yogurt and sweets, sweet sauces, oatmeal, baked goods, and more.
A variety of products, including trail mixes, superfood mixes, and juices, sell goji berries. They can also be found fresh or dried in the wild. People can also eat them as a snack by the handful when they’re out and about.
It’s not uncommon to find superfood blends and supplements that include goji berries, as well as a variety of fruits and plants. These berries can also be available dried or powdered, and those forms can be used in a wide range of recipes.
Goji berries, whether fresh or dried, rarely have any negative effects on healthy individuals. Only uncommon adverse effects such as allergic responses and sensitivity to sunlight have been associated with goji berry supplements when taken for up to three months by most people.
Goji berries are healthy to eat in moderation for most people. However, if you’re thinking about taking goji berry supplements, discuss it with your nutritionist first.
If you’re on any blood thinners, diabetes meds, or blood pressure medications—proper consultation must be done with your doctor. Before including goji berries in your diet, consult your doctor.
What Chemical is in Goji Berries?
Goji berries (or wolfberry plant) have been employed in traditional medicine for thousands of years because of their sweet, slightly tart flavor and brilliant red color. Studies have shown that they can reduce the effects of aging, protect your vision, and support the function of your internal organs, including your kidneys, liver, and lungs.
Chinese and Himalayan medicine is regarded as this berry as “an essential herb” since they support nearly all the body’s systems. Alternatively, you may take them straight from the bag as a snack or add them to smoothies or smoothie bowls.
This fruit has a significant antioxidant capacity, which helps to protect the body from free radical damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins by alleviating oxidative stress. They’re frequently found in Chinese soups and herbal teas.
Vitamin C in goji berries is 500 times greater than oranges by weight. In addition, the wolfberry plant’s fruit contains amino acids, essential amino acids, trace minerals, B vitamins, antioxidants, carotenoids, and zeaxanthin.
- The goji berry has a lot of polysaccharides. Dietary fiber is a critical component of whole grains. The polysaccharides present in goji berries were found to aid immunological function and increase total antioxidant activity in the body in a study with aging rats.
- The orange-red tint in goji berries is due to beta-carotene. Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene is critical for bone, eye, skin, and cell growth. Goji berries comprise the highest levels of beta-carotene compared to any food source.
- Zeaxanthin aids the immune system in a significant way. Many scientists believe that zeaxanthin can slow the progression of macular degeneration, a condition in which the center section of the retina, known as the macula, weakens and eventually causes blindness.
