Goji Berry Bush

Could African mango be the weight-loss wonder fruit we have all been waiting for?

Proponents of the latest health fad say that the African mango, indigenous to coastal west Africa, is an age-old Cameroonian bush medicine, its 'unique' properties apparently helping to budge fat and even lower blood fat levels.

The African mango, Irvingia gabonesis, is unlike other mangoes in that it produces an edible protein-rich seed that is commonly used in Cameroonian cooking. Extracts from the seeds are available in a tablet form, dubbed the 'breakthrough supplement.'

The capsules were given the boost they needed when Oprah's Doctor Oz gave the capsules his endorsement last year.

The Emmy-winning Dr Oz Show aired a segment on the 'miracle in your medicine cabinet' and the show's Dr Tanya Edwards tried the pills.

Dr Edwards wrote on DoctorOz.com : 'Sounds like a magic bullet to me! I tried it myself, and low and behold, in the first month of taking it (only once per day, mind you, instead of the recommended twice daily), I lost 7 pounds without making any changes in my usual healthy diet and exercise routine!' She soon recommended the supplement to patients.

In no time, sites selling the supplement mushroomed online. Chris Khilam, known as the 'medicine hunter', told FoxNews.com that now, 't he mango diet is here with a vengeance.'

A short search for African mango tablets reveals hundreds of sales sites in the U.S. and beyond brashly extolling the virtues of the supplement, which costs around $40 per bottle.

But is there any truth behind its miraculous claims?

Two studies by Judith L Ngondi and colleagues at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon, published in the Journal of Lipids in Health, support the hype, their data apparently showing the seeds to cause significant weight loss and improve blood flat levels.

Goji Berries ? Key To Good Health | Front Street Review

Goji Berries ? Key To Good Health

The super food goji berry has high concentration of nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants – courtesy recent research. Some studies are often mentioned in the promotional journals of health food supplement manufacturers to bolster the claims. Also known as wolfberry, this highly sought after subtropical fruit has a slight tangy taste, and belong to the nightshade (Solonaceae) family. No surprise, the demand for goji berry juice is sky scrapping and is expected to touch the billion dollar mark in sales by the year 2011. Highly looked upon as China’s national treasure, goji berry is finally making its way to the West.

Goji berries are principally grown in the northwestern parts of Tibet and China. In fact, goji berries are grown in the wild throughout the temperate regions of China. For ages, traditional Chinese medicine has incorporated the benefits of goji berry juice as an integral part of its therapeutic must haves and is even used in soups, teas and rice meals in China. The small, vibrantly red, and extremely delicate Himalayan goji berries come from the Lycium plant, which is an evergreen bush with tall vines reaching up to 10 to 15 feet. It calls for sunlight and grows best in hot and dry summers. The small, red raisins with a sweet and sour taste contain possibly the highest number of nutrients than any other fruit on the planet has.

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The benefits of raw organic goji berries are endless to say the least. These include protection of the liver, better sexual function and higher fertility, improvement in blood circulation and so on. By increasing stamina and giving strength to the legs, goji berry is believed to improve physical performance. It has also proved its merit in the prevention of age-related eyesight deterioration, reduction of cholesterol levels, and relief from menstrual pains. It addresses the healing of hepatitis and cancer. Rich in 18 amino acids and 21 minerals like zinc, copper, iron, germanium, calcium, selenium, and phosphorus, goji berries have the vital elements required for a healthy body. Organically grown goji berries are a great source of carotenoids. The high antioxidant content makes these berries extremely prized. Presence of polysaccharides, which are sugar molecules in goji berry, supports the immune system of the body. Being moderately low in calories and fat content, this fruit also helps in the process of weight loss. Of late it has been found that cancer patients elicited better response when goji was added to their medical course or therapy. Perhaps the anti-oxidants present in this “health food’ helps to prevent cancer cell growth.

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