Content
- 1 The benefits and harms of goji berries for weight loss
- 2 How do goji berries act on the body?
- 3 How to properly consume goji berries for weight loss
- 4 Features of nutrition during weight loss
- 5 Drink recipes for losing weight with goji berries
- 6 Restrictions and contraindications for use
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Real reviews from people losing weight about the effect of goji berries on weight loss
Not so long ago, goji berries were exotic for most Europeans, but today they are in stock in almost every large store, where there is always a demand for such healthy products. This interest is caused by the loud positioning of unusual fruits, according to which goji berries are better than any pills and vitamins for weight loss.
The benefits and harms of goji berries for weight loss
The fruits of goji, or Chinese wolfberry, are considered berries of longevity in the homeland of this plant, in Tibet. They have long proven their benefits in the fight against hormonal imbalances, insomnia and many different diseases of the skin and cardiovascular system. In addition, eating goji berries has a beneficial effect on male potency.In addition, they can alleviate the symptoms of menopause in women and prevent premature aging of the body due to the rich reserves of antioxidants they contain.
However, goji berries owe their fame not only to their beneficial properties for human health, but also to the fact that they have found application in accelerating weight loss processes. An important role in this is played by the ability of the plant’s fruits to regulate blood sugar levels due to the low glycemic index, which is 29 units. In addition, these berries normalize metabolic processes in the body and cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of toxins and nutrient breakdown products. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the rate of breakdown of adipose tissue. The property of fruits to suppress appetite also helps with weight loss, eliminating the need for unscheduled snacks.
However, only high-quality berries have maximum benefits for the body. A product purchased at the first retail outlet you come across can cause a lot of harm to the body. Unscrupulous sellers often sell barberries or cranberries to gullible customers under the guise of dried goji fruits, wanting to cash in on the “weight loss product” brand. Moreover, this is also true for online stores, so you should be careful when purchasing a product and purchase it only in trusted places that have the appropriate certificate.
Properly dried fruits have a bright red-orange color and a soft texture. If, when shaking the package, the berries stick together and do not separate from each other, it means the product is of high quality. It is better not to buy crunchy and hard goji berries, as there is a high probability that they will be spoiled.
How do goji berries act on the body?
Although some reviews talk about rapid weight loss with goji products, in which no effort is required to achieve results, it is worth remembering that the berries of this plant are not a weight loss drug. The fruits actually have a high content of antioxidants, under the influence of which active breakdown of fats and release of energy occurs. This energy, in turn, supplies strength to all cells of the body, strengthens the immune system and increases endurance.
However, you should not think that this will help get rid of extra centimeters at the waist without appropriate adjustments to your diet and exercise. A similar effect can be achieved only if the fruits are consumed in combination with moderate exercise and a balanced healthy diet.
How to properly consume goji berries for weight loss
Goji berries are good, including the fact that for weight loss they can be consumed in almost any form, but most often they are brewed. Brewed fruits are no less useful than dried ones, and, in addition, have a positive effect on the condition of the figure. The main difficulty lies in the correct processing of the product.
How to eat goji berries to lose weight
To get the most benefit from the fruits of the plant when using them as food without brewing, you need to remember some recommendations:
- Goji berries must be consumed in dried form for weight loss. Fresh fruits of Chinese wolfberry can be poisonous, but when dried, the toxic compounds in them are destroyed, and the berries become safe.
- The dried fruits of the plant, like other dried fruits, can be eaten as an independent product, for example, to satisfy hunger between main meals, or added to complex dishes.
- Being an exotic berry, goji berries can cause indigestion and other stomach problems when first consumed. Therefore, it is worth preparing the body for a new product by limiting yourself to 1 - 2 fruits during the first dose. If there are no adverse reactions to the product, you can gradually increase the number of berries to 15 - 20 pcs. in a day.
- People over 50 and those who have problems with blood pressure should not consume more than 5 - 7 fruits at a time.
How to brew goji berries for weight loss
Brewing the fruits of Chinese wolfberry also has its own nuances:
- Immediately before brewing, goji berries are washed with running water or soaked for 10 - 15 minutes.
- Too hot water leads to the fact that the beneficial substances in the product begin to be destroyed, so you should not brew fruits at temperatures above 85 - 90°C.
- It is not recommended to use aluminum and enamel containers when brewing, since the acids contained in the berries can react with the material of the container and release compounds harmful to the body. Glass and ceramic dishes, as well as thermoses and thermal mugs are suitable for this procedure.
- For 2 tbsp. Goji berries should be prepared with 5 liters of boiling water, poured over them and sealed with a lid. The drink must be infused for 30 minutes, after which you can drink the prepared decoction.
How to drink goji berries for weight loss
To achieve the maximum beneficial effect, you need to drink goji berries for weight loss correctly:
- The drink infused for 30 minutes is filtered and drunk warm.
- The infusion is consumed 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals, 0.5 tbsp. in one go.
- The daily dose of vitamin liquid is 300 ml.
- The berries that remain after filtration can be safely eaten with a spoon.
- It is not recommended to add sugar, honey, or other sweeteners to the fruit drink - easily digestible carbohydrates in these and similar substances will negate the beneficial effects of the berries and will not contribute to weight loss.
How to use goji berries for weight loss according to instructions
Along with large stores and stalls with dried fruits, pharmacies also offer the purchase of goji berries from various manufacturers for weight loss. As a rule, the main suppliers of this product are Spain and Tibet, where this plant is grown on an industrial scale. In medical departments, such fruits are sold in packages of 50 and 100 g and are available without a prescription, but before using them it is recommended to consult your doctor
Reception features
Among people who practice goji berry diets, there is an opinion that exceeding the dosage of the plant fruit provokes rapid weight loss. This statement is far from the truth. As you might guess, the abuse of berries, like other foods, does not entail any beneficial consequences, but can most likely cause stomach pain and an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is not recommended to independently increase the proportion of fruits in the diet without medical indications.
The daily dose of goji berries for an adult who does not fall into the group of people who need to limit the amount of product is 10 - 20 g, which is equivalent to 20 - 50 fruits. For children under 10 years of age, the required amount is halved. In this case, berries that are consumed 20-30 minutes before meals or during meals have the greatest effect.
Features of nutrition during weight loss
There are no special instructions for changing diet for those who take goji berries or seeds for weight loss. They all follow the usual rules that you should follow to lose weight. Thus, those losing weight should limit the consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates, which are present mainly in sweet and flour products, and enrich their diet with whole grains, fiber and protein. It is worth excluding salted, smoked, fried and spicy dishes from the menu, and replacing animal fats with vegetable fats. In addition, you need to drink at least 2 liters of water and avoid eating 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.
Drink recipes for losing weight with goji berries
Since the time the benefits of goji for weight loss have become widely known, more and more new recipes have been appearing, for the preparation of which the berries of this plant are used. They are used to prepare porridges and salads, stuff pies with them, and add them to cookies. These fruits are also used in drinks, for example, infusions, decoctions and tea.
Smoothie
As a supplement, and sometimes an alternative to a light breakfast, delicate vitamin smoothies made from goji berries are very popular. In reviews, people who take goji berries for weight loss note that a drink according to the recipe below will charge the body with the energy it needs at the beginning of the day and will suppress the desire to snack on something less healthy before lunch:
- 4 medium bananas, peeled and cut into pieces.
- 2 tbsp. l. Goji berries are thoroughly washed with running water.
- Place the ingredients in a blender and add 150 g of frozen strawberries.
- Mix the fruits until smooth.
- The finished drink is poured into glasses and decorated with banana slices and berries.
Tea
Since ancient times, tea has been brewed from the fruits of the Chinese wolfberry according to an ancient recipe, which, in the process of spreading the plant, has been diversified by numerous connoisseurs of a healthy lifestyle. According to reviews, weight loss tea with goji berries can be brewed using any classic tea, be it black, hibiscus or white. It is also allowed to add ginger, lemon or lime juice, but it is better to refrain from milk and ice cream:
- First, the teapot is scalded with boiling water.
- 1 tbsp. l. Goji fruits are thoroughly washed and poured into a teapot.
- Then pour 250 - 300 ml of water into the berries at a temperature of 85 - 90°C.
- Brew the fruits for 15 - 20 minutes.
- The finished drink is drunk warm or hot. You should not add sugar or other sweeteners to weight loss tea.
Cocktail
While a milkshake might not seem like it would qualify as a low-calorie product, it can be made one with the right ingredients. Thus, a kefir-based cocktail with goji berries can be a healthy replacement for a light dinner. It is prepared like this:
- 2 bananas, 2 kiwis are washed, peeled and crushed in a blender until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.
- Combine the mixture with 1 tbsp. l. washed goji fruits and 500 ml of low-fat kefir.
- Then beat the mixture again with a blender.
- The resulting cocktail can be decorated with mint if desired.
Restrictions and contraindications for use
Despite the fact that reviews of people losing weight on goji berries note their numerous beneficial properties, like most other products, they have certain contraindications. Thus, the fruits of this plant are not recommended for consumption by the following groups of people:
- people with allergic reactions and individual intolerance to the product;
- pregnant and lactating women;
- patients with stomach and intestinal ulcers;
- having an elevated temperature;
- suffering from gastritis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
In addition, the consumption of these berries should be limited to people who are simultaneously taking medications for the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and low blood pressure, since the active substances in the fruits may react with the components of the medications. Therefore, when introducing goji berries into your diet, you should consult a specialist.
Conclusion
Although it may seem unlikely, goji berries do have some weight loss benefits. However, this product should not be taken as an instant fat burner.Eating berries can take the first step towards proper nutrition, which, combined with physical activity, will soon lead to your dream figure.
