Goji berries: how to take for weight loss, recipes

Not so long ago, goji berries were exotic for most Europeans, and today they are in stock in almost every major store, where there is always a demand for such useful products. Such interest is caused by the loud positioning of unusual fruits, according to which goji berries for weight loss are better than any pills and vitamins.

The benefits and harms of goji berries for weight loss

Goji fruits, or Chinese goji, in the homeland of this plant, in Tibet, are considered berries of longevity. They have long been proven to be useful in the fight against hormonal disruptions, insomnia and many different diseases of the skin and cardiovascular system. In addition, the use of goji berries has a beneficial effect on male potency. In addition, they are able to alleviate the symptoms of menopause in women and prevent premature aging of the body due to their rich reserves of antioxidants.

However, goji berries owe their fame not only to their beneficial properties for human health, but also to the fact that they have been used in accelerating the process of losing weight. Not the last role in this is played by the ability of the fruits of the plant 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 from toxins and decay products of nutrients. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the rate of breakdown of adipose tissue. The appetite-suppressing property of fruits also helps with weight loss by eliminating the need for unscheduled snacks.

However, only high-quality berries have the maximum benefit for the body. A product bought at the first outlet that comes across can do a lot of harm to the body. Unscrupulous sellers often sell barberries or cranberries to gullible buyers under the guise of dried goji fruits, wanting to cash in on the “weight loss” brand. Moreover, this is also true for online stores, so you should be careful when buying 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 that 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 are spoiled.

How goji berries act on the body

Although some reviews talk about rapid weight loss on goji products, in which no effort is needed to achieve a result, it is worth remembering that the berries of this plant are not a weight loss drug. Fruits do have a high content of antioxidants, under the influence of which there is an active breakdown of fats and the release of energy. This energy, in turn, supplies strength to all cells of the body, strengthens the immune system and increases endurance.

However, one should not think that this will help get rid of extra centimeters in the waist without appropriate adjustments to the 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 eat goji berries for weight loss

Goji berries are good, including the fact that they can be used in almost any form for weight loss, but most often they are brewed. At the same time, brewed fruits are no less useful than dried ones, and, in addition, they 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:

1. Use goji berries for weight loss necessarily in dried form. Fresh Chinese wolfberry fruits can be poisonous, but when dried, the toxic compounds in them are destroyed, and the berries become safe.
2. Dry fruits of the plant, like other dried fruits, can be eaten as an independent product, for example, to satisfy hunger between main meals, or add them to complex dishes.
3. Being an exotic berry, goji can cause indigestion and other stomach problems when first consumed. Therefore, it is worth preparing the body for a new product, limiting itself 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.
4. 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 dereza also has its own nuances:

1. Immediately before brewing, goji berries are washed with running water or soaked for 10-15 minutes.
2. Too hot water leads to the fact that the beneficial substances in the composition of the product begin to break down, so you should not brew fruits at temperatures above 85 – 90 ° C.
3. It is not recommended to use aluminum and enameled dishes when brewing, as the acids contained in the berries can react with the material of the container and release compounds harmful to the body. For this procedure, glass, ceramic dishes, as well as thermoses and thermo mugs are suitable.
4. For 2 tbsp. Goji berries should be prepared with 5 liters of boiling water, pour them over and close the lid tightly. The drink must be infused for 30 minutes, after which you can drink the finished broth.

How to drink goji berries for weight loss

To achieve the maximum beneficial effect, you need to drink goji berries in order to lose weight correctly:

1. Infused for 30 minutes, the drink is filtered and drunk warm.
2. The infusion is consumed 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals, 0,5 tbsp. in one go.
3. The daily dose of vitamin liquid is 300 ml.
4. The berries that remain after filtering can be safely eaten with a spoon.
5. It is not recommended to add sugar, honey, other sweeteners to a fruit drink – easily digestible carbohydrates in the composition of these and similar substances will negate the beneficial effect of berries and will not contribute to weight loss.

How to use goji berries for weight loss according to the instructions

Along with large stores and stalls with dried fruits, pharmacies also offer goji berries for weight loss from various manufacturers. 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 sold without a prescription, but it is recommended to consult your doctor before using them.

Reception Features

Among people who practice diets on goji berries, there is an opinion that exceeding the dosage of the plant’s fruits provokes rapid weight loss. This statement is far from the truth. As you might guess, the abuse of berries, like other products, does not entail any beneficial effects, 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 the product is 10-20 g, which is equivalent to 20-50 fruits. For children under 10 years of age, the required amount is halved. At the same time, berries that are consumed 20-30 minutes before a meal or during a meal have the greatest effect.

Features of nutrition during weight loss

There are no special prescriptions for changing nutrition for those who take goji berries or seeds for weight loss. They all follow the usual rules that you should follow in order to lose weight. So, losing weight should limit the intake of easily digestible carbohydrates, which are present mainly in sweet and flour products, and enrich your diet with whole grains, fiber and protein. It should be excluded from the menu, salty, smoked, fried and spicy dishes, and animal fats should be replaced with vegetable ones. In addition, you must drink at least 2 liters of water and refuse to eat 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.

Drink recipes for weight loss with goji berries

Since the benefits of goji for weight loss have become widely known, there are more and more new recipes for the preparation of which the berries of this plant are used. On their basis, cereals and salads are prepared, pies are stuffed with them, added to cookies. These fruits are also used as part of drinks, for example, infusions, decoctions and tea.

Smoothies

As a supplement, and sometimes an alternative to a light breakfast, gentle vitamin smoothies from goji berries are very popular. In the reviews, people who take goji berries for weight loss note that the drink according to the recipe below will charge the body with the energy needed at the beginning of the day and drown out the desire to snack on something less healthy before lunch:

1. 4 medium bananas, peeled and cut into pieces
2. 2 tbsp. l. goji berries are thoroughly washed with running water.
3. The components are placed in a blender, 150 g of frozen strawberries are added to them.
4. Mix the fruits until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
5. The finished drink is poured into glasses, decorated with circles of bananas and berries.

Tea

Since ancient times, tea has been brewed from the fruits of Chinese wolfberry according to an old recipe, which, in the process of spreading the plant, was diversified by numerous connoisseurs of a healthy lifestyle. According to reviews, slimming tea with goji berries can be brewed on the basis of any classic tea, be it black, hibiscus or white. It is also allowed to add ginger, lemon or lime juice to it, but it is better to refrain from milk and ice cream:

1. First, the teapot is scalded with boiling water.
2. 1 st. l. goji fruits are thoroughly washed and poured into a teapot.
3. Then the berries are poured with 250 – 300 ml of water at a temperature of 85 – 90 ° C.
4. The fruits are brewed for 15-20 minutes.
5. Ready drink is drunk warm or hot. Sugar and other sweeteners should not be added to slimming tea.

Cocktail

While it may not seem like a milkshake fits the definition of a low-calorie product, it can be made one with the right ingredients. So, a kefir-based cocktail with goji berries can be a useful substitute for a light dinner. Prepare it like this:

1. 2 bananas, 2 kiwis are washed, peeled and chopped in a blender until a homogeneous mixture.
2. Combine the mixture with 1 tbsp. l. washed goji fruits and 500 ml of low-fat kefir.
3. Then again beat the mixture with a blender.
4. The resulting cocktail, if desired, is decorated with mint.

Restrictions and contraindications for admission

Despite the fact that the reviews of people who lose weight on goji berries note their many beneficial properties, like most other products, they have certain contraindications. So, the fruits of this plant are not recommended for use by the following groups of people:

• people with allergic reactions and individual intolerance to the product;
• pregnant and lactating women;
• patients with ulcers of the stomach and intestines;
• having a high temperature;
• suffering from gastritis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, the use of these berries should be limited to people who are simultaneously taking medications for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and low blood pressure, since the active substances in the fruits can react with the components of the medicines. Therefore, when introducing goji berries into your diet, you should consult a specialist.

Conclusion

Although it may seem unlikely, goji berries do have certain benefits for weight loss. However, this product should not be taken as an instant fat burner. Eating berries can be the first step towards proper nutrition, which, combined with physical activity, will soon lead to a dream figure.

Real reviews of those who are losing weight about the effect of goji berries in losing weight