tibetan goji berry for health

tibetan goji berryThe Health Benefits of Goji Berries

Goji berries are shriveled red berries that look like red raisins that grow on an evergreen shrub found in temperate and subtropical regions in China, Mongolia and in the Himalayas in Tibet. They are usually found dried, have a slight tangy taste, and belong to the nightshade (Solonaceae) family. Some other Names for Gojji berries include Lycium barbarum, wolfberry, gou qi zi, and Fructus lycii.

Goji Berries have more vitamin C pound for pound than oranges. Scientifically controlled studies using vitamin C for colds show that it can reduce the severity of cold symptoms, acting as a natural antihistamine. The vitamin may be useful for allergy control for the same reason: It may reduce histamine levels. By giving the immune system one of the important nutrients it needs, extra vitamin C can often shorten the duration of the cold. Being an important factor in collagen production, vitamin C is useful in wound healing of all types. From cuts and broken bones to burns and recovery from surgical wounds, vitamin C taken orally helps wounds to heal faster and better. I love using the dried goji berries in a salad for zap flavour and healthier salad.

Goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists in China, Tibet and India to:

- protect the liver
- help eyesight
- improve sexual function and fertility
- strengthen the legs
- boost immune function
- improve circulation
- promote longevity

Goji berries are also rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. One of zeaxanthin's key roles is to protect the retina of the eye by absorbing blue light and acting as an antioxidant. In fact, increased intake of foods containing zeathanthin may decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 65.

In recent years, goji juice has become popular as a health beverage. Companies marketing goji juice often mention the unsupported claim that a man named Li Qing Yuen consumed goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old. Marketers also list extensive health benefits of goji juice, even though there are few published clinical trials in humans.

In traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries are eaten raw, brewed into a tea, added to Chinese soups, or made into liquid extracts. Goji berries have appeared in snack foods in North America. For example, the health food store Trader Joe's sells a goji berry trail mix. Whole goji berries are available at Chinese herbal shops. Goji juice can be found in some health food stores, online stores, and through network marketers.

Mary-Anne is a featured member and regular contributor at ifood.tv, a global food network, featuring recipes from all over the world. Other popular healthy recipes videos on ifood.tv include splenda recipes and smoothie recipes.

Ballet Dancers and Nutrition Information

Let's face it. If you are overweight, or politicaly incorrct FAT, then you should lose some weight. Dancers are constantly working out, taking class, performing somewhere, so naturally they are thinner than most people. But not the very young students who are in the age group between 7-14. Yes, there are many in that group who are chubby, overweight and just plain FAT.

There are about 3500 calories in one pound of body fat. So, if you create a 3500-calorie deficit through diet, exercise or a combination of both, you will lose one pound of body weight. In order to lose 2 pounds of weight, create a calorie-deficit of 7000 calories, and so on.....

Easier said than done. Good eating habits help lose weight. It helps the dancer achieve the energy needed to dance. So what is the magic formula you ask? There isn't one! YOU as a dancer, have to find the one-and-only-one-way to stay fit. If you are 7 or 8 or 13 years old you may not know how to do this, but your PARENTS can help you providing they know something what a dancer needs at that age group. If not, there are many resources, books, nutritionists, friends they can talk to find out all the information needed for the would be ballerina.

Over the years as teachers of ballet, my wife Anne and I have seen children of all ages, different shapes and sizes, thin, too thin, fat, and chubby in the ballet class. And as they all grow older making progress in their dance training, some of the girls do lose weight, some not. The ones who do arrive at a certain age, weight, height, physical strength, they are the ones who have a better chance of making the "cut" (an expression used in show-biz) at a dance audition. They are the ones who get into a dance company, the others don't.

So please future ballerinas, try to learn more about nutrition. You will enjoy learning about what is really good for you and hopefully will help you dance better.

If you like to read up a bit more on Nutrition go to http://www.ballet-feetfirst.com/Pointeshoe-Nutrition.html and don't forget to find out more information on other websites and in books.

NICHOLAS POLAJENKO A native of New York City, Nicholas Polajenko was trained by the famed Russian teachers Anatole Vilzak & Ludmilla Schollar. Soon recognized as dancer of exceptional technique and acting versatility, he rapidly rose to the rank of Principal Dancer with such companies as the Metropolitan Ballet, Ballet des Champs Elysees, Ballet Roland Petit, London�s Festival Ballet and the International Ballet Marquis de Ceuvas.

Before going to Paris France in December 1948 he was in two Broadway Musicals. Music In My Heart and Annie Get Your Gun.