Small but one of the most nutrient-dense plant foods around, wolfberries originated from the ancient soils of inner Mongolia and Tibet.

These bright-colored berries are extremely high in antioxidants (in fact, their antioxidant values are off the charts!) and considered one of the richest sources of beta-carotene.

Containing 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges, wolfberries are also rich in vitamin B1, B2, B6 and E. In addition, they contain 18 amino acids, as well as all of the 21 trace minerals (e.g. zinc, iron, copper, calcium and phosphorus).

Because the wolfberries can aid in improving vision and skin health, the berries have been used by the Chinese and easterners for anti-aging. The berries have also been used for dealing with conditions such as dizziness caused by blood deficiency, and deficiencies of the “Liver” and “Kidney” based on traditional Chinese medical theories.

References
[1] Collins, Elise Marie. An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper’s Companion. San Francisco, California: Conari Press, 2009. Print.
[2] Lu, Henry C. Chinese Natural Cures. New York. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., 2005. Print.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.