A Chinese National Treasure

The wolfberry, a perennial plant (member of the solanacea family of plants), grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet. The fruit is very red, juicy, and oblong when ripe. Its health benefits have been known and used for thousands of years.

The fruit contains 19 amino acids and over 20 trace minerals (including germanium, a mineral rarely found in food) The wolfberry has more protein than whole wheat. This alone sets the wolfberry apart as a major source of phyto-nutrients.

Considered a national treasure, the Ningxia Wolfberry is grown near inner Mongolia. This berry has been extolled in folk medicine for thousands of years. Translated from ancient texts, Shen Nung Ben Tsao (475 BC), stated "Wolfberry benefits range from replenishing vital health to fortifying and restoring vital organs." A physician's handbook from the Ming Dynasty stated, "Taking in Chinese wolfberry may regulate the flow of vital energy and strengthen the physique, which can lead to longevity.''

21 Reasons to drink NingXia Red daily

1. The Ningxia Wolfberry provides ample antioxidants to strengthen the immune system. Anti-oxidants permeate cell walls and attack free radicals before they damage the DNA of the cell nucleus.

2. Antioxidants of this berry fight arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis--aiding the circulatory system---including the heart.

3. The Ningxia Wolfberry is powerful in helping the liver function properly. The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body--it's our cleansing machine.

4. Helps the eyes--cataracts, glaucoma, and visual acuity. This berry contains a complete array of antioxidant carotenoids including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. In fact the Ningxia Wolfberry has the highest source of carotenoids in all known foods. Beta-carotene is best known as a nutrient for the retina.

5. Cancer Help. The main constituent of the wolfberry is Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide (LBP), and according to studies in China, LBP helps cancer patients rebuild their white blood cell count, enhancing phagocytes and the activity of natural killer cells which bind to cancerous cells, as well as improving major classes of T-cells. "...increase the antibody reaction to the T cell-antigen."

6. More Cancer Help. Acetone extract from the Ningxia Wolfberry inhibits gene mutation, Some scientists say the fruit is a good supplement to prevent liver cancer. 4 Also, studies show objective regression of cancer in patients with malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and others. Results also indicated LBP may be used as an adjuvant in the bio-therapy of cancer.

7. Minerals and vitamins act as enzymes and co-factors in the digestion process.

8. Studies on seniors in China produced amazing results (many people live beyond 100 years of age in wolfberry growing areas). Increases in Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) the hemoglobin were found in serum in all participants. In other words wolfberry ".......may help slow the aging process."

9. Protects against the free radical attack on mitochondrial DNA--our energy furnaces inside each cell. Antioxidants fight against mitochondrial destabilization.

10. Helps lower blood sugar--and in many tests at least stabilizes blood sugar.

11. It is important that cell walls maintain their malleability for nutrients to cross this membrane. The free radical scavengers found in the Ningxia Wolfberry strengthen the cell wall and support efficient transport of flavonoid nutrients in the cell and waste products out of the cell.

12. Strengthens the brains neuro-transmitters against pervasive fee radical activity, thus fighting against dementia and other forms of memory loss.

13. Promotes a sense of well-being, and has had noticeable results in tests and anxiety. The tissues of the body (including the brain) are assisted in avoiding oxidative stress.

14. Has a B-Vitamin complex essential to the body. In addition these vitamins are vital for converting food to energy.

15. Cells need to communicate, especially those in the brain and nervous system. The synaptic responses are protected and fortified by the same polyphenols (flavonoids) that this berry uses to protect itself.

16. Provides powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action because it contains solavetivone (an amino acid). Properties in the food fight viruses---it's anti-viral.

17. Reduces pain caused by inflammation because the berry contains Beta-Sitosteral, a remarkable anti-inflammatory.

18. The Ningxia Wolfberry is high in protein (more than whole wheat), an essential cellular building block.

19. The Ningxia Wolfberry, unlike most berries, contains natural vitamin E--a restorative antioxidant with too many health benefits to list here.

20. A healthier romantic life. The wolfberry increases overall health performance, including sexual response. One herbalist wrote, "Wolfberry can make a young wolf out of an old man.''

21. This berry dubbed ''A complete body health motivator'' has many unique polysaccharides, not found in any plant on the planet.

References:

1. Ben cao Gang Mu; Physicians Handbook; Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 AD
2. Benzie, Dr. Iris F., MD; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 2005; The British Journal of Medicine.
3. Guifan, Huang, et al; Immune Boosting Effects from Fu Fan Wu 2: Yang Zong Wan; (Chinese Herbs, 1990, 12 (6):27
4. In-Vitro Anti-Mutation Effect of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide (LBP). (Chinese Herbs, 1991)
5. Journal of Chinses Herbal Medicine; 1994. Note: Japanese Research Scientists also stated the wolfberry could inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
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JUICE CONSUMPTION LINKED TO REDUCED RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S
HealthDay News
August 31, 2006

http://www.forbes. com/forbeslife/ health/feeds/ hscout/2006/
08/31/hscout5347 09
html

The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease was dramatically reduced for older people who drank fruit or vegetable juices regularly in a 10-year study, researchers report.

The incidence of Alzheimer's was 76 percent lower for those who drank juice three or more times a week than for those who drank juice less than once a week. It was 16 percent lower for those drinking juice once or twice a week, according to the report.

It's not the general kind of antioxidants in fruit juices that produce the benefit, said Dr. Qi Dai, assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and lead author of the report. Rather, he attributed the effect to polyphenols, a particularly strong antioxidant.

"That is why we chose to look at fruit and vegetable juice," Dai said. "They [polyphenols] are found in the outer sections of fruits and vegetables, only in the peel or skin. When you process the whole fruit, they go into the juice."

Studies of the biochemistry of Alzheimer's disease have focused on deposits of beta-amyloid proteins that form in the brain and the potential for antioxidants in the diet to prevent those deposits, Dai said. But studies looking at antioxidants such as beta-carotene have been disappointing, "so we thought maybe some other components in fruits and vegetables account for the reduced risk," he said.

The study followed more than 1,800 participants in the Kame Project, a research project of Japanese people and their health who live in Hiroshima, Japan; Oahu, Hawaii; and Seattle. They reported on their consumption of fruit and vegetable juice starting in 1992, and their mental function was tested every two years thereafter.

The reduction in incidence of Alzheimer's disease in those who regularly consumed juice "was stronger after adjustments for potential confounding factors, and the association was evident in all strata of selected variables," the report said.

The findings were published in the September issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

More research needs to be done to determine whether specific juices or specific polyphenols produce the most benefit, Dai said. "We are applying for a National Institutes of Health grant for further study to see which juices play a more important role," he said. "We have blood samples and can do additional studies to see blood markers of polyphenols and which polyphenol is most important."

Bill Thies, vice president for medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association, called Dai's research "a reasonable theory that has some fundamental chemistry to back it up. But there is a lot more work to be done in humans."

Thies pointed to one possible weak point in the study. "There were only a little more than 80 cases of dementia, so how precise the relationship is may be adjusted over time," he said.

Summing up, Thies said: "If you like juice, this is a good reason to drink it. But we'd be a little careful not to drive people down the road, saying, 'If I drink orange juice in the morning, I don't have to do anything else.'"

The Alzheimer's Association:
http://www.alz. org/