Introduction: Nowadays people’s living standards have been greatly improved, and life is also a colorful state. However, due to the long-term existence of unhealthy lifestyle habits and dietary habits, this has led to the onset of some chronic diseases.
For example, common conditions like high blood lipids, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, liver diseases, kidney diseases, etc., are gradually threatening personal health and can easily lead to the appearance of more serious chronic diseases.
Therefore, people are exploring various ways to maintain their health, such as some believe that drinking wolfberry water regularly can nourish the body.
Not only can it effectively reduce blood sugar levels, but it can also help nourish the kidneys, thus promoting overall health. But can regularly drinking wolfberry water really help reduce blood sugar and nourish the kidneys?
If one insists on drinking wolfberry water or consuming wolfberries directly, what kind of changes will occur in the body?
Antioxidant Properties
Wolfberries contain rich polyphenols that have good antioxidant effects. When consumed, they can effectively remove free radicals that damage the body.
This can help reduce oxidative stress, aid in body repair, delay aging, and thus support overall health.
Beauty and Skincare
For female friends, consuming wolfberries regularly or using qi-enhancing teas can provide the body with Vitamin C, which can help moisturize the skin.
This can effectively improve skin elasticity, maintain a youthful appearance, combat aging, and enhance personal charm and beauty.
Boosting Immunity
Wolfberries are rich in nutrients like carotene, wolfberry polysaccharides, and Vitamin C, which, when consumed, can enhance personal immune function.
By doing so, one can strengthen the body’s immune system, improve the body’s ability to fight diseases, and reduce the development of chronic illnesses.
Liver Nourishment
Since ancient times, wolfberries have been known as excellent traditional Chinese medicinal materials for nourishing the liver and kidneys. They contain rich amino acids and various trace elements.
When consumed, they can effectively regulate liver function, promote metabolic levels, support liver cell regulation, nurture the liver and kidneys, and reduce the occurrence of liver diseases.
Mr. Liu from Shandong is a factory worker who is 46 years old. During a recent health check-up organized by the company, it was found that his blood sugar levels were slightly elevated. However, the doctor believed that it was not yet necessary to use medication and that lifestyle interventions could effectively regulate blood sugar levels.
At the same time, it was also found that Mr. Liu had a slight increase in creatinine levels, so he needed to pay attention to kidney health in his daily life.
After returning home, Mr. Liu took out his phone and searched online for ways to nourish the kidneys and lower blood sugar. He found that regular consumption of wolfberries could effectively lower blood sugar levels and nourish the kidneys.
Mr. Liu then started buying several pounds of wolfberries from the pharmacy and would eat a handful daily. Although initially feeling an improvement in his overall health, after a while, he noticed some abnormal symptoms in his body.
Initially, Mr. Liu frequently developed mouth ulcers and nosebleeds, and even his urine became yellow. His tongue coating also became thick and greasy. Subsequently, Mr. Liu went to the hospital for a detailed examination.
After a thorough examination, the doctors realized that all these symptoms were caused by wolfberries.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, wolfberries have a mild nature, while Mr. Liu has a deficiency of yin. While consuming wolfberries in moderation might help regulate health, excessive intake could easily lead to symptoms of internal heat.
Therefore, Mr. Liu experienced some unhealthy physical symptoms due to consuming wolfberries, and when he measured his blood sugar and creatinine levels again, he found that the control effect was not ideal.
His blood sugar levels had already exceeded the range for high blood sugar, and medication was necessary. Thus, it is not advisable for everyone to blindly use wolfberries to regulate blood sugar and nourish the kidneys.
So far, the hypoglycemic effect of wolfberries has only been tested on animals and lacks sufficient human experimental data. Additionally, there are significant differences in body size and physiological structure between humans and rodents, so animal test data cannot be directly applied to humans.
Furthermore, theoretically, wolfberries contain a large number of polysaccharides with special physiological activities that can enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase in the islet cells. This can effectively reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress on islet cells and plays a crucial role in blood sugar regulation.
However, this theory is based on achieving an effective drug concentration of wolfberry polysaccharides, and the content of polysaccharides in wolfberries is almost negligible and can be considered negligible.
Consuming a large amount of wolfberries at once to obtain wolfberry polysaccharides would introduce excessive sugar into the body. This not only fails to lower blood sugar but may also lead to severe symptoms of internal heat.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, wolfberries can effectively nourish the kidneys, clear the liver, and improve eyesight. They can treat symptoms of kidney deficiency, such as weak and sore lower back and knees.
However, this is only a nourishing and regulating effect, so relying solely on wolfberries for kidney nourishment is not sufficient. For better kidney care, multiple approaches are necessary.
Avoid Eating Wolfberries if You Have High Blood Pressure
Wolfberries contain rich sodium elements. For individuals with high blood pressure, excessive intake can raise blood pressure levels.
Avoid Wolfberries if You Have Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold
Due to Wolfberries’ effects of tonifying qi and warming the liver and kidneys, they are not suitable for people with spleen and stomach deficiency cold or poor digestive systems. Excessive consumption may increase gastrointestinal burden.
Avoid Eating Wolfberries if You Have a Strong Body Fire Constitution
Wolfberries have a warm and hot nature. If one already has a constitution characterized by a strong body fire, consuming wolfberries may exacerbate the condition.
People with Eczema, Urticaria, or Allergic Dermatitis Should Avoid Consumption
While wolfberries have good nourishing properties, they are not suitable for individuals with certain skin conditions. Excessive consumption may worsen skin symptoms and be detrimental to overall health.
Lower Blood Sugar
1. You can frequently drink mulberry leaves or gynostemma pentaphyllum tea to effectively lower blood sugar levels;
2. Regularly measure blood sugar levels to better understand personal blood sugar levels and adjust abnormal symptoms accordingly;
3. Pay attention to eating smaller, more frequent meals, and reduce the intake of high-sugar, high-fat, and high-carbohydrate foods;
4. Consume foods that help lower blood sugar, such as soapberry, cucumber, bitter gourd, etc. These foods contain substances that promote insulin secretion and help regulate blood sugar levels.
Kidney Nourishment
1. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, consuming black foods can effectively nourish liver function. Such foods include mulberries, black beans, black rice, black sesame, etc.;
2. Maintain regular exercise to enhance metabolic efficiency, help eliminate kidney toxins, reduce kidney burden, and pressure;
3. Frequently drink teas that nourish the kidneys, such as epimedium tea, cuscuta chinensis tea, mulberry tea, etc.
