A 47-year-old man eats “goji berries” every day to lower blood sugar and nourish his kidneys. How is his body after six months?
【Case Analysis】
Mr. Zhang, 47 years old this year, was diagnosed with slightly elevated blood sugar during last year’s physical examination. His fasting blood sugar had reached 6.6 mmol/L, close to the diagnosis of diabetes. Creatinine levels were also found to be elevated in the blood, but overall within a reasonable range and not having a significant impact.
However, Mr. Zhang was worried about his health and the possibility of developing problems in the future. He didn’t understand why he had developed diabetes. This is actually related to his love for sweets, lack of exercise, and certain lifestyle habits.
Upon returning home, Mr. Zhang quickly adjusted his unhealthy lifestyle. He searched online for ways to lower blood sugar and learned that eating goji berries and drinking goji berry-infused water regularly could be effective in this regard.
Furthermore, Mr. Zhang pays great attention to health preservation and enjoys drinking goji berry-infused water because goji berries have properties that are beneficial for kidney health. Therefore, he purchased a large bag of goji berries and drinks the infused water daily.
After persisting in this routine for about six months and going for a check-up at the hospital, the results surprised him. Not only did his blood sugar not decrease, but it had actually increased by 0.5 compared to six months ago, reaching 7.1 mmol/L, which falls into the category of mild diabetes. His kidneys had also sustained some damage.
This left Mr. Zhang at a loss, not knowing what to do. It was only after consulting with the doctor that he learned about the connection between drinking goji berry-infused water and his condition. Although goji berries indeed have certain effects in kidney health and blood sugar regulation, they should not be relied upon as medication. The claim about goji berries lowering blood sugar is based on animal experiments and lacks human experimentation, so there is no evidence to support their effectiveness in humans.
Moreover, goji berries contain abundant polysaccharides, especially glucose and xylose, which exhibit specific physiological activities. They can easily enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase in insulin-producing cells and reduce oxidative damage to pancreatic cells, thus contributing to health and stability to a certain extent.
However, these conclusions are based on achieving therapeutic concentrations of polysaccharides, and the amount of polysaccharides in each goji berry is minimal. Therefore, substantial consumption is required to reach the desired effect, which is practically unrealistic.
Excessive intake may also have adverse effects on the body, so it is essential to bear this in mind.
What are the benefits of drinking goji berry-infused water moderately?
1. Improves vision: Goji berries are believed to have beneficial effects on vision improvement. They can help protect the eyes from free radical damage and enhance both near and far-sightedness.
2. Boosts the immune system: Goji berries are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, enhancing the body’s resistance and immunity, slowing down aging and disease development.
3. Enhances sleep quality: Goji berries can soothe the nervous system and improve sleep quality. Many believe that drinking goji berry-infused water can alleviate insomnia symptoms.
4. Relieves fatigue: Being energizing, goji berries can help the body alleviate fatigue.
5. Liver protection: Goji berries have hepatoprotective effects, enhancing the stability of liver cell membranes, reducing liver cell damage and inflammation, beneficial for the liver.
6. Oral health: Components in goji berries can promote oral health, alleviating mouth ulcers and bad breath issues.
7. Improves skin health: Antioxidants and vitamin C in goji berries can reduce skin aging and damage, maintaining healthy and youthful skin.
8. Lowers blood pressure: Goji berries contain substances that lower blood pressure, aiding in hypertension control and reducing the risk of heart diseases.
What are the effects of excessive goji berry consumption on the body?
1. Liver damage: At high doses, goji berries may harm the liver, leading to liver cell damage and liver diseases like hepatitis.
2. Blood sugar fluctuations: Goji berries contain sugars and starches, excessive consumption may cause blood sugar fluctuations, worsening the condition of diabetic patients.
3. Gastrointestinal discomfort: Overconsumption of goji berries may result in gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
4. Allergic reactions: Some individuals with sensitive constitutions may experience allergic reactions after excessive goji berry consumption, manifesting as itching, redness, and swelling of the skin.
5. Drug interactions: Goji berries contain complex active ingredients that may interact with certain drugs, affecting their efficacy and side effects, such as impacting the use of antihypertensive and anticoagulant medications.
Expansion—How many berries should you put in goji berry-infused water? It is recommended to maintain this quantity
The quantity of goji berries used in goji berry-infused water varies depending on individual differences. For daily health maintenance, consuming 10-15 goji berries per day is typically sufficient. If seeking enhanced health effects, the quantity can be increased appropriately.
However, excessive consumption should be avoided. It is not advisable to exceed 20 berries at once to prevent discomfort. It is recommended to maintain an appropriate consumption level and adjust the quantity of goji berries consumed based on one’s constitution, age, physiological condition, and other specific characteristics.
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