According to the folklore Goji berries are supposed to: – aid and protect your eyesight – increase your libido and fertility – boost your immune system – protect your liver – improve your circulation – increase your longevity – help you lose weight – prevent the growth of cancer cells – and more. Some companies that sell Goji berry products, the juice in particular, have made mention of the story of a man named Li Qing Yuen that consumed Goji berries daily and lived to the ripe old age of 252 years. This is of course complete unsupported and just one of the myths that surround the berries.
Goji berries are sometimes claimed to treat, prevent, or even completely cure cancer. In 2007 a spokesperson for a marketing company claimed in an interview that Goji juice could prevent 75% of breast cancer cases, according to clinical studies. Unfortunately no such studies had really been done, and nothing has so far ever been shown to fully prevent breast cancer – the best that they’ve gotten so far is reduced risk of it. Overzealous marketers have also made claims about the Goji berries’ miraculous properties in dealing with everything from Hepatitis B to period pains. This should, needless to say, be taken with a grain of salt.