Share:
Health Warning Do not combine goji berries with blood thinners
Goji berries have been booming for years. The small red fruits are called "Superfood" because of the numerous minerals and vitamins contained. But not all people should eat them. The concomitant use of certain drugs threaten health hazards.
Goji berries are rich in minerals and vitamins
For some years there has been more talk of so-called superfoods, which not only have a positive effect on our figure and mood, but should also be particularly good for your health. Goji berries in particular have experienced a boom here. They contain a lot of minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E. For some people, the berries can also be dangerous. And for those who take certain medications.
If you take blood thinners, you should forego Goji berries to be on the safe side. The small red fruits may possibly block the breakdown of blood-thinning drugs. (Image: timolina / fotolia.com) Interaction of foods and medicines
The interaction of food and medication can sometimes be dangerous. So also with goji berries. According to the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), these should be avoided by people who take blood-thinning medications for safety's sake.
The small red fruits have long been suspected to block the breakdown of blood-thinning agents such as phenprocoumone and warfarin. According to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), this could lead to bleeding in patients.
Strengthening the immune system and the heart
"The berries have long been used in Chinese cooking as well as in traditional Chinese medicine - due to their promised healing and health-promoting powers, such as strengthening the immune system, the heart, lowering blood lipid levels and inhibiting the aging process," writes the BfArM.
Also in Europe, they are marketed with such arguments, for example as tablets, tea, juice or in jam.
Pollutants in superfoods
However, the DGE and other professionals have warned against exaggerated expectations in the past by superfoods such as goji berries and co. Often, local vegetables are just as good for health as exotic foods.
In addition, they are often contaminated with chemicals. For example, the consumer magazine "Öko-Test" found harmful substances in almost all products, such as pesticide residues, in a spring investigation of various superfoods. (Ad)