You’ve probably already heard about the benefits of blueberries and their high antioxidant properties, but are you familiar with goji berries? Goji berries are abundant in beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and selenium (1).
On top of having their defining ability to stabilize free radicals in the body to prevent cellular damage, each antioxidant has specific functions that maximize their benefits. For example, selenium plays an important role of managing thyroid hormones, which regulates body metabolism, growth, and temperature (3).
However, too much of anything is never a good idea; and having an excess intake of Selenium may cause nausea and irritability (2). Vitamin C enhances iron absorption and aids in collagen synthesis, while beta-carotene and vitamin A strengthen the immune system (2).
Convinced but not sure how to incorporate goji berries to your diet? Try adding some dried goji berries to your granola bars or yogurt. Their subtle sweet taste, chewy texture, and high fibre content makes them a great addition to any snack. Or, you can make things super easy by grabbing our famous goji granola! 
By: Nicole Huang
Edited by: Renée Chan, MS, MBA, RD, RDN, CDN
REFERENCES
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Donno, D., Beccaro, G.L., Mellano, M.G., Cerutti, A.K., and Bounous, G. (2015). Goji berry fruit (Lycium spp.): antioxidant compound fingerprint and bioactivity evaluation. Journal of Functional Foods, 18(B), 1070-1085.
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Hammond, G. (2017). Antioxidants [PowerPoint slides].
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Köhrle, J. and Gärtner, R. (2009). Selenium and thyroid. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 23(6), 815-827
About the author:
Nicole is a second year student in the food, nutrition, and health program at UBC and accepted into the dietetics major for the upcoming school year. Her passion lies in helping others achieve a healthier lifestyle specific to themselves through the combination of a balanced diet, fun physical activity, and mental health awareness. She enjoys trying out new foods, baking, hiking, watching movies, and meeting new people!