Can Lycium barbarum (goji berries) be steeped in water together with honey?

Apr 15, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) has the functions of nourishing the liver and kidneys, enriching essence, and improving vision, while honey can moisten the lungs, relieve cough, lubricate the intestines to facilitate defecation, fortify the middle jiao, alleviate acute conditions, and harmonize the properties of medicinal ingredients. For most people, consuming Chinese wolfberry and honey together in water can not only combine their nutritional benefits and effects but also enhance flavor, making it suitable for individuals with weak constitutions who require nourishment and tonic support.

Goji berries can generally be consumed with honey in water, but intake should be controlled when drinking. The specific analysis is as follows:

Goji berries have the functions of nourishing the liver and kidneys, enriching essence, and improving vision, while honey has effects of moistening the lungs, relieving cough, lubricating the intestines to aid bowel movements, strengthening the middle-jiao and alleviating urgency, as well as harmonizing medicinal properties. Most people drinking goji berries and honey together in water can combine the nutrition and benefits of both and also improve the taste, making it suitable for individuals with weak constitutions who require nourishment.

However, honey contains relatively high levels of fructose and glucose, so diabetic patients should consume it cautiously to avoid unstable blood sugar control. Honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which could pose a risk to the intestines of infants under one year old; therefore, it is not recommended to feed honey-containing beverages to infants and young children. Additionally, moderate consumption is advised to prevent indigestion or allergic reactions.

To preserve the active enzymes and nutritional components in honey, water that is excessively hot should not be used when preparing honey drinks. It is recommended to keep the water temperature between 40-60°C.

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