The Goji Juice Scam

The words “goji juice scam” could be interpreted as a reference to one of two very different scams. One scam would relate to the quality of the advertised goji juice. As an example, an advertisement that did not mention Himalayan goji berries could be seen as a goji juice scam as only the Himalayan berries have a nutritional profile that includes close to one dozen different ingredients. While there is at least one goji juice scam that deprives consumers of a high quality goji juice, there is yet a second, no less dangerous form for the goji juice scam. The second scam concerns the nature of information regarding one mineral in the goji juice. The second scam leaves out all of the available information about the mineral called selenium.

Selenium is a mineral that can help to lower a man’s risk of prostate cancer, can be added to the diet by drinking goji juice. Selenium has the ability to slow or prevent the occurrence of cancer. Researchers have linked selenium’s cancer-fighting abilities to the action of certain enzymes. The mineral aids the production of those enzymes, thus giving the mineral the capacity to ward-off cancer risks. At the present time research has shown that a daily intake of at least 70 micrograms of selenium should be the goal of all who wish to remain free of cancer. Now the offering of such information on selenium should not be seen as a goji juice scam. If, however, the imparter of that information tried to encourage the daily intake of more than 70 micrograms of selenium, then that could be seen as a goji juice scam. That is because it is feasible for a person to consume too much selenium.

If a person were to consume a quantity far above 100 micrograms per day, then that excess amount of selenium could cause nausea, bad breath, rash, dizziness, weakness and cold symptoms. Further, consuming more than 60 micrograms of selenium per day is bad for pregnant women because a high intake of selenium has appeared to be linked to birth complications. A man who wants to avoid prostate cancer needs a slightly different diet than a woman who is carrying a child. That information ought to be included in any literature about selenium. That fact should also be mentioned in an advertisement for goji juice or on its packaging as the failure to highlight that fact might be seen as a goji juice scam.