Have you tried or know about jujubes? The scientific name is Ziziphus jujuba. They are also referred to as red dates, Chinese dates, & Chinese jujubes.
I recently enjoyed eating one at a friend’s house. She grew up eating them as a light snack in Armenia. She said they help curb sugar cravings.
A quick search about them revealed that jujube fruit has a rich background in traditional medicine for over 3,000 yrs. Abundant in vitamins & minerals, the Vitamin C content in a 100mg serving is 69 milligrams (~77% of the RDA). This sweet fruit is consumed as a whole fruit, dried, & used in teas & soups.
A mindbodygreen.com article shares: “...studies show that jujube has ‘neuroprotective activities’ and can help ease stress, support a healthy memory, and promote learning. In terms of sleep, the fruit has been shown to enhance both sleep quality and daytime functioning.
In the article: “Research advances in bioactive components and health benefits of jujube (Ziziphus jujubaMill.) fruit from the Journal of Zhejiang University Science B: “...modern scientific research has revealed that the biologically active substances in jujube have cancer prevention, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antiviral properties, and other healthcare effects including improving immune function.”
Also, “...caution is essential when attempting to extrapolate relationships between nutrients and health functions in jujube. This is because the cultivar, stage of maturation, and storage and processing conditions of the fruit can affect its nutritional value and eventually lead to an increase or loss of some active functions.”
At health.clevelandclinic.org they share the potential health benefits but also caution: “Jujube may interfere with certain medications, including antiseizure medications and antidepressants. So talk with your healthcare provider if you use those medications and are looking to add jujube to your menu.”
Of important note, from Examine.com: “traditional usage suggests Jujube may be anti-fertility for females…it would be prudent to avoid usage of Jujube if trying to conceive a child.”
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