Ziziphus Jujuba is commonly known as jujube and is a powerful fruit with many health benefits. The common names of this fruit are Korean dates, Indian dates, Chinese dates, and red dates. This small, round-shaped fruit in red is edible and has a crisp and sweet flavor similar to an apple. Some of the other names of the fruit are jujubier commun, chinesische Dattel, natsume, azufaifo, kinesisk jujuber etc.
What Is Ziziphus Jujuba?
Ziziphus Jujuba is a nutritious fruit with no calories and grows in a shrub with tiny greenish-yellow flowers. This fruit is commonly found in southern Asian regions like central and south China, Nepal, Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, and Lebanon.
Role Of Ziziphus Jujuba In Ancient Medicine
According to China’s medical records, this potent fruit’s use dates back to 2500 years ago. One can find extensive use of jujubes’ bark, seed, and skin in preparing traditional medicines in regions such as Japan, Korea, and India.
Ziziphus Jujuba is known for its ability to relieve insomnia, stress, and anxiety, and it was used widely as a contraceptive, digestive aid, and appetite stimulant. The ancient people used fruit to prepare juices, desserts, and cakes.
Amazing Health Benefits Of Ziziphus Jujuba
The jujubes are packed with potent antioxidants and have all essential minerals and vitamins, making them a perfect choice to improve human health. Read on to learn more about the impressive health benefits that this wonder fruit has in store for you.
1. Relieves Stress And Anxiety
Ziziphus Jujuba has specific anxiolytic properties that help it provide a soothing effect for patients suffering from severe stress and anxiety issues. The fruit is a natural anti-stress food, has anti-anxiety properties, and is an antidepressant that enables it to have a soothing effect on your body and mind.
Eating raw fruit or its oil would positively affect the hormone levels of people with stress while inducing a relaxed and calm sensation overall. For those with severe anxiety and chronic stress attacks, having dried jujubes as snacks or a cup of tea with jujube extract will calm their stress hormones.
2. Aids In Good Sleep
Taking the jujube fruit seed extract would be the best remedy for those experiencing restlessness and insomnia. The seeds and pulp of this beneficial fruit have useful organic compounds like polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids that can calm both the mind and body to offer a good night’s sleep. A cup of tea with jujube decoction will be the best sleeping aid, as it is a natural sedative. It could also be an ideal candidate for developing health supplements for treating nerves and nervous system-related disorders. (1)
3. Cures Blood-Related Issues
Ziziphus Jujuba is a good source of potassium and iron, which are very useful in maintaining the health of blood cells. Patients suffering from anemia or having a low blood count and people with low iron levels in their blood can consume this fruit. This fruit has beneficial chemicals like saponin, triterpenoids, and alkaloids that can purify the blood and aid in detoxification.
Having a raw jujube fruit daily can help relieve anemia symptoms, such as lightheadedness, cognitive confusion, indigestion, muscle weakness, and fatigue. It is possible to improve the levels of potassium and iron in the body by increasing the blood flow and keeping the internal organs well-oxygenated. Jujubes also promote the formation of red blood cells and nourish the cells in the body.
4. Anticancer Properties
The juice extracted from jujubes can inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. Studies reveal that the water removed from the dried Ziziphus Jujuba has apoptosis induction properties, making cancer tumor cells die automatically. The extract of jujubes has been proven to suppress the growth of tumor cell lines, specifically leukemia, making it one of the best foods to fight cancer.
To be more specific, polysaccharides and triterpenic acids are the bioactive compounds present in the fruit. These compounds possess anticancer and antiproliferative effects on many cancer cell lines. (2)
5. Promotes Bone Strength
Jujubes are loaded with many valuable minerals, such as iron, phosphorous, and calcium, which are essential for maintaining the health of your bones. Older people often suffer from bone-degrading conditions like osteoporosis, and consuming jujube fruit daily would restore the bones’ resilience and strength.
6. Improves Immune System
Ziziphus Jujuba is highly beneficial for your immune system, as it is rich in antioxidants and has many useful organic acids, compounds, and Vitamins A and C. These antioxidants would neutralize the free radicals in the body, as they can cause severe illnesses and chronic diseases. The presence of Vitamin C can kindle white blood cell production and can promote the defense mechanism of the immune system. The extract from the fruit also protected PC12 cells against cytotoxicity, which is induced by that. (3)
7. Normalizes Blood Pressure Level
Having a fresh cup of jujubes daily can contribute to your potassium requirements. Having the right amount of potassium in your body is essential for relaxing the blood vessels. A jujube has niacin of 0.5 mg, which improves the blood flow. It also controls the blood pressure levels and maintains the energy level.
8. Relieves Constipation
Jujube fruits can provide gastrointestinal benefits, making them a perfect natural remedy to ease chronic constipation. It improves digestion processes, as it is rich in fiber content. The presence of triterpenoids and saponins in jujubes has a pivotal role in promoting the body’s nutrient intake and supporting regular bowel movement.
It also prevents gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating, flatulence, cramping, etc. This fruit also lowers the exposure of intestinal mucus to toxic compounds like ammonia.
9. Maintains Body Weight
If you have fruits as a part of your weight loss diet, do not forget to add a few jujubes to your fruit salad. The red dates are rich in fiber and proteins and low in calories, so that they can cater to your body’s nutritional needs. Ziziphus Jujuba can also make you fuller to prevent snacking and help you maintain your ideal body weight.
10. Guards The Liver
Jujube fruits are known for their liver-friendly properties. It offers excellent protection against liver injury with its antioxidant properties. The chemical compounds of these red dates help sweep away the free radicals from the body and prevent oxidative damage. Its anti-anxiety function also promotes the parts of the liver.
11. Fights Infections
Jujubes have a particular enzyme called bromelain that is associated with lowering mucus and phlegm buildup in the sinus cavities and respiratory tracts. It can effectively cure colds and common colds as it is rich in Vitamin C. Having a cup of warm jujube tea with a bit of ginger and mint leaves can relieve the throat ache and relieve a cough.
12. Neurodegenerative Diseases
Due to neurotrophin deficiency, neurodegenerative diseases might occur. This disease could be prevented when jujube is taken as a food supplement. The supplement’s effects were studied in the study, and its neuronal differentiation effects were studied on PC12 cells. (4)
The health benefits of Ziziphus Jujuba would help you understand that it is essential to incorporate it into your daily diet. It can be eaten in its raw form, as candied fruit or syrup, or can be infused as a tea.
Key Facts About the Ziziphus Jujuba (Jujube) Tree
- Origin: Native to China
- Family: Rhamnaceae family.
- Tree Appearance: Small to medium-sized tree with a height of up to 5-10 meters
- Leaves: Shiny green, ovate or oblong, with toothed margins
- Flowers: Small and yellow-green
- Fruits: Oval or round, dark red or purplish-black when ripe. Size is close to that of date with wrinkled skin
- Culinary Use: Consumed both fresh and dried
- Nutrition: Rich in vitamin C, minerals, and antioxidants
- Cultivation: Grows in diverse soil grows well in well-draining soil. It is drought-resistant and also condone salinity
- Propagation: Seeds, grafting and cuttings
- Worldwide Cultivation: China, Middle East, Europe, and America
- Wood: Suitable for tools and musical instruments
References
- Shenzhen Research Institute, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518057, China – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478819/
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Berberis and Jujube Research Center, South Khorasan, Birjand, Iran – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4557242/
- Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China – https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf402379u
- Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24520858
