Top 12 Health Benefits of Jujube Fruit
What is Jujube Fruit?
Jujube fruit is scientifically called as Ziziphus jujube and grows mostly in China, Europe, southern and eastern Asia. It is a small to medium-sized, spreading deciduous tree of about 5-7 meters height and belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. It is also named as Chinese red dates, Korean dates, or Indian dates. Jujube fruit is used all around the world because of its numerous health benefits both as food and herbal medicine.
Types of Jujube Fruits
- Jujube fruit is abduntantly available and comes in different varieties. They are as follows:
- Li- It is one of the largest fruit of Jujube varieties. It is less acidic compared to other varieties.
- Lang- It has a distinct pear shape and tastes best when reaches to red-stage.
- Chico- It has a distinct apple like taste with a nice tang in it.
- Ta Jan- It is an oval shaped fruit but slightly smaller than Lang.
- Honey Jar- It is the excellent variety of fresh eating and is the juiciest, crunchiest and sweetest jujube variety.
Jujube fruits are used in the various forms of foods like:
- Candies
- Eaten as snack or with coffee
- Sweetened tea syrup containing jujube fruits
- Jujube vinegar
- Cold jujube beverage
- As ilanthai vadai or regi vadiyalu in India.
- Puree and soup
Health Benefits of Jujube Fruit
Aids in Weight Loss
Jujube fruits are a rich source of protein and fiber and very-low calorie content. When consumed it works to satisfy nutritional needs and gives a feeling of being filled-up. It is also helpful in decreasing glucose levels that prevent additional weight gain, especially belly fat.
Improves Mental Health and Brain function
Jujube fruits possess neuro-protective effects and also promote memory and learning. It imparts anxiolytic and soothing effects on the body thereby relieving anxiety and insomnia. It treats various neurological degenerative diseases and improves quality of life. Studies also show that it has anti-depressant action and has positive effects on neurotransmitters and stress hormones. The jujube fruit contains flavonoid kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside which is a potential option to protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress.
Helps Control Blood Pressure
Jujube fruit is an excellent therapy for maintaining normal blood pressure. It helps with blood flow into the brain by increasing nitric oxide levels and thus, reducing high blood pressure. Also, Jujube fruits contain high amounts of potassium and a low content of sodium. This helps in vasodilation and maintaining optimum blood pressure.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial Agent
Jujube fruits contain betulinic acid that has been found to have antiinflammatory activity and antibacterial properties. It inhibits the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli that are responsible for many bacterial infections.
Powerful Anti-oxidant
Jujube fruits are very rich in vitamin C and contain a chemical constituent called betulinic acid that helps increase as glutathione levels thus, protection against oxidative stress.
Improves Digestive Health
Jujube fruit possesses a lot of fiber content that aids in preventing chronic constipation. Dietary fiber works as a good laxative that makes bowel movement easier.
It is a proven therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that works by enhancing intestinal barrier function and activation of AMPK enzyme.
It also contains pectin that shows anti-diarrheal properties.
Relieves Cough
Jujube fruit contains a special enzyme called bromelain that is found to reduce phlegm and mucus build up. Thus, it aids in clearing respiratory pathways and sinus cavities.
Anti-allergic
Jujube fruits are loaded with anti-histaminic properties. It helps to stabilize mast cells that modulate immune properties and prevents allergic reaction. Studies also show that it has a potential role in treating anaphylaxis of allergic rhinitis.
Prevents and Treats Osteoporosis
Jujubes contain a huge variety of minerals, such as manganese, copper, potassium, and magnesium, that are essential for healthy bones. It provides strength to bones particularly in the elderly with osteoporosis.
Prevents Cancer
Jujube fruit is an excellent strategy for cancer treatment. Dried pulp of Z. jujuba is a source of essential unsaturated fatty acids including oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids. Studies show that this fruit contains a variety of triterpenic acids namely ceanothic, alphitolic, zizyberanal, zizyberanalic, epiceanothic, ceanothenic, betulinic acid, oleanolic (OA), ursonic, and zizyberenalic acids. These compounds have cytotoxic effects and they also modulate apoptotic process beneficial in cancer treatment.
Detoxifies Blood
Jujube fruit contains saponins and alkaloids which have been directly linked to detoxification of blood. It eliminates harmful toxins from the blood, tones it and prevents the body from various blood related diseases.
Anti-aging Agent
Jujube fruit is an excellent anti-aging agent. As this fruit contains high amounts of vitamin C, this helps prevent wrinkles, melanin deposition and pigmentation.
Side Effects of Jujube Fruit
There are no known possible side effects of jujube fruit. However, since it contains high fiber content that has cellulose, this makes it hard to digest. So, it is advisable to consult a physician before eating jujube fruit if the person is suffering from:
- Intestinal parasites
- Excessive phlegm
- Bloating
- Tooth disease
Can Jujube Fruit Be Good choice for Diabetics?
Jujube fruits contain a variety of constituents that are good for body metabolism, however, they are still not advisable for use in diabetes. It contains sugar that may cause spike in blood sugar levels.
Is Jujube Fruit Good for Pregnancy?
Jujube fruit contains rich amounts of folic acid that helps in the generation of blood cells and promotes fetal development. It also contains zinc which is helpful in fetal brain development & enhances cognitive function.
However, excessive intake can cause harm to pregnant women, so it should be taken cautiously.
Recipe for Jujube Ginger Tea
Take about one pound of dried jujube fruits, one stick of fresh ginger and some pieces of cinnamon bark. Place them in a pot filled with water and bring to boil. After some time lower it to simmer for about 1-2 hours. Then strain it and collect the remaining amount. Consume it hot or even with crushed ice. It is an excellent source for antioxidants and other minerals and vitamins.
References:
- The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit: a review of current knowledge of fruit composition and health benefits - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23480594)
- Jujubes: Plant Care and Collection of Varieties - (https://garden.org/plants/group/jujubes/)
- Wild jujube polysaccharides protect against experimental inflammatory bowel disease by enabling enhanced intestinal barrier function - (http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2015/FO/C5FO00378D#!divAbstract)
- “Ziziphus jujuba”: A red fruit with promising anticancer activities - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4557242/)
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Shivangi Saxena. (2020, October 21). Top 12 Health Benefits of Jujube Fruit. Medindia. Retrieved on May 26, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/diet-and-nutrition/top-12-health-benefits-of-jujube-fruit.htm.
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Shivangi Saxena. 2020. Top 12 Health Benefits of Jujube Fruit. Medindia, viewed May 26, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/diet-and-nutrition/top-12-health-benefits-of-jujube-fruit.htm.