Why Jujube?

Come spring and this bountiful nature are very ready to shower us with the best flowers and fruits. Jujube, also known as Ber to Indians, is one such fruit that makes waiting for the spring amazing. Having similarities of date in appearance, the fruit is also referred to as red date, Korean date, Indian date, Chinese date around the globe and is cultivated majorly in South Asia. The slightly sweet and tarty fruit can range from purplish black to brown. The bite-sized fruit also loads itself with a lot of health benefits. From inducing sleep to better digestion, the range of these health benefits is mind-blowing.

What Is Jujube?

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is a plant first domesticated in S. Asia around 9,000 B.C. As stated above, Jujube is popularly known by more than 40 names around the globe, being “Chinese date” and “red date,” the most common names in English. The two popular varieties are Lang and Li.

Jujube is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat digestive problems, inflammation, fever, insomnia, high blood pressure, and skin infections. More recently, it has been used in food industries as a flavoring and a food additive.

Active Compounds Found in Jujube

Jujube is a natural powerhouse of active compounds such as triterpenoids and flavonoids:

• Flavonoids
• Isovitexin: with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
• Apigenin: with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities
• Puerarin: a glycoside with strong anti-aging properties
• Spinosyn: a C-glycoside with sedative features.
• Triterpenoids
• Oleanolic acid: also widely known as oleanolic acid, the compound has a very strong antiviral and antitumor property.
• Ursolic acid: with liver-protective, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities
• Pomolic acid: with both anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory potential.
• Others
• Oleic acid: a fatty acid that is surplus in olive oil which promotes cardiac (heart) health
• Sanjoinine A: an alkaloid compound with anti-anxiety effects
• Ziziphin: a compound that is unique to jujube leaves which known to block the human taste receptors for sweetness

Jujube is also high in many essential vitamins and minerals; you will get to know them while reading this article.

Amazing Health Benefits of Jujube

This six (6) letter words fruit is highly beneficial to us in a lot of ways; in case you have never taken it before now, after going through its remarkable health benefits, your fruit consumption plan is expected to be adjusted to accommodate this amazing fruit.

1. Gets You Sound Sleep

Jujube was traditionally used in Chinese ethnomedicine to control sleep disorders like Insomnia. Both the seeds and the fruit are rich in flavonoids (e.g., saponins) and polysaccharides. Saponin has been proved a natural sleep aider by several researchers in the past. Its sedative strength helps induce sleep by giving some soothing effect on our entire nervous system.

2. Cardiac (Heart) Health

Jujube fruit powder, when taken3 times daily for a month, decreased “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol levels in a clinical trial on seventy (70) obese adolescents with high blood fat content. This may lower the risk of heart disease by controlling artery hardening.

In another trial on 116 individuals with diabetes type 2, a balanced diet having supplemented jujube (10 g/100 mL boiling water) before every meal for 3 months reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, and “bad” cholesterol (LDL).

Similarly, it reduced the levels of “good” cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in insulin-resistant and diabetic mice.

3. Blood Sugar

In a clinical examination on 11 healthy folks, dried jujube fruits lowered blood sugar spikes when taken after meals, especially when combined with almonds.

In another examination (earlier said) on 116 people with type 2 diabetes, a balanced diet having supplemented jujube (10 g/100 mL boiling water) before every meal for 3 months lowered a marker of poor blood sugar control (glycosylated hemoglobin).

Carbohydrates in jujube lowered insulin and fasting blood sugar levels in mice and rats fed a high-fructose diet or diabetes.

Also, limited evidence proved that jujube may help boost blood sugar control. You may discuss with your physician if this fruit may help your health. Note that you should never replace jujube for antidiabetic medication prescribed by your doctor.

4. Improves Bone Strength

Taking jujubes may aid in having stronger bones too. They are loaded with like iron, calcium, and phosphorous, which helps improves bone strength. The ones suffering from osteoporosis and other bone degrading conditions must consume the sweet and tarty fruit to reverse the effect or manage the condition better.

5. Chronic Constipation Relief

According to a recent survey study, about 22 percent of Indians are suffering daily from chronic constipation. A condition as serious as this is unfortunately never talked about publicly; people are often too embarrassed to share the problem with anyone, which is perhaps one of the worst they can ever do to their entire gut health. A handful of jujube fruits may help you get some relief from this problem—the high quantity of fiber in jujube aids to regulate bowel motility and digestion.

6. Soothes Anxiety

Jujube fruit has been proven to have great calming effects on our brain and nervous system. It helps to reduce anxiety, as well. The sedative power of jujube oil extract or jujube fruit is also known to work perfectly on hormonal levels and induce a calm and relaxed sensation throughout our body and mind.

7. Skin Health

Jujube has been traditionally utilized to cure eczema. In a research study in mice, its essential oil (having up to 10%) reduced skin inflammation.

8. Regulates Blood Pressure

Jujube fruits are very low in salt content and high in potassium, and these amazing qualities about jujube fruit ensure that our blood pressure levels are in their normal state. Potassium is beneficial for keeping our blood vessels relaxed. When one’s blood vessels are relaxed, there is smoother blood circulation, and the pressure is softened.

9. Hair Growth

Jujube fruits’ essential oil (1%) should help our hair grow well; this same oil, when applied to shaved skin on mice, increased the number of hair follicles and hair length.

10. Rich in Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Jujubes are a storehouse of essential antioxidants and vitamins. They are particularly very high in ascorbic acid (vitamin C). This acid (Vitamin C) helps to fight free radicals, vitalize the skin, and strengthens ones’ immunity by keeping diseases far away. About 100 grams of jujube fruits have 69 milligrams of ascorbic acid. Since our body cannot self-produce vitamin C, it is vital to make the most of these natural abilities available in fruits. Owing to that, jujube could be your strong bet.

11. Regulates Blood Circulation

As a rich source of phosphorous and iron, jujube helps to regulate blood flow as well. Low iron levels in ones’ blood or anemia may foster muscle weakness, indigestion, fatigue, cognitive problems, and light-headedness. Jujube does not only ease blood circulation but also increase blood flow.

12. During Lactation

Removing heavy metals from breast milk is also another amazing health benefit of jujube fruits. In a clinical trial study on forty (40) women who had recently been put to bed, those who took fresh jujube fruits every day had reduced concentrations of harmful heavy metals such as cadmium and lead in their breast milk. Larger, more conscious clinical trials are required to confirm this preliminary result.

13. Digestive Health

In a clinical examination of 37 seriously constipated people, jujube extract lowered constipation and increased their health quality.

Extract from jujube leaf protected against diarrhea caused by castor oil and stomach ulcers (from alcohol) in some experimental rats. Jujube extract also reduced the digestion period and shield against oxidative stress and accumulation of ammonia in the gut of rodents.

A single clinical test and some animal research studies may not be considered sufficient evidence to prove that jujube improves digestive problems. Larger, more detailed clinical trials are therefore required to validate the result from these preliminary studies.

14. Drug Delivery

Jujube bark was tested success in adhesive discs to deliver drugs to folks with mouth disease conditions in both a small trial and a gelatin layer on ten (10) healthy volunteers. A further research study is also required to ascertain if jujube bark can be safely used as part of drug delivery systems.