What is Jujube Fruit?
Jujube fruit, known as Chinese date in Southern Asia, has become popular for its multiple health benefits. As the name suggests, the fruit originated in China.
South-East Asians use Jujubes to prepare juice, wine and vinegar. In the west, people use jujube as part of their regular diets.
Traditional Chinese remedies have used Jujube plant for more than two thousand years.
Jujube: How to Identify The Right Ones?
Colour
The colour, size and nutritional content of the fruit vary based on the region. These fruits are round in shape with a seed embedded inside them.
Jujubes are dark red or purplish in colour, and also appear to be slightly wrinkled.
Contents
Although Jujube fruit has low calories, it is rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
It contains 70% vitamin C, 5-10% potassium. Jujube fruits contain a meagre amount of carbohydrates in the form of natural sugars.
Interestingly, dried jujubes contain higher calories than fresh fruit. They are more commonly eaten and used in cooking in several parts of the world.
What are the Benefits of Jujube?
Chinese dates offer exceptional health benefits for your nervous system, immunity and digestion.
Following are some of the benefits of having Jujube in your diet plan:
1. Strengthens Your Immunity
Research shows that jujube lignins, a type of fibre found in the fruit, have antioxidant properties. Jujubes promote immune cells’ production. They also increase the rate at which immune cells fight harmful substances in our body.
2. Relieves Constipation
Statistics show that almost 1 in 4 Indians are prone to chronic constipation. The fibres present in jujube regulates bowel movements and enhances the digestion process.
A handful of jujubes may help you in getting rid of constipation related ailments.
3. Lowers Your Anxiety
Scientists claim that jujube has a calming effect on the brain and nervous system. This reduces anxiety issues. Jujube oil extracts are quite useful in maintaining hormonal levels. It also induces a calm, relaxed sensation through your entire body.
4. Strengthens Your Bones
Dried jujubes are excellent sources of calcium and phosphorous. They help in developing and maintaining bone density. If you are suffering from arthritis, then red dates are the fruits you ought to have.
Jujubes reduce the swelling in your joints and relieve them of pain.
5. Improves Your Skin Texture
Jujube fruit contains vitamin C and antioxidants. They have the capability of reversing the effects of ageing.
Antioxidants neutralize most of the free radicals and prevent further cell damage. Vitamin C keeps your skin healthy and acne-free, and also helps your skin glow.
6. Aids Sleep Quality and Duration (Known to help with Insomnia)
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which one has trouble falling or staying asleep. This condition can come and go (acute) or prevail for a long time (chronic).
Generally, acute insomnia lasts from one night to a couple of weeks. In contrast, chronic insomnia stays for four or more months.
Acute insomnia is prevalent among teenagers today. Although this isn’t a major cause for concern, it can lead to chronic insomnia.
Chronic insomnia shows its symptoms at least twice a week for 3-4 months. There are quite a few reasons that can lead to chronic insomnia. Certain medications or stimulants could cause chronic insomnia. Other causes could range from a poor lifestyle, diet, etc.
How does Jujube Help with Insomnia?
There are two types of phytochemicals in jujube – saponins and flavonoids. They trigger changes in your neurotransmitters, including GABA and serotonin. These changes help you to fall and stay asleep.
Jujube has a unique quality to calm the mind and quiet neural activities. This helps induce and sustain sleep. Both flavonoids and saponins bioactive compounds found in the fruit have increased a person’s sleep time.
Do We Get Jujube in India?
Ziziphus mauritiana, also known as Indian jujube, is grown typically in warm climates. It is also popular by some other names such as Ber fruit, Indian Plum, Indian cherry and Malay jujube.
Indian jujube is a multi-purpose tree primarily grown for its fruits. These fruits are small, round to oblong in shape like those grown in other parts of the continent. They have thin and glossy skin.
One can eat the fruit freshly picked or dry it like dates. One may also choose to eat it sweetened, salted or pickled.
The Indian jujube has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It also contains vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin and pectin.
Ber fruit is also high in flavonoids and bioflavonoids, like its Chinese counterpart. They are crucial for absorbing vitamin C and improving the digestion process. Ber fruit also enhances blood circulation and prevents allergies.
Take-Home Message
Be it the Indian jujube or the Chinese date, both of these are pretty helpful to your body as well as your sleep. You must include jujube in your diet plan is if you are suffering from insomnia.
Insomnia is often looked upon as a habit rather than an ailment or disease. Whatever it might be, you need to start working on it. Otherwise, it will have adverse effects on your personal and professional lives.
