Jujubes: What This Chinese Superfood Does To Your Body

What is jujube fruit?

The jujube fruit can be found in dozens of places all over the world, but they are mostly found in China. Due to that fact, this fruit is sometimes referred to as a “Chinese date.”

As long as you eat them when they are ripe, the jujube fruit has a flavor that is sweet but not too sweet. If you enjoy apricots, you can expect that level of sweetness, but not that exact flavor. Instead, they taste a bit like an apple, though it all depends on how you eat them (more on this soon).

Incidentally, while the health benefits of the jujube fruit are a relatively new concept for many in the west, this is old news in China. There, this fruit has been at the heart of different medical applications for thousands of years!

How to eat jujubes

Like the idea of eating jujube fruits? Well, you’re in luck, as there are multiple ways to consume these fruits and receive their health benefits.

For example, some people prefer to eat the jujube the same way they would eat an apple. If you do so, the fruit will taste best when the color is somewhere between red and greenish-yellow. Others prefer to eat these fruits when they have been dried out. Either way, the main trick is to eat around the seed inside of the jujube.

If you’re feeling creative, there are several other ways to use and consume these fruits. They taste good in hot cereal and can add a nice bit of sweetness to oatmeal. It also adds a nice bit of flavor to a salad or can be turned into a jam or as part of a sauce. Of course, if you just want the health benefits of the jujube, you can always consume it as a pill, powder, or tincture.

Now that you know what the jujube is and how to eat it, let’s take a closer look at the different health benefits this fruit has to offer.

Get to sleep easier

Cropped shot of an attractive young woman wearing a sleep mask while lying in bed

Have trouble sleeping? Heck, who doesn’t? As it turns out, jujube fruit may be the organic solution you’ve been looking for.

That’s because consuming the jujube helps to calm your body and mind. Eating some of this fruit before bed may finally help you make it to the morning without tossing, turning, and waking up in the middle of the night.

RELATED: 17 Tips To Get More Deep Sleep

Shed pounds quicker

Happy mid adult Asian woman using balance weight scale at health club

If we’re being honest, most of us could stand to lose a few pounds. And eating jujube fruit may help that happen due to the special properties of this interesting food.

First, this fruit offers the magic combination of being low in calories but high in protein and fiber. That means that it doesn’t take much of it to make you feel full. By feeling fuller for longer periods of time, and sticking to low-calorie food like jujubes, you can shed those pounds.

Second, eating jujubes also helps lower your glucose level. Lowering your glucose can help reduce unwanted fat in your belly and other areas, helping your clothes to fit that much easier.

Reduce stress and anxiety

All you need these days is an internet connection to send your stress and anxiety through the roof. But if you’ve been feeling stressed these days, jujube fruits may help you finally relax.

That’s because this fruit positively affects the neurotransmitters and stress hormones in your body. It serves as a natural antidepressant and can help reduce stress. It also helps to protect your brain cells from oxidative stress, and this can help to protect and preserve your longtime mental health.

Digest food more easily

Nothing quite like tummy troubles to ruin your entire day. However, regularly consuming jujube fruits can help you make those digestive difficulties a thing of the past.

The main reason for this is that the sheer fiber content of this fruit helps promote a healthy digestive system. In addition to that, the saponins and triterpenoids help your body absorb more nutrients while promoting smooth bowel movements and other hallmarks of digestive health.

Control blood pressure

Do you suffer from high blood pressure? There are plenty of medications out there that can help. But we love the fact that jujubes provide a natural way to control blood pressure.

How does this fruit lower your blood pressure? Mostly by increasing your nitric oxide content and helping more blood to flow to your brain. Jujube also has a combination of high potassium and low sodium content that can help with the dilation of blood vessels and keeping your blood pressure right on target.

Get better circulation

Many people around the world have circulation problems. But regularly eating jujube fruit can help you take control of your circulation.

That’s because this fruit is filled with both phosphorous and iron. When you increase the amount of iron and phosphorus in your body, it increases your blood flow. Just like that, your circulation is stronger than it was before!

Treat and prevent cancer

Science is still studying the different effects of jujube fruit. However, the research so far shows that this fruit may be useful in both treating and preventing cancer.

A 2008 study found that jujube can help kill tumorous cells in the body. Later studies showed it may be an effective breast cancer chemotherapy treatment, and that it may have antiproliferative effects as well as anticancer effects. Put it all together and it seems like the jujube may be one of the best ways to prevent the spread of cancer!