Pistachio
Almond
Walnut
Barberry
Raisins
Saffron
Jujube
Dried Fig
Kaloote
Piarom
Zahedi
Mazafati
Estameran
Rabbi
Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba, commonly called jujube, red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family. It is used primarily as a shade tree that also bears fruit. Jujube fruit is known by a variety of names. In Iran, it is called (Annab). Jujube is native to the East Mediterranean regions. Trees grow to about 30 ft. with a crown diameter of up to 15 ft., have shiny small green leaves, and bear olive-like fruits. The fully ripened fruit has a thin, wrinkled, red skin over the whitish, rather sweet flesh around a single hard stone, and varies in shape from round to elongate.
Types
|
Calories |
79cal |
|
Fat |
0 |
|
Sodium |
0.4mg |
|
Carbohydrates |
20g |
|
Fiber |
10g |
|
Sugars |
6.5g |
|
Protein |
0.3g |
|
Potassium |
93mg |
|
Vitamin C |
77% of the DV |
|
Potassium |
5% of the DV |
Jujube fruits have long been used in alternative medicine to treat conditions like insomnia and anxiety. Animal and test-tube studies indicate that the fruit may offer impressive health benefits for your nervous system, immunity, and digestion.
Rich in antioxidants
Jujube fruits are rich in several antioxidant compounds, primarily flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenic acids. They also contain high levels of vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant as well.
Antioxidants are compounds that can prevent and reverse damage caused by excess free radicals.
Free radical damage is thought to be a major contributor to several chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Due to their ability to fight free radicals, antioxidants may offer several health benefits.
One animal study found that the antioxidant activity of jujube flavonoids helped reduce stress and inflammation caused by free radical damage in the liver. In fact, most of the benefits of jujube fruits are credited to their antioxidant content.
May improve sleep and brain function
Jujubes are widely used in alternative medicine to improve sleep quality and brain function. Emerging research suggests their unique antioxidants may be responsible for these effects. Jujube fruit and seed extracts have been found to increase sleep time and quality in rats. Also, the fruit is often prescribed by alternative medicine practitioners to decrease anxiety.
Furthermore, animal and test-tube studies indicate that it may improve memory and help protect brain cells from damage by nerve-destroying compounds. Research in mice even suggests that jujube seed extracts may help treat dementia caused by Alzheimer’s. That said, the seeds themselves are not usually eaten. More human research is needed to fully understand how jujube extract may affect your brain and nervous system.
May boost immunity and fight cancer cells
Jujube may boost immunity and fight the growth of cancer cells. One test-tube study noted that jujube polysaccharides, which are natural sugars with antioxidant properties, may fend off free radicals, neutralize harmful cells, and decrease inflammation. Decreased levels of inflammation and free radicals can help prevent chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.
Another study found that jujube lignins, a type of fiber with antioxidant properties, promoted the production of immune cells and increased the rate at which these cells neutralized harmful compounds. In a rat study, jujube extract boosted immune cells called natural killer cells, which can destroy harmful invader cells. Jujube fruit is also rich in vitamin C, which is thought to have powerful anticancer properties. One mouse study found high-dose vitamin C injections killed thyroid cancer cells.
Plus, test-tube studies have found that jujube extracts kill several types of cancer cells, including ovarian, cervical, breast, liver, colon, and skin cancer cells. Researchers believe that these benefits are primarily a result of the antioxidant compounds in the fruit. Still, most of these studies were conducted in animals or test tubes, so more research in humans is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
May improve digestion
Jujube’s high fiber content may help improve digestion. About 50% of the carbs in the fruit come from fiber, which is known for its beneficial digestive effects. This nutrient helps soften and add bulk to your stool. As a result, it speeds up the movement of food through your digestive tract and reduces constipation. What’s more, jujube extracts may help strengthen the lining of your stomach and intestines, decreasing your risk of damage from ulcers, injury, and harmful bacteria that may reside in your gut.
In one study, jujube polysaccharide extracts strengthened the intestinal lining of rats with colitis, which improved their digestive symptoms. Finally, the fiber in jujube may serve as food for your beneficial gut bacteria, allowing them to grow and overtake harmful bacteria.
Process
It is a small deciduous tree or shrub reaching a height of 5–12 metres (16–39 ft), usually with thorny branches. The leaves are shiny-green, ovate-acute, 2–7 centimeters (0.79–2.76 in) wide and 1–3 centimeters (0.39–1.18 in) broad, with three conspicuous veins at the base, and a finely toothed margin. The flowers are small, 5 millimeters (0.20 in) wide, with five inconspicuous yellowish-green petals. The fruit is an edible oval drupe 1.5–3 centimeters (0.59–1.18 in) deep; when immature it is smooth-green, with the consistency and taste of an apple, maturing brown to purplish-black and eventually wrinkled, looking like a small date. There is a single hard stone similar to an olive stone.
The general distribution of the jujube tree, both spontaneous and cultivated, includes Central and Western Asia, the Caucasus, India, China, Korea, and North African countries. It has also been introduced into North America. you can find Iranian jujube in Gorgān, Gilān, Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Baḵtiāri, Fars, Bušehr, Kerman, Sistān, Khorasan, etc.)