Also called Ziziphus jujuba, Ber, or the Chinese date, the Jujube fruit is traditional Chinese medicine. It is a fruit-bearing plant that has long been used as a medicine since it was first bred in South Asia around 9000 BC.
What is the Jujube Seed?
The jujube seed is the seed of the bite-sized Chinese fruit, Jujube. Not only as the seeds of the jujube fruits been considered useful over the years, the bark, and the fruits also possess essential medicinal properties. The seeds, fruits, and barks of the jujube have been tested on animals and said to be a natural source of flavonoids and triterpenoids, both of which have anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Where does it grow?
The jujube fruit is most commonly grown in South Asia and originated from the Yellow River. The fruit is considered native to the Chinese and popular among the Koreans and Indians. The jujube fruit resembles dates in shape and size; however, when it is ripe, it is either dark red or purple.
Health Benefits of Jujube seeds
The jujube fruit is commonly used in the treatment of several ailments, and it has some health improvement benefits too. Some of these are
•Improvement of Sleep Quality and brain function
Jujube fruits have long been used to cure conditions related to sleep, such as sleeplessness and fatigue. The seeds are rich in saponins and polysaccharides, which can promote sleep with their soothing properties. Traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia is made of a concoction, including jujube seeds, combined with astragalus root and other herbs.
•Aids digesting and helps in the treatment of digestive issues
Both jujube fruits and seeds are capable of aiding digestion and preventing constipation. More importantly, they can be used to cure chronic constipation and prevent other digestive and gastrointestinal issues. The jujube fruit is rich in fiber and improves the regular bowel movement, which means it can help you visit the toilet as you should.
•Reduces anxiety and depression
The jujube seeds are said to be as effective as valium in lowering anxiety and depressions. The seeds contain jujuboside A and B, some types of saponins that help increase the GABA level, thereby reducing stress. The oil extracted from the jujube fruit possess sedative properties affecting calmness through controlled hormonal levels.
•It helps blood sugar control and blood pressure
When combined with almonds, dried jujube fruits may help in reducing the level of sugar in the bloodstream, regulate blood cholesterol and prevent heart disease.
The high potassium content in the fruit aids the relaxation of blood vessels, thereby improving blood flow and reducing pressure. Potassium also helps in muscle control and in balancing the electrolytes.
•High in vitamins that boost immunity
Jujube provides a lot of extra nutrients, especially in the form of vitamins and antioxidants. Jujube fruits contain vitamin c, which helps the body fight diseases and improves immunity. Jujube is one of the best natural sources of vitamins that one can get. It also carries some calories as well as natural sugars from its low carbs.
What you should know before taking the jujube fruit
Due to its unique sedative properties, jujube fruit may interact with drugs used as antidepressants. It is necessary to discuss with your doctors the possible interactions with your medicines before taking the fruit or its seed.
Although there are lots of benefits attributed to the jujube fruit and its seeds, most of these do not have a large or verifiable scientific basis. Several experiments have been carried out on animals using jujube fruit, but there is still no sufficient evidence to support the claims.
