What Is Jujube Fruit, and What Is it Good for?

Jujube is a sweet, slightly tart fruit native to Southern Asia. Jujube fruits improve immunity, digestion, brain function, and sleep quality.

With the global spread of different diets and cuisines, people have better knowledge of and access to exotic fruits and vegetables. As we move away from processed foods and look for healthier options, natural foods are our best bet. Read on to learn more about the long history and health benefits of the jujube fruit as a food item and a traditional medicine component. 

Jujube is a sweet, slightly tart fruit native to Southern Asia. Its scientific name is Ziziphus jujuba, popularly known as the red date, Korean date, Indian date, or Chinese date.

These small, round, or pear-shaped fruits grow on deciduous trees around five to 12 meters in height and belong to the Rhamnaceae family. The fruits are greenish when raw and turn reddish-brown to purplish black with a wrinkly texture when ripe. 

Jujube fruits have a relatively short shelf-life and cannot be stored for more than ten days without special conditions.

There are 40 different varieties of jujube fruits. Most of the species are native to China as they have cultivated jujubes for more than 4000 years. Here are a few common types:

• Li. This is the largest and least acidic type of jujube fruit.
• Lang. This variety is pear-shaped and tastes best after turning red.
• Ta Jan. This variety is oval-shaped and slightly smaller than the Lang type.
• Chico. This variety has a tart, apple-like taste.
• Honey Jar. This is the sweetest and juiciest variety of jujube fruit.

Jujubes are cultivated worldwide.

Jujube fruit is low in calories but is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can be a great snack because of their low calorie, low fat, and high fiber content.

One serving of jujube includes approximately three fruits or 100 grams of raw jujube. Each serving contains around 79 kilocalories, with 20 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, and 10 grams of fiber. Jujubes contain almost no fats. 

Jujubes contain natural sugars, a source of energy for the body.

Jujubes are also a rich source of vitamin C, providing almost 77% of the required daily value. Vitamin C has immune-boosting and antioxidant properties.

Jujubes are a great source of potassium, providing 5% of the daily value. Potassium plays a critical role in muscle contraction and maintaining the electrolyte balance in our body.

Jujubes also contain a number of trace minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and iron. 

Because jujubes have a short shelf life, they are often dried and processed. This may increase their calorie count by weight; as water is lost, sugars become concentrated or are added during the drying process. Dried jujubes are more commonly eaten worldwide compared with fresh fruits. They should be eaten in a moderate amount.

The medicinal value of jujube fruits for treating conditions like insomnia and anxiety has long been believed in traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda. Now modern science has also documented some of the health benefits of eating jujube fruits. These include:

1. Improved immunity

Jujube fruits contain natural sugars called polysaccharides. These sugars possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They may be able to neutralize harmful chemicals, eliminate free radicals, and decrease inflammation.

The lignin fiber in jujubes also exhibits antioxidant properties. They can enhance the production of immune cells and increase the rate at which these cells can fend off harmful substances.

An animal study showed that consuming jujube extract can boost the production of an immune cell called natural killer cells. These cells are critical to the body’s defense against invading organisms and cells.

Jujube fruits' anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant properties can also protect against chronic inflammatory conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

2. Anti-cancer properties

Jujube fruit is a rich source of Vitamin C, which has anti-cancer properties. 

This anticancer activity was demonstrated in an animal study, in which high-dose Vitamin C injections were used to destroy thyroid cancer cells.

Jujube extract has been documented to kill multiple cancer strains such as skin, breast, ovarian, liver, cervical, and colon cancer cells in lab environments. Additional research in humans is warranted to confirm these findings.

3. Rich source of antioxidants

Jujube fruits contain several antioxidant-rich compounds such as polysaccharides, triterpenic acids, flavonoids, and Vitamin C. 

Antioxidants exhibit protective activity against free radicals by stopping oxidation. Free radicals can cause a lot of damage to the cells of the body through the process of oxidation. Antioxidant compounds like Vitamin C block these reactions and try to reverse the damage caused by free radicals.

Free radical damage is also considered the culprit in many chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Because of the antioxidant activity of jujube extract, it has a protective action against such diseases.

In an animal study, the antioxidant activity of the flavonoid compounds in jujube extracts decreased the liver's inflammation caused by free radical damage. 

Thus, the antioxidant properties of jujube fruits have been associated with numerous health benefits.

4. Enhanced gastrointestinal function

Jujube fruits have a high fiber content. This fiber is beneficial for digestion. It can also soften and bulk up your stool and prevent constipation. 

Jujube extract can also be used to protect and stabilize the inner lining of your gastrointestinal tract. It also has a protective action against harmful bacteria and ulcers.

Jujube fruits are an excellent probiotic food, as the fiber content of the fruit can serve as a source of nutrition for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. The growth of good bacteria can enhance your gut health, increase the absorption of nutrients, and prevent infections by harmful bacteria.

5. Improved brain function and sleep quality

An animal study showed that jujube extracts could be used to increase sleep duration and improve sleep quality.

An improvement in memory and protective action toward brain cells have also been observed in laboratory studies on jujube extracts.

Jujube seed extracts have also been documented to neutralize nerve-damaging compounds and protect against dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease in a study in mice. 

Additional human research is needed to confirm the neuroprotective activity of jujube extracts.

Jujube fruits are generally safe to eat and don’t have any adverse effects.

However, jujubes may not be advisable for certain people or conditions. For example, people with epilepsy or those taking anti-seizure medications like phenytoin and carbamazepine should avoid eating jujubes. An animal study showed that the jujube fruit extract enhances the effects of these medications. More research is needed on humans before any conclusions can be reached.

Jujube fruits have also been shown to interact with antidepressant drugs like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., venlafaxine). 

Consult your healthcare practitioner before including jujubes in your diet if you’ve been taking any of these medications.

Jujubes are sweet fruits with a chewy texture that can be eaten fresh. These fruits contain two seeds that need to be removed before eating. Dried jujubes are also very popular. They can be eaten as is or used in candies, desserts, or drinks.

Processed jujube fruits are also available in a variety of other preparations like jujube tea, jujube marmalade, jujube brandy, jujube vinegar, jujube honey, jujube wine, jujube jam, and jujube jelly. These dishes are especially common in Asian countries like China and India.

Jujube fruits have also been used as a natural food additive. For example, jujube extract can be added to bread dough to increase the water absorption rate. Indian jujube pulp has been added to smoked sausages to improve their quality. Jujube is a sugar-rich fruit with a great aroma. So, it can be used as a natural sweetener as a healthy alternative to sugar in processed food formulations.

Jujube also has its uses in alternative medicine and herbal medicine concoctions for treating various conditions like insomnia and anxiety.

Jujube or red date is a low-calorie, fiber-rich fruit that is a great source of essential nutrients and vitamins. It’s filled with natural sugars and has almost no fats, making it a great snack. 

However, because of their short shelf life, jujubes are rarely consumed raw and are dried or converted into various products like candies, jams, and jellies so they can be stored longer. These preparations have a higher calorie content than raw jujubes and should not be overeaten to prevent weight gain or other health complications.

Animal and lab studies of the jujube fruit have demonstrated several health benefits that mainly stem from the antioxidant activity of its polysaccharide and flavonoid compounds. More research on humans needs to be undertaken to confirm these findings.

Jujube fruits are generally safe and can be eaten by anyone unless you take antidepressants or anti-seizure medications to avoid drug interactions.

Jujubes are a natural alternative to refined sugar and can be a great addition to your diet as a healthy dessert.