In China's food culture, there are many dietary sayings about jujubes, such as "A jujube a day keeps old age away," "Three jujubes a day, and you won't need the doctor," and "Five grains plus jujubes are better than lingzhi grass." Is there a scientific basis for these proverbs?
In fact, jujubes do not have the aforementioned magical effects. However, from the perspective of modern nutrition, it is indeed a healthy food worth eating every day.
Fresh jujubes are a natural "vitamin C pill." The vitamin C content in every 100 grams of fresh jujubes is nearly four times that of kiwifruit. The vitamin P content in fresh jujubes also ranks first among fruits, and it can prevent and treat blood diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, nutrients such as potassium, iron, and B vitamins in fresh jujubes are also among the highest in fruits.
After jujubes are dried, the content of most nutrients, except for vitamin C, is greatly increased. For example, the calcium content is nearly three times the original, and vitamin E increases by nearly three times. The benefits of jujubes are not limited to this; they are also a "concentration area" for plant-based nutrients, such as flavonoids, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and triterpenoids. These active ingredients can play an important role in antioxidant, anti-aging, improving immunity, anti-cancer, and anti-fatigue.
Therefore, both fresh and dried jujubes are treasure troves of nutrients. It is best to eat a handful or two of fresh jujubes every day. In the season when fresh jujubes are not available, eating 3 to 8 dried jujubes a day is also a good choice.