There is a popular saying that "eating three dates a day keeps you from growing old." However, jujubes are both food and medicine with their own unique medicinal properties. If one doesn't consider their body constitution and uses jujubes for nourishment indiscriminately, it may not only fail to provide health benefits but can even be counterproductive.
I. Not suitable to be eaten with cucumber or radish
Radishes contain anti-heat ascorbic acid enzymes, and cucumbers contain vitamin-decomposing enzymes. Both of these ingredients are natural enemies of jujubes, as they can destroy the vitamins in jujubes, leading to a loss of their nutritional value.
II. Do not consume excessively
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states, "Eating too much causes alternating chills and fever, and it should not be consumed by those who are emaciated." It is not advisable for people with abdominal bloating and poor appetite to eat jujubes. Due to their high sugar content, diabetetics should avoid them. The taste of jujubes is sweet, pungent, and hot, with a nature that tends to be damp and hot, which can easily lead to the production of phlegm and dampness. For people with excessive phlegm and dampness, eating too many jujubes can easily worsen their original symptoms, leading to adverse reactions such as chills, fever, thirst, and stomach bloating. One should also protect their teeth when eating jujubes. It is advisable to consume no more than 50 grams of jujubes per day.
III. Eating raw jujubes alone to replenish blood
Jujubes contain a large amount of iron, which is indeed very effective for iron-deficiency anemia. They can also promote the growth of white blood cells, increase serum albumin, and protect the liver. However, relying solely on eating jujubes to replenish blood has a minimal effect. To achieve the best blood-replenishing effect, one should pair them with foods like raisins and longans. More importantly, if one relies on eating raw jujubes to replenish blood, not only is the effect not significant, but it can also cause bloating and diarrhea. When eaten raw, the jujube skin can easily get stuck in the intestines and be difficult to expel, affecting digestion. Consuming too much can lead to bloating and is likely to cause weight gain. It is recommended to eat them 2 to 3 times a week.
IV. Best not to decoct in water
Because the vitamin C in jujubes is destroyed at temperatures above 80°C. After washing them clean, eating them raw is the most nutritious. Eating 5 to 8 jujubes daily is very beneficial to the body.
V. Those with excessive phlegm and dampness
Such people often exhibit a thick, greasy coating on the tongue, a sweet or greasy taste in the mouth, poor appetite, and a frequent feeling of stomach bloating. In severe cases, symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and swelling of the eyelids and face. The rich nature of jujubes can easily exacerbate dampness, causing phlegm and dampness to remain in the body and be difficult to expel, thereby worsening the aforementioned discomfort. People with this body constitution are more suited to eat foods that strengthen the spleen and promote urination, such as Job's tears, red beans, Chinese yam, and loofah.
VI. Those prone to "heatiness"
People with this body constitution are inherently "hot" and often experience symptoms of "heatiness" such as constipation, bad breath, and swelling and pain in the throat and gums. Jujubes are sweet in taste and warm in nature, leaning towards a warming tonic. Consuming them in large amounts would be like "pouring oil on the fire."
VII. Patients in the early stages of a cold
In the early stages of a cold, the pathogenic cold or heat invading the body is at its peak. If jujubes are consumed at this time, their sticky nature can often cause the pathogenic factors to stagnate, leading to the consequence of "shutting the door to keep the thief inside." This makes it difficult for the body to expel the pathogens and is not conducive to recovery.
VIII. Diabetics
Jujubes contain a high amount of sugar, which can raise blood sugar levels and worsen the condition of diabetics. Therefore, people with high blood sugar should not eat too many jujubes.