The jujube fruit, often known as the red or Chinese date, is a Southern Asian native that has gained popularity worldwide. These little round fruits, which have a seed pit and are found on huge flowering trees or shrubs, are produced (Ziziphus jujuba). They become dark red or purple and possibly wrinkled when ripe.
In regions of Asia where they are frequently grown, they are frequently dried and used in candies and pastries because of their sweet flavour and chewy texture.
Jujubes are frequently used in alternative medicine to enhance sleep and lessen anxiety. All you need to know about the jujube fruit, including its composition, advantages, and applications, is provided in this article. Fresh jujube fruit isn’t as well-known in the US as it is in Asia, where it is pervasive, delectable, and beloved by many.
Fresh jujube fruits can be consumed raw as a snack, dried, boiled into candies and jams, baked into cakes and pies, simmered into fragrant syrups, roasted with meats and vegetables, in soups, and added to sauces, among other frequent preparations. Jujubes can be used in place of dates in recipes since they are frequently mistaken for Medjool dates.
Jujubes have an apple-like flavour. These are little fruits, about the size of a plum, with wrinkled maroon skin when ripe. The fruit’s inside has a texture that is a little bit dry but sweet and fluffy like nougat.
Popular Ways to Eat Jujubes
The jujube fruit can be prepared and consumed in a variety of ways once it is mature. Here are a few of the most well-liked jujube preparations:
Jujubes’ peel and flesh are both perfectly edible when they are raw. Eat them out of hand and stay away from the hard hole in the middle. Jujube can be chopped up and sprinkled over oats, yoghurt, salads, and desserts.
Baking: Fresh jujube fruit can be roasted with savoury meals alongside vegetables and meats. It can also be baked into cakes, sweets, and bread.
Rich soups, stews, and chutneys benefit from the sweet, malty flavour that jujube provides.
Dips + Sauces: Jujube, when cooked down, adds a jammy, tart sweetness to robust sauces and delicious snack spreads.
The apple-sweet jujube is great when made into jams, jellies, and confections. Other popular desserts that use jujube are puddings, fruit tarts, and savoury compotes.
You can Also Drink Jujubes
Drinks of various kinds are delightful when jujube is added because of its sweet, apple-like flavour. Jujubes can be used in cocktails, juices, tea, and other drinks. Here are some simple recipes for jujube-infused beverages:
Jujubes are famous for their flavorful tea, which is created by steeping the extremely ripe fruit in hot water with optional additions of ginger, honey, sugar, and spices.
Juicing: Scoop the pulp from freshly ripened fruit after removing the pit. Jujubes aren’t particularly juicy, so if you want a more substantial fruit cocktail, it’s preferable to combine them with other juices. Jujube pairs well with fruits and vegetables such as pears, apples, ginger, oranges, and leafy greens.
Jujubes are fantastic in smoothies and nut kinds of milk if you enjoy adding dates to your drinks. Very ripe jujubes have spongy flesh that can resemble nougat candy but are less caramel-sweet than dates. They are sweet and tangy like apples. With cashews, peanuts, almonds, orange citrus fruits, honey, and toasty spices, it is extremely tasty.
Cocktails: Jujube gives your favourite beverages an unexpected twist whether it is cooked into a tasty syrup, fermented into liqueurs, or used as a decoration.
You can store Jujubes
Jujubes ripen quickly and have a marginally longer shelf life than some other uncommon fruits. Here are a few of the most typical methods for keeping jujubes safe:
Jujube fruits can be kept on the counter for up to a week as they ripen. Jujubes can stay fresher for a few extra days if they are stored in an airtight container. Jujube fruit can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator if it is kept in a well-closed container.
Wait until the jujubes are ripe before freezing them. Place jujube fruits on a baking sheet, spaced apart, and freeze whole or in slices with the pits removed. Fruit can be frozen and kept for up to a year in a freezer-safe container.
The shelf life will vary after dried or cooked into recipes for things like candy and tea. When kept in an airtight container and kept in a cool, dark location, dried jujubes can remain fresh for more than a year. Keep your fresh or dry jujubes in the refrigerator for better storage results if you reside in a warmer or more humid region.
Side Effects Of Eating Too Many Jujubes
Some major side effects of eating too many jujubes are as follows.
Overuse Of Antioxidants Is Dangerous For the Health
The antioxidants in jujube, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and phytonutrients, etc., protect our cells from free radical damage and lower the risk of numerous cancers.
Free radicals are unbalanced ions that become stable by robbing nearby molecules of their electrons, resulting in oxidative damage to those molecules.
Antioxidants interact with free radicals when present in moderate amounts, but when present in excessive amounts, they may interact with healthy cells and result in oxidative cell damage.
Consume jujube fruit in moderation since its high antioxidant content may increase your chance of developing several malignancies.
A National Cancer Institute study found that smokers who took large dosages of beta-carotene supplements had a higher risk of developing lung cancer than smokers who didn’t.
According to a study by the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin E may raise the risk of hemorrhagic stroke when taken in high doses. If you take antioxidant supplements, eat jujube in moderation to avoid the risk of antioxidant overdose.
Dietary Fiber Overconsumption Is Dangerous For Intestinal Health
The natural laxative properties of the dietary fibres in jujube help to improve bowel movements, ease constipation and treat other gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, gas, bloating, and flatulence.
However, consuming too many dietary fibres may overstimulate bowel movements and result in a variety of health problems, including indigestion, intestinal obstruction, gas, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, abdominal cramping, and malabsorption.
If you already consume a diet high in fibre, consuming additional fibre (from jujube) may raise your risk of experiencing stomach issues. Use Jujube sparingly to reduce the danger.
If you have a jujube allergy, stay away from them. Common reactions to the jujube fruit include throat irritation, swelling lips and tongue, itchy skin, and skin rashes.
Consuming jujubes when pregnant and nursing
Jujube’s strong nutritional profile aids in supporting a healthy pregnancy. The jujube fruit’s vitamin C and other antioxidants shield the developing embryo from free radical harm. Jujube’s folate helps fetuses grow their brains and lowers their risk of developing neural tube disorders like spina bifida.
Between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, some pregnant women may have gestational diabetes. Jujube regulates our blood sugar levels and lowers that danger.
To make sure there are no food-drug intolerance issues or pregnancy difficulties, you should only consume jujubes while pregnant and while nursing.
Dietary fibres in jujube, when consumed in excess, may result in diarrhoea, intestinal gas, obstruction, abdominal pain, and other unpleasant symptoms.
May Lead to Low Blood Sugar
Jujube prevents a fast surge in blood sugar levels thanks to its low glycemic index of 20, which slows down the rate at which sugar is released into the system. This aids with diabetic management.
Jujube contains dietary fibres that help to manage blood sugar levels by reducing the bloodstream’s absorption of sugar. Despite this advantage, consume jujubes in moderation because excessive consumption may cause blood sugar levels to fall below normal ranges, which can lead to symptoms including fatigue, nausea, dehydration, lack of focus, blurred vision, pale complexion, and dizziness.
Jujubes should only be added to your diet if you have spoken with your doctor first if you take diabetes medication to prevent the danger of food-drug interactions.
Possible Blood Pressure Decrease
Millions of people worldwide suffer from hypertension, often known as high blood pressure, which is the main factor in several cardiovascular and other health issues.
Jujube contains potassium, a natural vasodilator that relieves hypertension by relaxing blood vessels and enhancing blood circulation.
However, consuming too much jujube can result in low blood pressure, which can lead to symptoms including weariness, nausea, clammy skin, depression, and blurred eyesight, among others.
Before adding jujube to your regimen if you are currently on blood pressure medicine, check with your doctor to make sure there is no risk of a food-drug intolerance.
May Prevent Weight Loss
Jujube has 100 grams and 79 calories per serving.
Jujube improves our energy level without adding many extra calories when ingested in moderation.
Jujube’s dietary fibres help to satiate the stomach and prevent overeating, a major contributor to obesity.
Although jujubes are excellent for losing weight, you should still eat them in moderation since too many could lead to an increase in daily caloric consumption.
Excessive calories from jujube or any other fruit may impede weight loss if you already consume a balanced diet and enough calories.
Jujubes should not be added to your daily calorie intake, even if you are eating them to lose weight.
Jujube use in excess can have a detrimental impact on our metabolism, poor nutritional absorption, and food digestion.
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