Top 10 Health Benefits of Jujube

Jujube fruit is scientifically called as Ziziphus jujube and grows mostly in China, Europe, southern and eastern Asia. It is a small to medium sized, spreading deciduous tree of about 5-7 meters height and belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. It is also named as Chinese red dates, Korean dates, or Indian dates. Jujube fruit is used all around the world because of its numerous health benefits both as food and herbal medicine.

Here are the Top 10 Health Benefits of Jujube

1.Aids in Weight Loss
Jujube fruits are a rich source of protein and fiber and very-low calorie content. When consumed it works to satisfy nutritional needs and gives a feeling of being filled-up. It is also helpful in decreasing glucose levels that prevent additional weight gain, especially belly fat.

2.Improves Mental Health and Brain function
Jujube fruits possess neuro-protective effects and also promote memory and learning. It imparts anxiolytic and soothing effects on the body thereby relieving anxiety and insomnia. It treats various neurological degenerative diseases and improves quality of life. Studies also show that it has anti-depressant action and has positive effects on neurotransmitters and stress hormones. The jujube fruit contains flavonoid kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside which is a potential option to protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress.

3.Helps Control Blood Pressure
Jujube fruit is an excellent therapy for maintaining normal blood pressure. It helps with blood flow into the brain by increasing nitric oxide levels and thus, reducing high blood pressure. Also, Jujube fruits contain high amounts of potassium and a low content of sodium. This helps in vasodilation and maintaining optimum blood pressure.

4.Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial Agent
Jujube fruits contain betulinic acid that has been found to have anti­inflammatory activity and antibacterial properties. It inhibits the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli that are responsible for many bacterial infections.

5.Powerful Anti-oxidant
Jujube fruits are very rich in vitamin C and contain a chemical constituent called betulinic acid that helps increase as glutathione levels thus, protection against oxidative stress.

6.Improves Digestive Health
Jujube fruit possesses a lot of fiber content that aids in preventing chronic constipation. Dietary fiber works as a good laxative that makes bowel movement easier.

It is a proven therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that works by enhancing intestinal barrier function and activation of AMPK enzyme.

It also contains pectin that shows anti-diarrheal properties.

7.Relieves Cough
Jujube fruit contains a special enzyme called bromelain that is found to reduce phlegm and mucus build up. Thus, it aids in clearing respiratory pathways and sinus cavities.

8.Anti-allergic
Jujube fruits are loaded with anti-histaminic properties. It helps to stabilize mast cells that modulate immune properties and prevents allergic reaction. Studies also show that it has a potential role in treating anaphylaxis of allergic rhinitis.

9.Prevents and Treats Osteoporosis
Jujubes contain a huge variety of minerals, such as manganese, copper, potassium, and magnesium, that are essential for healthy bones. It provides strength to bones particularly in the elderly with osteoporosis.

10.Prevents Cancer
Jujube fruit is an excellent strategy for cancer treatment. Dried pulp of Z. jujuba is a source of essential unsaturated fatty acids including oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids. Studies show that this fruit contains a variety of triterpenic acids namely ceanothic, alphitolic, zizyberanal, zizyberanalic, epiceanothic, ceanothenic, betulinic acid, oleanolic (OA), ursonic, and zizyberenalic acids. These compounds have cytotoxic effects and they also modulate apoptotic process beneficial in cancer treatment