Red dates, also known as jujubes, hawthorns, wild apples, are a fruit native to Asia, especially popular in China. This fruit is known for its rich vitamin C content, playing an important role in providing nutrition to the body. In addition to supporting the digestive system, red dates also help improve sleep, increase resistance and rejuvenate the body thanks to natural antioxidants. To better understand its nutritional value and health benefits, please read the article below.
Red dates are a fruit that is not unfamiliar to everyone, not only famous for its sweet and refreshing taste but also containing many nutritional values. Known for its ability to provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, red dates are not only a favorite dish but also bring many health benefits. So, what are the nutritional values of red dates and what effects do they have on the human body? This article will help you discover their nutritional values as well as their health benefits.
Origin of jujube
Jujube, also known as fresh jujube, originated in China and has existed for more than 7,000 years in the history of the development of culture and medicine here. This fruit is not only known for its rich nutritional value but also has benefits in preventing and improving health. Originating from the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, it was then widely distributed throughout the provinces of China. Thanks to its unique flavor and outstanding health benefits, jujube is now not only present in China but also grown in many other countries such as the US, Taiwan, Korea, etc.
Red dates are also known as fresh jujubes, originating from China.
Nutritional value of jujube
In 100g of jujube (equivalent to about 3 fruits), there are 79 calories, 1g of protein, 20g of carbohydrates, 10g of fiber, 77% of the daily vitamin C requirement and 5% of potassium. With a high fiber content and low calories, jujube is an ideal choice for a healthy snack. In addition, this fruit also provides a number of important vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, with strong antioxidant properties and the ability to strengthen the immune system. Jujube contains carbohydrates in the form of natural sugar, providing energy for the body. In particular, dried fruit has a much higher sugar and calorie content than fresh fruit.
Health benefits of jujube
Here are the health benefits of jujube:
Rich in antioxidants
Jujube is a rich source of antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids, polysaccharides and triterpenic acids. In addition, the high vitamin C content in jujubes also plays an important role in providing antioxidants to the body. These compounds have the ability to protect cells from attacks by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can harm the body.
Jujube is a rich source of antioxidant compounds.
Antioxidants help prevent and reduce damage caused by free radicals, thereby slowing down the aging process and reducing the risk of developing serious diseases. When free radicals accumulate severely, they can damage cells, tissues and organs, increasing the risk of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Therefore, adding jujube to your diet not only helps protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals but also contributes to maintaining long-term health.
Strengthen immunity, fight cancer cells
Research by Chinese scientists has discovered a special type of sugar in jujube that has strong antioxidant properties, helping to destroy free radicals, neutralize harmful cells and reduce inflammation. Reducing inflammation and reducing the number of free radicals in the body can help prevent the development of chronic diseases.
Eating jujubes can help the body prevent the development of chronic diseases.
In addition, the fiber in jujube also promotes the production of immune cells, helping the body destroy harmful invaders. Jujube also contains a large amount of vitamin C, a nutrient that has been studied and recorded to have the ability to destroy cancer cells, especially thyroid cancer, when injected into the animal body in high doses. Test-tube studies have also shown that jujube extract can destroy cancer cells in many organs, including breast, ovarian, cervical, liver, colorectal and skin cancers. However, most of these studies are still only conducted on animals or in test-tube environments, so more human studies are needed to draw accurate conclusions about the effects of jujube on fighting cancer and strengthening the immune system.
Improve Sleep and Brain Function
Research from the US National Institutes of Health has shown that jujube fruit and seed extracts have the ability to improve sleep duration and quality in mice, helping to improve sleep health in experimental subjects. In addition, animal and test-tube studies have also found that jujube can help improve memory, while protecting brain cells from damage caused by harmful compounds that affect the nervous system.
Jujube fruit and seed extracts may improve sleep duration and quality, but further research is needed
Some specific studies in mice have even shown that jujube seed extract may play a role in the treatment of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease. However, while these studies are promising, it should be noted that jujube seeds cannot be consumed directly and these effects are still mainly demonstrated through animal and test-tube studies. Therefore, further human studies are needed to confirm these benefits more clearly.
Improve digestion
About 50% of the carbohydrates in jujube come from fiber, which helps improve digestive function by promoting the movement of food through the intestines, thereby reducing the risk of constipation. Jujube extract also has the effect of protecting the lining of the stomach and intestines, reducing the risk of ulcers, damage and limiting the growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive system. Moreover, the fiber in jujubes plays an important role in providing food for beneficial bacteria in the intestines, helping them to thrive and compete with harmful bacteria, thereby maintaining a balanced and healthy intestinal microflora.
Red dates help enhance digestive function
In short, jujube is not only a delicious fruit but also brings many health benefits thanks to its rich content of vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber. It helps boost immunity, protect cells, improve digestion and help prevent some chronic diseases. Therefore, to improve your health, you can consider adding jujube to your daily diet to maintain optimal health.