The origin, variety and health benefits of jujube

Dates are one of the best health-preserving fruits. They can replenish qi and improve skin color, making people look younger. Let’s learn about them together.

date

Also known as red dates, beautiful dates, and good dates, it has been listed as one of the “five fruits” (peach, plum, plum, apricot, and date) since ancient times, and has the reputation of being a “natural vitamin pill”.

Jujube is native to my country and has a long history. As early as in the Book of Songs, there was a record of "peeling jujubes in August". In the Book of Rites, it is said that "jujubes and chestnuts are sweetened with honey", and they are used in cooking. In the Strategies of the Warring States, it is said that "jujubes and chestnuts are beneficial in the north... sufficient food for the people", pointing out the important role of jujube in northern China. Han Feizi also recorded that jujubes and chestnuts were used to save the people during the famine in the Qin State, so the people have always regarded jujube as one of the "hard crops" and "woody grains".

The most prominent feature of jujube is its high vitamin content. A clinical study abroad showed that patients who ate jujube continuously recovered three times faster than those who simply took vitamin pills. Therefore, jujube is regarded as an important tonic, and there is a saying that "eating three jujubes a day will keep you young forever."

Origin of Dates

Jujube is native to my country. During the Warring States Period, it was grown in southern Yan and northern Wei. Later, it was planted in most parts of the country, with the largest production in Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Anhui and Zhejiang. Later, it was introduced to the Mediterranean coast and Western Europe via Syria in the 1st century AD, and to North America from Europe in the 19th century.

Growth environment

The jujube tree is a warm temperate positive tree species. It likes light and dry climates, and is cold-resistant, heat-resistant, drought-resistant and waterlogged. It is not very demanding on soil and can grow in plains, sandy land, valleys and mountains, except for swamps and heavy alkaline soils. Its adaptability to pH is between 5 and 10, and it grows best in fertile slightly alkaline or neutral sandy loam. It has a well-developed root system and strong sprouting ability. It is smoke-resistant but not water mist-resistant.

Date Varieties

There are many types of dates. The most common ones are golden thread dates, seedless dates, chicken heart candied dates, Miyun dates, Lang dates, Huping dates, Jun dates, Zanhuang long dates, Guanyang long red dates, Zanhuang round dates, round bell dates, Huande round dates, winter dates, flower red dates, goat milk dates, gourd dates, grinding disc dates, persimmon-top dates, and five-flowered dates.

Health benefits of jujube

1. Red dates can promote the formation of white blood cells, lower serum cholesterol, increase serum albumin, and protect the liver. Red dates also contain substances that can inhibit cancer cells and even transform cancer cells into normal cells.

2. Dates are rich in vitamin C, which can convert excess cholesterol in the body into bile acid, thereby reducing the probability of gallstones.

3. Jujube is rich in calcium and iron, which play an important role in preventing and treating osteoporosis and postpartum anemia. Middle-aged and elderly people often suffer from osteoporosis during menopause, and adolescents and women who are at the peak of growth and development are prone to anemia. Jujube has an ideal therapeutic effect on them, and its effect is usually incomparable to drugs.

4. The rutin contained in jujube is a substance that softens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, and has preventive and therapeutic effects on hypertension. In addition, jujube can also resist allergies, remove fishy and strange smells, calm the mind, improve intelligence and brain health, and enhance appetite.

Storage method

You can find a place in a cool and humid place, spread 3 cm thick wet sand on the bottom, put a layer of fresh dates (the thickness of a date) on it, and then spread a layer of sand, and then put a second layer of fresh dates, and then a layer of sand, so that the pile is about 30 cm high. To prevent the sand from drying out, you can use a small amount of clean water to replenish the humidity. In this way, it can be stored for more than 1 month, and the dates are fresh, tender, crisp and sweet, with little loss of nutrition.