As the saying goes, "Eat three jujubes a day and you'll never grow old." The most outstanding feature of jujubes is their high vitamin content. In traditional Chinese medicine, jujubes are believed to tonify the middle and benefit qi, nourish blood, and generate fluids.
Fresh jujubes have even higher vitamin content, but they are seasonal and not always readily available. Moreover, excessive consumption may harm digestion. Dried jujubes, although their vitamin content decreases, have higher iron content and their nutrients are more easily absorbed, making them more suitable for therapeutic use. Here are several therapeutic recipes using jujubes. Experimental evidence has shown that drinking jujube water daily for one week can increase serum protein in individuals with poor liver function, thus promoting liver protection and detoxification.
Different methods of consuming three jujubes a day have different effects on longevity
① Soaking jujubes in water to nourish the liver and detoxify
One detail in the process of soaking jujubes determines the effectiveness of their benefits. The tough skin of jujubes is difficult to digest when consumed whole, so it is best to break them open before soaking. It is also important to note that fresh jujubes should not be soaked or boiled. This is because they have a very high vitamin C content, and boiling them in hot water can severely destroy the vitamin C.
③ Boiling jujubes to make soup for relieving cough and moistening the lungs
The book "Bi Xiao Fang" written by Yu Sheng in the Tang Dynasty records that boiling jujubes, tremella fungus, and rock sugar together can relieve cough and moisten the lungs.
Ingredients: Tremella fungus: 20 grams (about half a piece), jujubes: 20, rock sugar: 60 grams (adjust the amount according to personal taste)
Method: Soak the tremella fungus in water until it expands, remove the stem, tear it into small pieces, and put it in a pot with jujubes and rock sugar. Add 6 bowls of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for half an hour over low heat before turning off the heat.
④ Boiling eggs with jujubes to nourish the blood and beautify the complexion
Boil jujubes and longan fruit with brown sugar water until the jujubes are soft and the longan fruit is tender, then add a chicken egg and continue to simmer on low heat until the egg is cooked. Jujubes, longan fruit, and brown sugar all have the effect of nourishing the blood, and the boiled egg is very nourishing.
⑤ Cooking porridge with jujubes to calm the mind and aid sleep
According to traditional Chinese medicine, if women experience symptoms of restlessness, irritability, and uneasiness, a combination of appropriate amounts of lily bulb, lotus seeds, and jujubes can be used for regulation. If cooked with millet, the calming effect of jujubes can be enhanced.
⑥ Soaking jujubes in alcohol to promote smooth blood circulation
During the soaking process, jujubes release more nutrients into the alcohol. This has a certain effect on maintaining smooth blood vessels.
Reminder:
1. Dried jujubes come in various sizes. Although there is not much difference in terms of nutrition and therapeutic effects, for taste purposes, it is recommended to choose larger jujubes when soaking them in water or tea, especially jujubes from Xinjiang, which have a very sweet taste. It is best to break them in half before using. For making porridge or soaking in alcohol, jujubes of any size can be used.
2. Jujubes are beneficial to health, but more is not always better. It is advisable not to consume more than 15 medium-sized jujubes at once, as excessive consumption can impair digestion and cause excessive stomach acid and bloating.
