Red dates have long been considered as one of the "Five Fruits" (peach, plum, apricot, and jujube) in China. Winter jujube, as a new variety grafted from red dates, not only has high nutritional value, but also has larger fruits and a higher rate of fresh consumption. So, is winter jujube also a warming fruit like red dates? Or is winter jujube already a cooling fruit?
Winter Jujube: Warming or Cooling?
Winter jujube is neutral in nature, neither warming nor cooling. It belongs to a neutral fruit and is suitable for everyone to eat. Eating winter jujube will not cause weakness of the spleen and stomach, nor will it cause internal heat. It can be consumed with confidence. However, jujube fruits are not easily digestible, so it is important to consume winter jujube in moderation to prevent stomach discomfort.
Nutritional Value of Winter Jujube
Protein content is 1.65%, dietary fiber is 2.3%, total sugar is 27.3%. It contains 19 types of amino acids including aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and serine, among which 8 are essential amino acids for the human body, with a total content of 0.985 milligrams per 100 grams. It contains a total flavonoid content of 0.26%, niacin content of 0.87%, thiamine content of 0.1%, riboflavin content of 2.2%, and is particularly rich in vitamin C. Its vitamin C content is 70 times that of an apple, 140 times that of a pear, and 20 times that of jinsixiaozao (a type of jujube). In addition, winter jujube also contains abundant vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium, sodium, iron, copper, and other trace elements.
Benefits and Functions of Winter Jujube
Alcohol Detoxification
Fructose and vitamin C are effective components for detoxification. Winter jujube contains high levels of these two components. Vitamin C can promote the conversion of alcohol into acetic acid, accelerating the decomposition of alcohol and relieving drunkenness. Fructose can promote the decomposition of ethanol and acetaldehyde. This is also why honey can relieve the effects of alcohol. Moreover, the main substance causing headaches after drinking is acetaldehyde. Eating a certain amount of winter jujube after drinking can accelerate the decomposition of acetaldehyde, not only having a good detoxification effect but also preventing post-alcohol headache.
Beauty and Anti-aging
The vitamin C content in winter jujube is among the highest in fruits. It is 70 times that of an apple and over 100 times that of a pear. As we all know, vitamin C not only helps prevent scurvy but also has a strong antioxidant effect, effectively removing free radicals from the body and delaying skin aging.
Detoxification and Liver Protection
Winter jujube contains a high amount of sugar, vitamin C, and adenosine monophosphate, which can decompose various harmful chemicals to the liver through oxidation, glycation, and enzymatic breakdown, reducing their damage to the liver. It can also promote the synthesis of detoxification proteins in the liver. Therefore, eating winter jujube can have a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect for patients with chronic hepatitis and other liver diseases.
Precautions for Eating Winter Jujube
1. Eating on an empty stomach can lead to gastric stones.
2. It should not be consumed with animal liver at the same time.
3. It should not be consumed with vitamin supplements at the same time.
4. It should not be consumed with cucumber or radish.
5. It is best not to boil in water.
6. Do not consume high-protein foods immediately after eating winter jujube.
7. It is contraindicated to consume while taking antipyretic drugs.
8. It should not be consumed with bitter stomach tonic or wind-expelling stomach tonic.
