Some people say, "Eat jujubes every day, and you will stay young forever." However, as good as jujubes are, they are not suitable for everyone.
Who should avoid eating jujubes?
Jujubes can have contraindications as a medicinal herb, and some people's constitution or certain diseases make them unsuitable for consuming jujubes.
1. Women prone to edema during menstruation
During menstruation, some women may experience swelling of the eyes or feet, which is actually a manifestation of dampness. These people are not suitable for eating jujubes. Jujubes are sweet in taste and can easily produce phlegm and dampness if consumed in large quantities, leading to the accumulation of water in the body and exacerbation of edema symptoms.
2. Women with hot and dry constitution
Women with a hot and dry constitution are not suitable for consuming jujubes for nourishment during menstruation, as this can potentially cause excessive menstrual bleeding and harm their health.
3. Diabetic patients
Jujubes are rich in sugar, especially jujube snacks, which are not suitable for diabetic patients.
4. Those with wind-heat syndrome
Excessive consumption of fresh jujubes can cause diarrhea and damage the spleen. Therefore, people who have a cold, fever, or abdominal bloating caused by wind-heat are advised not to eat fresh jujubes.
What is the difference between red jujubes and black jujubes?
In fact, jujubes can be categorized into red jujubes and black jujubes based on different processing methods. Red jujubes are slightly blanched in boiling water and then dried in the sun, while black jujubes are blanched in boiling water and then roasted until the jujube skin turns black and shiny, with the flesh partially cooked and dried to the appropriate degree.
Red jujubes are generally used as medicinal herbs. Although black jujubes are not as widely used as red jujubes, they are often used for kidney and stomach nourishment. However, black jujubes should not be eaten on an empty stomach! This is because black jujubes contain a large amount of pectin and tannic acid, which can combine with stomach acid to form hard lumps in the stomach. Additionally, black jujubes are cooling in nature, so they should not be consumed in large quantities by those with poor spleen and stomach function.
Precautions for eating jujubes
Precaution 1: Avoid eating jujubes with cucumbers or radishes
Radishes contain anti-heat-blood clotting enzymes, and cucumbers contain enzymes that break down vitamins. Both of these components are enemies of jujubes and can destroy the vitamins in jujubes, resulting in the loss of their nutritional value.
Precaution 2: Do not eat jujubes in excess
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states, "Excessive consumption causes cold and heat symptoms, and it should not be eaten by those who are thin and weak." People with bloating and poor appetite should not consume jujubes. Due to their high sugar content, jujubes are not suitable for diabetic patients.
Jujubes have a sweet, spicy, and hot nature, which tends to produce phlegm and dampness. People with excessive phlegm and dampness may experience aggravated symptoms such as chills, fever, thirst, and stomach bloating after consuming jujubes excessively.
It is also important to protect your teeth when eating jujubes. It is recommended to consume no more than 50 grams of jujubes per day.
Precaution 3: Avoid solely relying on raw jujubes for blood nourishment
Jujubes contain a large amount of iron, which indeed has a significant effect on iron-deficiency anemia. They can also promote the growth of white blood cells, improve serum albumin, and protect the liver.
However, relying solely on raw jujubes for blood nourishment has minimal effects. To achieve optimal blood nourishment, it is recommended to combine them with other foods such as raisins and longan. Moreover, if one solely relies on raw jujubes for blood nourishment, not only will the effect be insignificant, but it can also cause bloating and diarrhea.
When eaten raw, the jujube skin is prone to stay in the intestines and is not easily excreted, which can affect digestion. Consuming excessive amounts can cause intestinal gas and is prone to cause obesity. It is recommended to consume raw jujubes 2 to 3 times a week.
Precaution 4: Avoid boiling jujubes in water
When the temperature exceeds 80°C, the vitamin C in jujubes is destroyed. After washing them with clean water, consuming them raw is the most nutritious. It is very beneficial to eat 5 to 8 jujubes every day.
Precaution 5: Do not consume high-protein foods immediately after eating jujubes
After eating jujubes, it is not advisable to immediately consume high-protein foods, such as seafood and dairy products. This is because vitamin C can cause the proteins in these foods to coagulate, making them difficult to absorb. Therefore, it is recommended to wait 1 to 2 hours after eating jujubes before consuming high-protein foods.
Precaution 6: Avoid eating jujubes while taking antipyretic drugs
Consuming jujubes along with antipyretic drugs can easily form insoluble complexes and reduce the initial absorption rate of the drugs. Jujubes are high in sugar, so they should be avoided.
Precaution 7: Avoid eating jujubes when taking bitter stomach-tonifying or wind-expelling stomach-tonifying drugs
Bitter stomach-tonifying and wind-expelling stomach-tonifying drugs stimulate the taste buds through the bitterness of the medicine, reflexively increasing the excitability of the food to the central nervous system, helping digestion, and improving appetite.
If jujubes are consumed while taking these medications, it will significantly affect the effectiveness of the drugs.
