What is Chinese Jujube
Jujube have been widely used as food and in Traditional Chinese Medicine for 3,000 years to help calm the mind and relax the body, among other things. And while research isn't conclusive (rigorous clinical trials are lacking), some preliminary studies on the fruit, fruit extract, and seed extract do support these benefits and that jujubes offer additional perks, like supporting digestion and sleep.
Health benefits of Chinese Jujube
Below sourced from MBG:
Promote high-quality sleep
Jujube tea has long been used in Chinese herbal medicine to promote sleep. Which makes a lot of sense, since the flavonoids and saponins present in both jujube fruit and seeds have been shown to have calming properties.In fact, one study found that these two phytochemicals, extracted from jujube seeds, had sedative effects in mice, which prolonged sleep time.
Robert Rountree, M.D.—an integrative medicine physician and speaker at revitalize 2018—loves jujube and has prescribed it for many years for patients with sleep problems explaining, "It's the best thing going for enhancing the quality of sleep.* One thing I particularly like about this herb is that it is also a food that is very gentle and doesn’t knock people out or cause hangovers the morning after taking it."
That's why mbg chose to put jujube in its first sleep-promoting supplement, sleep support+, which combines the fruit with a relaxing blend of magnesium glycinate and pharmaGABA for a deeper, more restorative rest.
Help with stress management
For the same reasons that jujubes can promote good sleep, they can also help manage stress. But the key to reaping jujube's soothing properties without experiencing the sedative effects comes down to the dose.
One study found that jujube seed extract promotes stress management in mice at lower doses and supports sleep at higher doses. While you're not going to knock yourself out by consuming a few fresh jujubes or jujube dates, teas and supplements do contain more concentrated levels of these calming compounds, so always start slow and see how your body reacts.
Promote a natural glow
As mentioned above, fresh jujube fruit is sky-high in vitamin C. And that's great news for your skin. Not only does vitamin C help protect skin from damaging solar radiation, it also plays a crucial role in the production of collagen, the fibrous protein that forms connective fibers in tissues and has been shown to support skin elasticity and overall hydration.
Support digestion
Teas, soups, and purees made from the jujube fruit have traditionally been used to promote healthy digestion. A study that examined the effects of a jujube extract on hamsters found that it sped up gastrointestinal transit time and helped maintain the concentration of short-chain fatty acids, which may help support the overall health of the gut. Another study, this one on humans, found that an extract of jujube positively impacted constipation compared to a placebo.
Net: 1lb