Jujube is nutritious, but how much should the elderly and people with underlying diseases eat?

Jujubes are low in calories but rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals; they help slow down the body's oxidation process. About 3 fresh jujubes (100 grams) contain 10 grams of fiber and up to 77% of the daily value of vitamin C for adults. Jujubes also have a large amount of potassium, which plays an important role in muscle control and electrolyte balance, according to Healthline .

Fresh jujube is very good for health but you need to pay attention to the dosage when eating.

Pay attention to dosage when eating jujube

In traditional medicine, jujube is also known as big jujube, considered a popular medicinal herb with many good uses, helping to strengthen the spleen, benefit qi, improve the digestive system and increase blood circulation. In particular, jujube has the ability to support the elderly in regulating the function of the spleen and stomach and nourishing blood, helping to reduce symptoms of weakness and fatigue.

However, these uses have caused many people to eat jujubes without control, causing negative effects on health, especially in the long term if eaten in excess.

Pharmacist Ngo Thi Ngoc Trung, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that jujubes (especially dried jujubes) contain a fairly high amount of sugar. If consumed excessively, especially by the elderly, it can cause weight gain, indigestion and affect blood sugar. If the dosage is not controlled in time, it can lead to many diseases such as blood fat, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, etc.

Therefore, the elderly should only use about 10-20 grams/day (3-5 dried jujubes), adults in general should only consume less than 50 grams/day. Using jujubes in this dosage ensures providing enough necessary nutrients without causing health problems.

According to Dr. Bui Pham Minh Man, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, people with diabetes should be very careful when using jujube. They need to reduce the dosage to the lowest possible (1-2 fruits per day) and should use it in combination with other foods with a low glycemic index, or with a doctor's instructions to better control blood sugar levels.

According to Dr. Bui Pham Minh Man, consuming too much jujube can cause digestive disorders, constipation or diarrhea.

When is the best time to eat jujube?

Dr. Minh Man added that the time of eating jujube also affects the ability to digest and the effectiveness of use. Because jujube is warm, it can easily cause stagnation and bloating if eaten too much or at the wrong time.

Traditional medicine experts recommend eating jujubes in the morning. This is the time when the body needs more energy and absorbs nutrients more easily. Jujubes can also be used after main meals to aid digestion and enhance blood circulation. This is consistent with traditional medicine, which believes that people with weak spleen and stomach are prone to bloating and indigestion if they overuse jujubes.

In addition, you should prioritize using fresh jujubes instead of instant packaged products.

According to Dr. Minh Man, there are some ways to use jujube that are good for health such as soaking in warm water, making tea, cooking porridge, cooking beauty dessert...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tao-tau-bo-duong-nhung-nguoi-cao-tuoi-benh-nen-nen-an-voi-lieu-luong-the-nao-185241013101442403.htm