Jujube Fruit, A Magical Fruit

“The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul.” 

David O. McKay

I've never cared very much for fruit. That's why I started having a fruit smoothie every morning when I go to work.  That was the only way I could get fruit down. I really never thought I could change.   The problem was I was so used to eating whatever I wanted, and I really didn't care. After quitting smoking, 3 years ago, I switched my addiction to food, and the unhealthier it was for you, the more I ate of it.  My addiction was telling me, "It really doesn't matter what you look like. You're getting old now, anyway."  Now, that was not 'really' the way I felt, it was my addiction talking.  Anyone who has ever been addicted knows what I am talking about.  We try to justify our poor behavior patterns. We never think about the damage we are doing to ourselves.  We brush those thoughts aside. 

But then comes the day that we hit 'rock bottom'.  For the gambler, this might be the day he loses his house.  Or the substance abuser may find themselves living on the streets or cardboard boxes.  The alcoholic mother may have her children taken away. And yet others may decide to escape their addiction even though they have lost relatively little Hitting rock bottoms means that the addict reaches a place where he/she decides they no longer like the way they are living, and hopefully, are now ready to make changes. In other words, we experience a 'spiritual awakening'. 

My 'spiritual awakening' came when I discovered just what damage I was doing to my body and decided that I didn't want to die, that I wanted to live and to do that, changes had to be made.  Sodium and calorie laden foods were totally wiped from my diet, and in their place were fruits and vegetables...but what to do when one doesn't like fruits.  Well, I try to make it sort of an adventure. Each time I go to the fruit stand I like to try something exotic, something new that I have never had before.  This past weekend I picked up some Jujube fruits,also known as Chinese dates.  I buy these fruits, and then I research them, usually to find out how to eat them. In doing so, I learned that Jujube fruits have been used in Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years and are prized for their various health and nutritional benefits. 

Jujube fruit contains 20 times the amount of Vitamin C of citrus fruits as well as most of the amino acids and minerals required by our body. The fruit of the Jujube has been used for coughs, to rid the body of poisons, and for heart conditions. Its benefits are also found in the treatment of itching which is caused by several skin disorders, insomnia, fatigue, restlessness, loss of energy and lack of appetite. In Chinese medicine, it has been prescribed to nourish the blood, liver and spleen as well as to cleanse the body through detoxification, and to quiet irritated and racing mind. 

Similar to an apple in taste, although it is much drier and kind of bland when eaten raw, Jujube fruit can be dried, boiled, candied, baked, canned and stewed to make desserts and sauces, or can be eaten raw. Ripe fruits will keep up to a month when stored at room temperature. 

(Actually, they are pretty good.  Took me awhile to realize that, like an apple, the skin is edible.  For some, it may be bland, but the health benefits are far worth it.  A thumbs up from me.)