3 jujubes a day keeps doc away in China 日食三枣，远离医生

The JUJUBE(红枣hóngzǎo), the dark red fruit known as Chinese date, is both a popular snack and a very nutritious and therapeutic(therapeutic treatment is designed to treat an illness or to improve a person's health, rather than to prevent an illness) food praised in classics of herbal medicine(草药cǎoyào).

Three jujubes a day keeps the doctor away and keeps you young, the saying goes.

In the legend "Journey to the West," an ailing king one day encounters the god of longevity in a forest and asks him for the secret of life. The god says he didn't bring medicine along since he was trying to find his lost horse, but he gave the king three jujubes that he had been planning to give to the god of heaven. The king ate the three jujubes and felt instantly invigorated.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, jujubes processed in different ways confer different heath benefits. There are several types of jujube as ell.

In TCM, jujubes can reinforce blood and energy and they are inexpensive, which makes them popular, says Xia Xiang, vice president of the Shanghai Dietary Therapy Seminar.

It is a "warm" (yang energy) herb that helps benefits the spleen and stomach, reinforces energy, nourish the blood, soothes the nerves and neutralizes toxic side effects of some medicine, according to "Shennong Bencao Jing" ("Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica"), the earliest pharmaceutical classic. It is believed to have been compiled between 300 BC and 200 AD in China.

It is often prescribed for people with weak digestive systems who suffer diarrhea, vomiting and poor digestion. Jujube is also prescribed along with certain powerful herbs to mitigate side.

Jujubes, which are high in vitamin C, minerals and fiber, are found to help reduce cholesterol, improve immunity and keep blood vessels flexible.

They are also high in calories.

Jujubes have been found to help children with allergies, according to nutritionist Xia, noting that many children have an "allergic constitution today.

There are also different varieties of jujube and different processing methods.