spotlight: strawberries and taiwanese jujubes

A big fan of nature's bounty, I usually keep my eyes peeled for seasonal fruits and veggies. I grew up affiliating strawberries as an early summer treat in the states, but I've realized the last few years living in Shanghai they are in season here by early spring. I've since stocked up on them - a big bag every other day- in efforts to not only taking advantage of the high season, but to also promote a healthier lifestyle. 

Did you know the following about strawberries?

• They aid in weight management
• Boost fiber
• Regulate blood pressure
• Reduce inflammation
• Fight bad cholesterol
• Help keep wrinkles at bay
• Help fight cancer
• Promote eye health
• Boost immunity with vitamin C

I've recently also come across a whole lot of this peculiar green fruit being carried by many of my neighborhood fruit vendors. Prior to moving to Shanghai two years ago, I never tried these before. Known as "台灣密棗", aka Taiwan Jujube, they have a juicy and crisp texture, and remind me of biting into an apple crossed with an Asian pear. The Chinese have a huge demand for dates and jujubes in general, and while these are usually the ones that are already dried and used in popular Chinese desserts, both the fresh and dried have a wide range of health benefits. Apparently the jujube has been used in Chinese medicine for 4,000 years, and this fruit helps with everything from keeping your skin youthful to cardiovascular health. The Taiwan Jujube variety can be found at a Shanghai fruit vendor near you within the next month or so - usually 20-30 RMB for a dozen.

The jujube has the following health benefits:

• It contains potassium, phosphorus, manganese and calcium as major minerals, as well as high amounts of sodium, zinc, iron and copper
• It also has a good amount of vitamin C (20 times the amount as citrus fruits), riboflavin and thiamine
• The vitamin and mineral content of the fruit helps to soothe the stomach, ease sore throats, suppress the appetite, support cardiovascular health, enhance and cleanse the blood vessels

Yummy and healthy, indeed! Definitely fill up on strawberries and jujubes while they are in high season!