Hot Girls Are Eating Up This New Health Trend—Why You Should Try Chinese Red Dates

Every now and then, a new “superfood” makes it debut in the online discourse. Influencers and normies alike fawn over it on Instagram Reels and TikTok for a week or two, but then it descends to the superfood graveyard. At one point, people couldn’t quit yapping about activated charcoal, but after the hype died down, it seemed obvious that your liver usually does a good job of detoxing itself, and worse – activated charcoal also “detoxes” the medications or supplements you may take.

A viral “superfood” isn’t always so super across the board. But some warrant the praise they’re afforded, so when I saw my social media feeds buzzing about Chinese red dates (also known as jujubes), I felt a wave of relief. Finally, a superfood starting to trend that I’ve tried, love, and can divulge all the delectable deets about. 

This little fruit is a staple in Asian cultures for ceremonial and medicinal purposes, as they’ve been thought to support digestion and promote healthy blood flow. But how much of this traditional knowledge is backed by hard evidence? Here’s everything you need to know about the jujube superfood bandwagon all the hot girls are hopping on.

Why Influencer Taylor R Swears by Red Dates for Wellness

Longtime model and lifestyle influencer Taylor R has her finger on the pulse of women’s cultural trends out of Asia. Originally from Canada, Taylor amassed a major following of women interested in Asian beauty, cooking, and culture while modeling in Japan and eventually settling down in Hong Kong. After she and her husband welcomed Levi, their first child, in March 2022, Taylor went all-in on the thousand-year-old post-birth practice called Chinese confinement.

Chinese postpartum confinement, or zuò yuè zi (坐月子), follows Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles to allegedly restore your body’s balance. Warmth, rest, and nutrient foods are staples, while cold and physical exertion are no-gos. Rooted in the belief that childbirth temporarily depletes your life force, confinement practices align with TCM’s focus on harmonizing the body’s energies for better post-birth recovery.

I tell you all this because my worldview on childbirth genuinely broadened when I watched Taylor’s confinement vlogs. From a Western perspective, certain restrictions seemed unnecessary, but many other elements seemed intuitive when it came to healing and replenishing energy. And even though I’ve personally never committed to going down the TCM rabbit hole, I’ve found it fascinating ever since.

Here’s where Chinese red dates come into play, though. In a couple of videos recently posted on Instagram, Taylor explained how the Chinese nicknamed these fruits “The Fruit for Women” and how she drank them in a tonic every day for one month after giving birth.

“I drank this all day every day for one month after giving birth to replenish my blood, restore my energy and recover quicker,” Taylor wrote. “Now I use it as a boost when needed (especially around my period).”

For thousands of years, East Asians have grown and consumed red dates, cherishing them for their sweet flavor and texture reminiscent of an apple. 

In Chinese culture, red dates carry symbolic meanings for prosperity, fertility, and health. They’re used in wedding rituals to bless the newlyweds with fertility, as festival foods to bring blessings of career and financial success, and even as gifts for the elderly as they symbolize long life and vitality. In Korean culture, these little fruits are also valued for their traditional medicinal properties and are similarly used often in culinary practices but carry fewer symbolic meanings. Chinese and Koreans love red dates in teas, porridges, savory soups, and desserts – and for really good reasons.

These Tiny Fruits Pack Big Benefits

Pop a few of these bad boys a day? You’re looking at under 80 calories for about three red dates, which is half the calorie count of brown dates and half the sugar… your insulin will thank you! 

They also contain around 77% of your daily recommended value of vitamin C, six grams of fiber, a good dose of iron, and plenty of antioxidants found in compounds such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenic acids. It’s no wonder why red dates have long been used in China and Korea to support women’s reproductive health, strengthen the immune system, and even promote radiant skin and better sleep.

While research into the health benefits of traditional foods is still an emerging field, several studies back up claims of antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. Food isn’t a cure-all, but it should certainly be a tool in your arsenal for holistic wellness. Incorporating a nutrient-rich ingredient like red dates can benefit your health, but as always, it’s wise to consult your trusted healthcare providers to know what’s best for your needs.

Now, in TCM, nutrition-based remedies are thought to help balance Qi, or your body’s vital energy. Think of Qi as a battery powering everything from immunity to digestion. TCM practitioners believe in five major organ systems: Lungs, Heart, Liver, Kidneys, and Spleen. 

The TCM “Spleen” organ also includes the stomach, so when those two collab, they act as your body’s kitchen. Makes sense, right? They take the food you eat, break it down, and turn it into energy. Basically, a healthier digestive system means stronger Qi, which translates into better overall health. Practitioners consider this concept to be critical for fertility.

As mentioned, Chinese red dates are thought to nourish and strengthen the blood as something like a “blood tonic.” Not only that, but they “warm” the body, which can help with irregular menstrual cycles and poor circulation that leads to chronically feeling cold. 

Researchers believe there is indeed something to the modest red date when it comes to promoting better blood health, as they can help your body produce more red blood cells and help recycle iron from old red blood cells. This comes from their vitamin content (C, A, and several B vitamins, plus iron) and antioxidants, which are thought to help protect your reproductive organs from oxidative stress that could negatively impact fertility. 

If you’re not eating enough red meat or dark leafy greens, you should try to boost your iron consumption through smart nutritional choices. Iron deficiencies are becoming a major public health problem – leading many women to feel fatigued, weak, and struggle with their monthly cycles.   

Ready to give it a go? Head into your local Asian grocery store or poke around online for organic Chinese red dates (or jujubes) and test them out! If you bought some that have been de-seeded, you’re ready to go, but if you didn’t, be wary of the long seed in the middle. 

Keep in mind that red dates are not actually dates at all. They’re part of the buckthorn family and definitely shouldn’t be confused with the brown palm dates you’re likely familiar with from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.

For a simple tea recipe, place three red pitted dates in a mug, add boiling water, and steep for at least five minutes. Red date tea recipes often include other additives like goji berries or ginger, but they’re certainly not required. The best part? After you’ve sipped your tea (or perhaps during), you can eat the red dates! It’s like a warm hug to your womb – I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Whether you’re looking at them from a modern or traditional perspective, Chinese red dates are undoubtedly an “it girl” superfood. They offer a natural way to nourish your body, help balance your hormones, and promote healthy blood flow – all essential for your reproductive health. These little fruits are more than just a snack… they’re an ancient beauty and longevity secret that we refuse to gatekeep!