Eating dates every day will have many health benefits, much like other dried, nutritious snacks. However, what are they?
Dates have been consumed for ages. According to some archeological data, they may have existed as early as 7000 BC. We also know that, for good cause, this dark, wrinkled fruit has been a staple diet in the Middle East for thousands of years.
First of all, dates are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that are good for your health. They include various B vitamins, such as vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, and manganese.
They also contain good amounts of vitamins A and K and the carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. They are also high in fiber, which is very beneficial for helping your body remove toxins in an easy and effective manner.
Eat Dates: Just 3 Dates a Day
The health advantages of eating dates have been the subject of numerous research projects. "Dates may be considered as an almost ideal food, providing a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits," according to a 2003 study that was published in the International Journal of Diet, Sciences, and Nutrition.
According to this study, dates contain at least 15 minerals, including selenium, which many scientists now think has strong anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties.
Additionally, it revealed that dates contain 23 different kinds of amino acids as well as some healthy unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic, palmitoleic, oleic, and linolenic acids.
And you don’t have to eat a ton of dates to benefit from them. In fact, just eating 3 dates a day can produce some pretty amazing results.
1. A quick Pick-Me-Up
Eating dates can provide you with a safe and effective energy boost. They are just what you need when you hit that 3 pm low. So instead of drinking an energy drink, try to eat dates. Plus, munching on them burns calories and makes you more alert.
The dietary fiber in dates will keep you energized for longer and help you avoid the dreaded “sugar-crash” that comes with other sweet snacks.
2. Improve Your Digestion
Dates are especially high soluble fibers. Soluble fiber draws water from you’re your digestive tract, which is why your grandmother probably told you to eat a few dates when things got a little “backed-up.”
Ironically, dates are also helpful with diarrhea as they help balance your digestive tract. Eating a few dates is a fast and effective way to relieve any gut discomfort because they help improve good bacteria in your digestive tract.
3. Boost Immunity and Strengthen Your Bones
As mentioned, dates are rich in magnesium, copper, manganese, and selenium and as studies show, selenium is widely known to help prevent cancer.
Dates are also a superfood for strengthening bones and fighting off diseases like osteoporosis. They are particularly good as you begin to age and your bones gradually weaken.
4. Balance Iron levels in Anemia
Anemia is more widespread than you might think and is usually a direct result of the typical western diet. Dates are full of iron and as such, an excellent food source to help balance out these levels in anemic patients, ultimately increasing their overall energy and strength.
5. Keep Your Heart Healthy
There is a lot of evidence now that dates are good for your heart, especially if you soak then overnight and then crush them before you eat them first thing in the morning.
The high levels of potassium are excellent for your heart and have been shown in studies to help reduce the risk of stroke and other heart-related diseases.
We also know that this sweet brown fruit is a wonderful help in reducing LDL (the bad cholesterol), which doctors say is a big factor in heart issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
6. Relieve Allergies
Dates also contain high levels of organic sulfur, which is known to be helpful for reducing allergic reactions. According to a 2002 study, organic sulfur compounds can help relieve the number and intensity of symptoms from SAR (Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis).
When choosing your dates, always look for fresh, plump ones that have smoothly wrinkled, unbroken skins. Don’t pick any that smell funny or ones that are hard.
You can actually keep dried dates for up to a year if you keep them cool in the refrigerator. You should also refrigerate your fresh dates in a tight, sealed container, which will allow them to last for up to eight months.
