Dates have a lot of health benefits if you eat them every day, much like other dry, healthy snacks. What are they, though?
Dates date back thousands of years. According to certain archaeological evidence, they may have existed as early as 7000 BC. We also know that the Middle East has eaten this wrinkly, dark fruit for thousands of years, and for good reason.
First off, dates are a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that promote health. They are rich in copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin, as well as a number of other minerals and vitamins.
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 advantages of eating dates for health have been the subject of numerous studies. Dates may even be classified as an almost ideal diet, delivering a wide range of vital 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 believe to be a significant immune stimulant and anti-cancer agent.
Additionally, it revealed that dates contain 23 different kinds of amino acids as well as beneficial unsaturated fatty acids like palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, 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.