A product of the date palm and cultivated since
approximately 6000 B.C, the date fruit is one of the sweetest fruits around and
also happens to come in many different varieties. Although dates can be eaten
fresh, the fruit is very often dried, resembling raisins or plums. But whether
fresh or dry, the health benefits of dates are still just as plentiful.
Health benefits of dates:
- Wonderfully delicious, dates are one of
the most popular fruits packed with an impressive list of essential
nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth,
development and overall well-being.
- Fresh dates compose of soft, easily
digestible flesh and simple sugars like fructose and dextrose. When eaten,
they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly. For these
qualities, they are being used to break the fast during Ramadan month
since ancient times.
- The fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which
prevents LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. Additionally, the fiber
works as a bulk laxative. It, thus, helps to protect the colon mucous
membrane by decreasing exposure time and as well as binding to
cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.
- They contain health benefiting flavonoid
polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to
possess anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent
easy bleeding tendencies) properties.
- They are moderate sources of vitamin-A (contains
149 IU per 100 g), which is known to have antioxidant properties and
essential for vision. Additionally, it is also required maintaining
healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in
vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
- They compose antioxidant flavonoids such
as , lutein, and zea-xanthin. These antioxidants found to have the
ability to protect cells and other structures in the body from harmful
effects of oxygen-free radicals. Thus, eating dates found to offer some
protection from colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic
cancers.
- Zea-xanthin is an important dietary
carotenoid that selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea, where
it thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering
functions. It thus offers protection against age-related macular
degeneration, especially in elderly populations.
- Dates are an excellent source of iron,
contains 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron, being a
component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the
oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
- Further, they are very good in potassium.
100 g contains 696 mg or 16% of daily-recommended levels of this
electrolyte. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids
that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure. They, thus, offers
protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
- They are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper,
and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential
constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle
contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is
used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide
dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells.
Magnesium is essential for bone growth.
- Further, the fruit has adequate levels of
B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K. It contains very good
amounts of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), niacin, pantothenic acid,
and riboflavin. These vitamins are acting as cofactors help body
metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Vitamin K is essential for
many coagulant factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.
- relief from constipation, intestinal
disorders, heart problems, anemia, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea,
abdominal cancer, and many other conditions.
"A 2008 study suggests that
consumption of dates by women in the final four weeks of pregnancy has positive
effects regarding labor. Women who had six dates daily were compared to women
who did not eat dates. The date-consuming group had greater mean cervical
dilation, higher proportion of intact membranes, higher proportion of
spontaneous labor, lower use of prostin/oxytocin, and shorter latent phase of
labor" (Wikipedia)
Healthy Heart: Dates
are quite helpful in keeping your heart healthy. When they are soaked for the
night, crushed in the morning and then consumed, they have been shown to have a
positive effect on weak hearts. Dates are also a rich source of potassium,
which studies have shown to reduce the risk of stroke and other heart related
diseases. Furthermore, they are suggested as a healthy and delicious way to
reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a major
contributing factor heart attacks, heart disease, and stroke. Therefore, when
taken twice a week, dates can seriously improve the overall health of the heart.
A Summary of Dates Health Benefits
ý Weight loss
ý Relieving constipation,
supporting regular bowel movements
ý Promoting heart
health, reducing heart disease risk
ý Diarrhea
ý Iron-deficiency
anemia
ý Reducing blood
pressure
ý Impotence
ý Promoting
respiratory and digestive health
ý Pregnancy
deliveries
ý Hemorrhoid
prevention
ý Chronic
conditions such as arthritis
ý Reducing
colitis risk
ý Preventing
colon cancer
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