From the time it was discovered, which was thousands of years ago, dates were known to have healing powers. And while science has proved that for sure, we love to eat them mostly because of how delicious these dark fruits are. According to history, date palm is known to have come from what is now Iraq, however Egyptians were known to have made wine with dates a lot earlier as well. Thanks to trade, dates traveled to southwest Asia, Spain, northern Africa, and were later also taken to Mexico and California. Today it continues to be one of the most important ingredients in Middle Eastern cuisine. While there are at least 30 kinds of dates that are found around the world, they pretty much fall under three broad types - soft, semi-dry, and dry, and the differentiation is made according to the glucose, sucrose, and fructose content.
One of the most coveted dates incidentally are found at The Gaza Strip, as their produce is known to be exceptionally red, and sweet. Some of the other popular varietals are the Zaghloul, found exclusively in Egypt. It has a dark red skin, is longish in structure, and crunchy in texture. It's also quite high on the sweetness scale. The Sukkary from Saudi Arabia is one of the most expensive kinds of dates. It has a dark brown skin, a soft flesh, and uniquely sweet. And then there's the Khadrawy, a soft and dark date that's also quite popular among the Arabs.It is also said that Iraq has more than 100 kinds of dates available!
Improves Overall Health
Dry dates are considered to be a gold mine of vitamins. They contain a wide range of vitamins including Vitamin A, C, E, K, B2, B6, niacin and thiamin. These vitamins are vital for our health and wellness. Therefore, consuming dry dates is beneficial for improving our overall health.
Dates are a rich source of vitamins
Lowers cholesterol
Did you know that dates are free from cholesterol, and contain very little fat? Including them in smaller quantities in your daily diet can help you keep a check on cholesterol level, and even assist in weight loss.
Rich in Protein
Dates are a strong source for proteins that help us in staying fit, and even keep our muscles strong. A lot of regular gym goers are asked to eat a couple of dates every day as part of their daily routine.
Rich in vitamins
Dates contain vitamins such as B1, B2, B3 and B5, as well as A1 and C. If you have a few dates every day, you won't have to take vitamin supplements. Not only will it keep you healthy, there will be a noticeable change in your energy levels as well because dates contain natural sugars such as glucose, sucrose, and fructose, too. So it works really well as a quick snack.
Improves bone health
Dates are rich in selenium, manganese, copper, and magnesium, and all of these are required when it comes to keeping our bones healthy, and preventing conditions such as osteoporosis.
Strengthens the nervous system
Date are loaded with potassium, and yet contain little sodium, and that goes a long way in keeping your nervous system in order. The potassium helps to reduce cholesterol, and keeps the risk of a stroke in check.
Source of Iron
Apart from the fluorine that keeps your teeth healthy, dates also contain iron, which is highly recommended for those who suffer from iron deficiency. Plus it's great for blood purification as well.
Promotes digestion
If you soak a few dates in water and chew on them daily, your digestive system will behave itself very well. Plus it's recommended for those who have trouble with constipation.
HomeFood & Drinks10 Dates Benefits: From Improving Bone Health To Promoting Beautiful Skin
10 Dates Benefits: From Improving Bone Health to Promoting Beautiful SkinPriyadarshini Nandy | Updated: July 19, 2016 11:54 ISTTweeterfacebookGoogle Plus Reddit
10 Dates Benefits: From Improving Bone Health to Promoting Beautiful Skin
From the time it was discovered, which was thousands of years ago, dates were known to have healing powers. And while science has proved that for sure, we love to eat them mostly because of how delicious these dark fruits are. According to history, date palm is known to have come from what is now Iraq, however Egyptians were known to have made wine with dates a lot earlier as well.
Thanks to trade, dates traveled to southwest Asia, Spain, northern Africa, and were later also taken to Mexico and California. Today it continues to be one of the most important ingredients in Middle Eastern cuisine. While there are at least 30 kinds of dates that are found around the world, they pretty much fall under three broad types - soft, semi-dry, and dry, and the differentiation is made according to the glucose, sucrose, and fructose content.
One of the most coveted dates incidentally are found at The Gaza Strip, as their produce is known to be exceptionally red, and sweet. Some of the other popular varietals are the Zaghloul, found exclusively in Egypt. It has a dark red skin, is longish in structure, and crunchy in texture. It's also quite high on the sweetness scale. The Sukkary from Saudi Arabia is one of the most expensive kinds of dates. It has a dark brown skin, a soft flesh, and uniquely sweet. And then there's the Khadrawy, a soft and dark date that's also quite popular among the Arabs. And this is just the beginning; it's said that Iraq has more than 100 kinds of dates available!
Cuisines across the world use dates in small and large quantities, but it's also important to note that the fruit of the date palm tree also comes with a lot of health benefits. Dates are a good source of various vitamins and minerals, energy, sugar, and fiber. It also contains calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc.
Lowers cholesterol
Did you know that dates are free from cholesterol, and contain very little fat? Including them in smaller quantities in your daily diet can help you keep a check on cholesterol level, and even assist in weight loss.
Protein rich
Dates are a strong source for proteins that help us in staying fit, and even keep our muscles strong. A lot of regular gym goers are asked to eat a couple of dates every day as part of their daily routine.
Rich in vitamins
Dates contain vitamins such as B1, B2, B3 and B5, as well as A1 and C. If you have a few dates every day, you won't have to take vitamin supplements. Not only will it keep you healthy, there will be a noticeable change in your energy levels as well because dates contain natural sugars such as glucose, sucrose, and fructose, too. So it works really well as a quick snack.
Improves bone health
Dates are rich in selenium, manganese, copper, and magnesium, and all of these are required when it comes to keeping our bones healthy, and preventing conditions such as osteoporosis.
Strengthens the nervous system
Date are loaded with potassium, and yet contain little sodium, and that goes a long way in keeping your nervous system in order. The potassium helps to reduce cholesterol, and keeps the risk of a stroke in check.
Rich in iron
Apart from the fluorine that keeps your teeth healthy, dates also contain iron, which is highly recommended for those who suffer from iron deficiency. Plus it's great for blood purification as well.
Promotes digestion
If you soak a few dates in water and chew on them daily, your digestive system will behave itself very well. Plus it's recommended for those who have trouble with constipation.
Improves skin
The vitamins C and D works on your skin's elasticity, and also keeps your skin smooth. Plus, if you suffer from skin problems, incorporating dates into your diet might help you in the long run. Plus dates also come with anti-ageing benefits, and prevent the accumulation of melanin in your body.
Fixes hangovers
While we haven't exactly tried it out, but it's said that dates are an excellent way to control inebriation. And similarly, it also helps to cure hangovers. But for best results, you have to rub the skin a bit, and soak it in water overnight and then eat it.
Assists in weight gain
The sugar, proteins, and other vitamins in the fruit help in weight gain, especially when you need it. Incidentally, it's said that when eaten with cucumber, dates help to keep your weight at a normal level.
Reduced Stroke Risk
After evaluating 7 studies published over a 14 year time period, researchers found stroke risk was reduced by 9% for every every 100 milligrams of magnesium a person consumes per day. The research can be found in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Potassium
Eating approximately six medium-sized, pitted dates provides you with 6 percent of the potassium your body requires daily. As both a mineral and an electrolyte, potassium triggers enzymes crucial for energy metabolism and is needed for cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscles to contract properly. If you do not consume enough potassium regularly, you may be more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, stroke, kidney stones or high blood pressure. If your diet includes a large amount of sodium, you may need more potassium in order to keep the two minerals balanced. Incorporate high-potassium foods like dates into your meals and talk to your doctor about ways to lower your sodium intake.
Magnesium
Every 42.6-gram serving of pitted dates -- an amount equivalent to five or six dates -- provides 5.8 percent of the RDA of magnesium for adult women and 4.5 percent of the RDA of magnesium for men. The body uses magnesium for energy metabolism, to regulate vitamins and other minerals and to help maintain the strength of bones and teeth. Adequate magnesium intake is linked to a decreased risk of diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Pregnant women, athletes undergoing strenuous physical training and individuals recovering from long-term illness or surgical procedures may need more magnesium to avoid deficiency.
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