The Surprising Health Benefits of Dates
Dates are one of the most popular types of
dried fruit in the world. People enjoy their sweet, fruity flavour and
their high nutritional value. Dates are good sources of fibre,
potassium, calcium, iron, B vitamins, vitamin C and antioxidants like
carotenoids and flavonoids (1). In this article, we’ll cover some of the health
benefits of dates and explain why they should be part of your healthy diet
plan.
Improve Heart Health
Because dates are a good source of
potassium, they’re great for lowering blood pressure and reducing your risk for
heart disease. They’re also rich in antioxidants that help keep your heart
healthy. Start incorporating more dates into your diet for optimal health. You
can use them as an alternative to sugars and honey to sweeten tea or coffee,
eat them whole with peanut butter or almond butter, or add them to oatmeal with
some raisins. You can also bake a date square with oat flour, coconut oil,
cinnamon and erythritol (natural sugar alcohol) – it’s delicious!
Reduce Risk of CVD
Dates are a natural source of fibre, which
has been found to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s also been
suggested that consuming dates can reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides
while increasing good cholesterol. The high potassium content in dates can help
the body maintain a healthy fluid balance, lower the risk for high blood
pressure, and regulate electrolyte levels.
Boost Immunity
Dates are loaded with iron, which helps
fight fatigue and anaemia. Additionally, they contain antioxidants, such as beta-carotene and
Vitamin C. Antioxidants help remove free radicals from your body and improve
your immune system to ward off diseases and infections. Dates also contain fibre, which
helps maintain your digestive health. And while we find fibre in all
fruits and vegetables, dates are especially high in fibre content.
Promote Proper Digestion
Not only is the date a great way to
sweeten dishes naturally, but they also contain significant amounts of fibre.
Soluble fibre is especially helpful for promoting regularity, reducing
constipation and treating digestive disorders like IBS and diverticulitis. It
can also reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes by slowing the
release of sugar into the bloodstream after meals. It's important to note that
some research has shown that eating 10 or more dates per day may lead to
stomach cramps due to their high level of natural sugars.
Use in Beauty Products and Treatments
When rubbed into the skin, date paste is
a natural alternative to chemical-based anti-ageing creams. To
use, simply apply onto the
face after cleansing and leave on for up to 20 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water, and follow with regular facial moisturizer. Some
people even swear by applying a paste made from ground dates directly to their
lips as an effective way to soften chapped lips.
Good for Teeth
If you’re looking for a natural way to keep
your teeth healthy, go for dates. A study in Saudi Arabia found that date fruit
is high in fluoride and potassium, both helpful ingredients when it comes to
keeping cavities at bay. You can also chew on a date or two after a meal to get
rid of any food particles that might have stuck around after you ate—that way
you won’t have to brush right away.
Helps Treat Diabetes
Research suggests that consuming a diet
rich in dates, along with proper diabetes management, can help lower blood
sugar levels. While more research is needed to confirm these results, it’s a
good idea to include dates in your diet if you have diabetes or are at risk for
developing it. Other studies show that dates may also help manage blood pressure and protect against heart disease.
Potent Antioxidants
Dates contain a substantial amount of
antioxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamin E and manganese. These nutrients
can help combat chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. One study
found that dates also contain chlorogenic acid, which has antioxidant activity
and helps manage blood sugar levels. This may help prevent diabetes, according
to researchers at Cairo University in Egypt.
Protects Vision
Dates are an excellent source of vitamins A
and C, which are essential for healthy eyesight. With their potent antioxidants,
dates may help prevent macular degeneration, a condition associated with ageing that
can lead to blindness. They also contain minerals like potassium, calcium,
magnesium and zinc—all necessary for maintaining good vision. And because the
sugar in dates has natural anti-inflammatory properties, it can help reduce eye
irritation caused by some kinds of glaucoma treatments.
May Help Prevent Cancer
One study published in 2008 by researchers
at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia found that rats who ate dates showed a
reduction in chemically induced mammary tumours. While it’s
impossible to say whether or not these results would carry over to humans,
there’s no harm in eating plenty of dates (or any other food shown to prevent
cancer).
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