Have a Date With Dates

We all know our next-door sweet dried fruits which make a healthy snack: dried apples, raisins, plums, cranberries, apricots and even the more exotic dry cherries, pineapple and mango slices.

We’ve also all gone on many a rebound date with a much more decadent comfort snack – chocolate. But have you ever tried dates? Yes, I mean the heavenly sweet Medjoool (Moroccan and Saudi Arabian) and Deglet Noor (Algerian and Tunisian) dates. I must say, they are my all time favorites of all (healthy) snacks.

Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East for thousands of years. They are believed to have originated around the Persian Gulf, and have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to Arabia and prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 6000 BCE.

According to studies, dates have the highest concentration of polyphenols among dried fruits. They are dense in phenol antioxidants and nutrients, most notably dietary fiber, which should be an important part of our diet (35 g recommended daily by the American Cancer Society).

In addition, a serving of dates contains 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them a powerhouse of energy!

Dates are one of the best natural sources of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral your body needs to maintain muscle contractions including the vital heart muscle. Potassium is needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and to balance the body’s metabolism as well.

Since potassium is not stored in the body, and much is lost in perspiration, it must be continually replenished. As you consume potassium you excrete sodium, helping to keep blood pressure down. As people age, their kidneys become less efficient at eliminating sodium. About a 400 mg increase in potassium intake has been associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of stroke. This roughly amounts to one additional serving daily of dates.

Dates also contain a variety of B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain a healthy body – to metabolize carbohydrates and maintain blood glucose levels, fatty acids for energy, and they help make hemoglobin, the red and white blood cells.

Dates also contain magnesium which is essential for healthy bone development and for energy metabolism and iron which is essential to red blood cell production. Finally, dates have many other nutrients such as omega fatty acids, calcium, sulfur, phosphorous, manganese, and copper and they are cholesterol free. It is said that one date is the minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. So don’t be shy, have a date and be guilt-free!

Source: Health Benefits of Dates