Dates - Let Us Go For A Date!

It’s quite ok to have a date, whatever your age! Isn’t it?

Yes,  dates keep one quite healthy and happy and one should try to include them in the diet. Confused?

We are referring to dates also known as khajur in Hindi. 🙂

Dates 

This being Ramadan month, dates are one of the most popular foods that are served as part of Iftars. They are natural sweeteners. Many desserts are prepared using them without any added sugar.

Dates are said to be originally from Iran, though it is now available and consumed across the world. Date Palms are mostly found in the deserts and they usually grow in clusters. I am born and brought up in Haryana and remember seeing dates trees while crisscrossing the state. As a young child, I find them similar to coconut trees.🌴 

Dates Orchard, Israel

I had eaten or rather seen for the first time raw red dates when I had first shifted to Ahmedabad in 2003. I have ever since become a fan of those sweet bright red coloured wonder fruit after taking my first bite. 

The Middle East nations ( Iran, Egypt, South Arab etc.) are top dates producing countries. In these countries, dates are considered a staple food. The cultivation of dates seems to be from the 6th millennium BCE. There are different varieties of dates available in the market now and each has a different taste and texture.

Dates is a nutritious fruit, especially when dried. It contains a lot of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals which are good for our health. Many people eat it as a dessert and they really make a healthy dessert but only if taken in moderation!

Fresh dates, not yet dried.

Let us see why dates are said to be an excellent food?

Dates have always been known for the rich concentration of antioxidants in them and help us prevent and combat a lot of infections. 

These powerhouses of antioxidants protect human body cells from damage to oxidative stress from free radicals. Also, the carotenoids in dates help reduce eye-related disorders. They are also richly endowed with flavonoids and Phenolic acid. The dates have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the risk of cancer and help with heart issues.

Dates are good for bones as they have Copper, Selenium, and Magnesium in abundance. They also are a rich source of essential Vitamin K . Vitamin K helps in the coagulation of blood which in turn helps in bone metabolism. In post-menopausal women, Potassium in dates is beneficial by protecting the bone mass. Hence, eating foods rich in minerals that provide bone strength and keep them healthy is important.

Dessert made from dates/ khajur

Anything sweet is supposed to be bad for diabetics. However,  sweet foods with low glycemic index can be safely eaten by diabetics. A low glycemic index means is that the absorption of sugar into the blood will be slow. Dates have a low glycemic index. They are rich in fibre which slows down digestion. The fibre rich dates also aid in bowel movements and prevent constipation.

Interestingly dates also help to increase the production of insulin in the body. Hence can also prevent getting diabetes as the sugar absorption rate in the intestines is reduced. Overall, it can be considered a diabetic-friendly food.

Everyone wants to reverse ageing. Our superfood Dates come with anti-ageing factors. The Vitamin C and D present in dates help maintain the elasticity of the skin. Funnily, most dates  (especially the dried ones) come with wrinkled skin but may help keep skin free from wrinkles.

Studies have shown that dates can lower brain inflammations which are found to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies have also found that dates prevent the formation of plaques in the brain which causes cognitive loss. This is mainly due to the anti-inflammatory properties mentioned earlier. The choline and Vitamin B in dates helps learning and memory functions.

Dates are good for health.

So, let us go dating!

Dates are a good source of a lot of essential stuff that helps us stay healthy.

Come on, let’s go dating!

All pics are from Unsplash. Picture captions have the links.

I am participating in #BlogchatterA2Z . 

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