13 Amazing Health Benefits of Dates That You Should Know!
Dates also are known as Khajur in Hindi is an excellent natural sweetener. It was believed that they have originated from Iran thought Egyptian people used to make wine from it a lot earlier.
Dates are a tropical fruit that is grown on a date palm tree in small clusters. Scientifically it is known as Phoenix dactylifera is the tastiest and highly nutritious fruit. It has dark brown skin, soft flesh, and uniquely sweet.
Whenever you’re craving something sweet, instead of going for candy or sugar, opt for dates instead. They’re just as sweet and way better for you.
Nutritious Value of Dates
Dates are full of nutrition, especially dry dates. Dry dates are high in calories particularly carbohydrates (74 grams). It also contains several essential vitamins and minerals with fibres. Dates are famous for their rich concentration of antioxidants which can be beneficial for your cardiac and pulmonary health.
The Benefits of Dates Are:
Dates contain several nutrients that give various health benefits to your body from reducing cholesterol to healthy bones.
- Lowers Cholesterol
Dates should include in your diet as it can instantly reduce the cholesterol and helps to manage your weight.
- Rich in disease-fighting Antioxidants
The date provides various kinds of antioxidants to treat different diseases. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals that may cause harmful reactions in your body and lead to disease. Dates are rich in antioxidants including:
- Carotenoids – It is very beneficial for your heart health. It also reduces the risk of eye-related disorder.
- Flavonoids – It is a powerful antioxidant with multiple benefits. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that it is useful to reduce the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain types of cancer.
- Phenolic acid – It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to reduce the risk of some cancers and heart issues.
- Strengthen Bones
Dates are rich in copper, selenium, and magnesium which are very important nutrients to keep your bone health and prevent bony related disorders. It is also rich in vitamin K which helps to regulate coagulation of blood and helps metabolize your bones.
People who are suffering from osteoporosis are more likely to suffer from bony fractures. Dates can strengthen your bone and make it strong.
- Promotes Brain Health
Each date contains choline, vitamin B that is very beneficial for the learning and memory process, especially in Alzheimer’s disease children. Regular consumption of dates has been linked to a lowered risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and better cognitive performances in older individuals.
Dates also helpful for reducing inflammation and preventing plaque formation in the brain, which is important for preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Controls Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases. Mostly diabetes is treated by using several oral diabetic medicines and insulin supplementation. Research suggests that dates are helpful to reduce blood sugar and fat levels.
It can increase the production of insulin and also help reduce the rate of absorption of glucose from the intestine. This can help to reduce the risk of getting diabetes.
- Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Dates are the sweetest fruit with natural sugar content in it. It can reduce your cravings for unhealthy sweet products and sugar. It is a great substitute for white sugar due to its sweetness. So, next time whenever you thought to eat something sweet, you can think about dates.
- Improves Skin
Dates are an excellent source of vitamin C and D which helps to maintain your skin elasticity and keeps your skin smooth. Dates also come with anti-ageing properties and prevent the accumulation of melanin.
- Improve Heart Health
A handful of dates per day may improve your heart health. Dates have antioxidant properties that help to prevent the formation of atherosclerosis and prevent cardiac diseases.
There are few other benefits of dates, particularly in men and women. Those are as follows –
- Benefits of Dates for Males
Improve sexual health in men – Dates have been eating from ages as a fabulous food that also enriches men’s sexual health. Some research states that dates can enhance your sexual stamina.
Increase sperm count – Dates content flavonoids and estradiol which have positive effects to increase sperm count and sperm quality.
- Benefits of Dates in Females
Promote Natural Labour – Eating dates in the later stage of pregnancy can make you easy. It promotes cervical dilation and lowers the need for induced labour. Dates successfully mimic the action of oxytocin and bring natural contraction of uterine muscle during labour.
Dates also have a compound called tannin which also helps to facilitate uterine contractions during labour.
Prevent Piles During Pregnancy – Piles are the commonest problem during pregnancy due to poor intake of fibres. Dates are an amazing source of fibres. They may help to reduce the risk of piles during pregnancy.
- Post-menopausal Bone Health
Research shows that bone loss in post-menopausal women can be reduced by increasing the intake of potassium. One dried date provides a high amount of potassium and other nutrients. Scientists believe that high potassium intake protects bone mass by reducing the amount of calcium excreted through the kidneys.