Dates are the oldest fruit cultivated by man, and there are over thirty known varieties. Apart from the delightful flavor, dates are packed with a host of nutrients that provide tremendous amount of health benefits to your body. Dates are rich in several vitamins, minerals and fiber too. These delicious fruits contain oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium which are all beneficial for health. Here are the 6 most important health benefits of eating dates.
1. BOOST ENERGY
The natural sugars in dates, from fructose, sucrose, and glucose can provide you with a safe and effective energy boost. The dietary fiber in dates will keep you energized for longer without the “sugar-crash” that you would normally experience from any other sweet treat.
2. IMPROVE DIGESTIVE HEALTH
Dates contain a lot of soluble fiber, which is necessary for your digestive health as it draws water to the digestive tract – hence the potential relief from constipation. Dates are full of potassium that can also help diarrhea and an upset stomach.
3. 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 strong and healthy. Women face the major concern of bone strength, and so adding dates to the diet is a good idea.
4. TREAT AND PREVENT ANEMIA
Dates are a good source of iron, which many people struggle to get enough of in their diet. Anemia, which is due to low iron levels, is a common issue amongst most people; women and endurance athletes are especially prone to it. Anemia can leave you exhausted, but dates are there to rescue you, because of their iron content.
5. DATES MAKE THE BRAIN WORK BETTER
There have also been studies done on the ingredients in dates and their relation to brain health and it has been shown that when you have enough vitamin B6 in your system, your brain actually works better. That means that you have more focus, more accurate memories and can access information faster. Dates help keep your mind sharp and ready to learn.
6. KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY
- Many studies have been done on the health benefits of eating dates, especially if you soak them overnight and then crush them before you eat them first thing in the morning.
- The high levels of potassium are excellent for your heart and have been shown in studies to help reduce the risk of stroke and other heart-related diseases.
- Adding dates to your diet can also lower LDL cholesterol levels (the bad cholesterol), which doctors say is a big factor in heart issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
