Dates are a very healthy and nutritious fruit that is widely available in many parts of the world. Prices of dates vary according to their different types. Some of the most expensive dates are Ajwa, Medjool, Deglet Noor, Mabroom, and Sukkari. Every type has its own countless benefits for human health.
Advantages of 7-ways dates can boost your health
The nutrition and calorie content in dates is much higher as compared to many other fresh fruits. Dried dates are as nutritious as other dried fruits like raisins, figs, etc. The prominent ingredients in dates are carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, minerals, protein, and many types of vitamins. Dates are also rich in antioxidants that contribute to its numerous benefits for boosting human health.
Dates come in different varieties with different price tags. While a few are considered the most expensive dates in the world, there are many ways dates can boost your health that are pocket-friendly and can be easily incorporated into your daily diet.
Some of the benefits of dates for human health are listed below.
1. Improves Heart Health
Dates contain polyphenol which is a kind of micronutrient. They occur naturally in plants and help improve HDL levels in your blood. HDL also known as good cholesterol is essential for your body and to maintain good heart health. On the other hand, our body also produces LDL which is known as bad cholesterol. LDL is not good for our heart health. According to studies, people who consume dates on a daily basis tend to have a significant decline in LDL levels thus resulting in improved heart health.
2. Improves Gut Health
Fiber is the key nutrient found in dates that plays an important role in improving digestion. Nutritionists suggest that a daily fiber consumption of 25 grams for women and 28 grams for men is essential for maintaining good gut health. You can easily get most of this amount through dates because there are nearly 7 grams of fiber in 4 to 5 dates. Dates have also proven benefits in regularizing bowel movements which is the main concern regarding gut health. It is concluded through various studies that dates have a significant impact on digestive health thus leading to a healthy life.
3. Rich in Antioxidants
Dates contain nearly 15 different types of antioxidants like polyphenols, sterols, Tannis, and Carotenoids, etc. these antioxidants have anti-fungal properties that are very helpful in preventing various diseases. The main function of these antioxidants is to balance the presence of free radicals in your body. Free radicals in your body are responsible for cell damage and certain diseases. Therefore, consuming dates helps to reduce the presence of free radicals thus reducing the chance of diseases like hypertension, Type II Diabetes, heart diseases, certain types of cancers, etc.
4. Improves Brain Health
Oxidative stress is a type of stress that increases the risk of certain brain dysfunctions. However, the rich protective compounds in dates help prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is caused by inflammation in the brain that is actually caused by oxidative stress. However, consuming dates in your daily diet can help you reduce the risk of developing certain types of brain dysfunctions.
5. Improves Bones Health
Dates have a rich content of advantageous micronutrients including certain types of minerals that play a key role in improved bone health. All these minerals are important to get healthy bones as well as healthy teeth, muscles, skin, nails, and hair. While calcium is the main content for healthy bones, there are some other minerals as well that are needed for healthy bones like magnesium and copper, etc. these are found in dates alongside other minerals thus resulting in a positive effect on bone health thus reducing the chance of bone related diseases like osteoporosis, etc.
6. Helps Control Blood Sugar
Dates are like natural sweeteners therefore, they are rich in sugar. Studies show that dates have more than 70 percent sugar due to which some people have a misconception that people with diabetes cannot consume dates. However, this is not true as surprisingly, dates are considered to be a low glycemic fruit. A value of 55 or less is considered to be low on the glycemic index and dates have a glycemic index between 43 and 55. The American Diabetes Association thus suggests adding low-glycemic fruits like dates to the daily diet of a diabetic person to maintain blood sugar levels. Studies show that although dates are very sweet in taste, they are not as rich in carbohydrates as other foods thus proving to be harmless for diabetics and helping to control blood sugar levels when taken in smaller portions.
7. Helpful in Labor and Childbirth
Labor and childbirth are one of the most difficult phases of a woman’s life. Prolonged labor is not only very painful but a risk for both the mother and the child. Dates are very popular in easing labor and making childbirth a bit easier. Dates may shorten labor and also help to prevent the need for oxytocin injections used to speed up labor. Studies show that women who consume dates in the last few weeks of pregnancy need very little to be induced, better dilation, and easy delivery as compared to women who don't consume dates during pregnancy.
Final Words
Dates are known for their natural aphrodisiac properties, potentially enhancing sexual well-being, especially in women. Undoubtedly, dates are full of benefits that help improve human health from many different aspects. They improve your heart health by improving the amount of HDL, improve gut health through the fiber-rich contents, help to aid brain functioning and the cognitive process, help to ease labor and childbirth, etc, thus proving to be a magical fruit with amazing benefits for human health.