Health benefits of Dates

Every child in the world dreams of going to a place someday where candies and sweets grow on trees! That dream is not far from reality, for there is indeed one such fruit which is called the ‘candy that grows on trees’. Dates are among the sweetest fruits in the world. These are mostly dark reddish brown, oval fruits. A fully ripe date is plump, with golden brown smooth skin; the inside of the fruit is fleshy with a sticky texture. It contains a single, brown coloured, hard seed about 2–2.5 cm long and 6–8 mm thick. The taste is sweet, like a mix of sugar syrup and honey. Phoenix dactylifera as dates are scientifically known have been in cultivation from time immemorial. Although the place of its origins are unknown but it said that dates originated from lands around Iraq, in the lands on the banks of Nile and Euphrates Rivers of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Date palm is now grown extensively for its edible fruits under warmer climates across all the continents. A fasting Muslim always breaks his fast with Dates and water; this helps avoid overeating of the food after the fast. When the body absorbs the nutritional value of the Dates, the feeling of hunger gets pacified. There are endless varieties of this humble yet precious fruit available. Innumerable health benefits are packed within Dates which makes it wonderful snack for young and old alike. Let us find out why we should include these in our regular diet.

1. Dates are an excellent source of fibre which is beneficial in fighting constipation, intestinal disorders, weight gain, and cholesterol build-up. To get the laxative effect from Dates, you need to soak Dates for one full night in water. You should consume these soaked Dates in the morning. Date also promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

2. Dates are heat-producing fruit; it can therefore help give work. energy to people who engage in physical exercise and hard.

3. Dates are an excellent source of iron, which is a major they are very useful in treating anaemia.

4. Dates are very good in Potassium which is an important rate and blood pressure.

5. Dates are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth. component of haemoglobin inside the red blood cells. Hence component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart copper, and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral.

6. Dates fight ageing and are a rich source of natural rich in antioxidants prevents or at least delays the occurrence illnesses like cancer and helps to delay ageing.

7. Dates are good for healthy skin, hair and muscle tone. They found in dates the most important group is the group of B vitamins. B vitamins are known to help you keep a healthy skin, hair and muscle tone.

8. Dates are beneficial for healthy eye sight. It is said that eyes. They can also help prevent night blindness problems.

9. Pregnant women benefit greatly from consuming Dates reduces bleeding and pain at the time of delivery. antioxidants. Antioxidants fight naturally free radicals. A diet are an excellent source of vitamins, among those vitamins consuming just one Date a day will help maintain healthy regularly because it helps strengthen their uterine wall which

10. Dates are also recommended for nursing mothers because child healthy and resistant to disease. Dates also contain elements that help alleviate post-partum depression (form of clinical depression that can affect women, after childbirth)

- Veena ShyamRaja