Dates are a type of fruit that is known for its high content of nutrients. There are many health benefits of dates including physical health and mental well-being. Dates have many advantages and should be included in your diet. You should consume dates regularly to get its benefits.
Nutritious value of Dates
Dates are a great source of nutrition. It contains a high amount of energy and many nutrients. Adding dates to your daily diet will provide you with immense health benefits. It contains vitamins and minerals essential for the body.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, 100 g of dates contains:
- 75 g Carbohydrate
- 6.7 g dietary fiber
- 0.53 g Sucrose
- 64 mg Calcium
- 54 mg Magnesium
- 696 mg potassium
- 0.9 mg iron
Source of energy
Dates are a huge source of energy. 100 g of dates have 277 Kcal of energy. People trying to lose weight should have dates in their daily diet, as a small amount provides a large amount of energy. As it contains fiber it will not have much effect on your weight.
Health benefits of dates
The health benefits of dates are numerous. You should include dates in your daily diet so that you can enjoy the following benefits.
Dates have Antioxidant properties
Antioxidants are those compounds that lead to decreased oxidants thus preventing their deleterious effects. The presence of antioxidants in your body is very essential for your health and dates are a big source of antioxidants.
Antioxidants like Carotenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids are present in dates and provide many health benefits to your body. These help in imparting anti-inflammatory properties as well as preventing health conditions linked to the brain and heart.
Dates have Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation in the body is the result of the defense mechanism of the body. However, the regulation of the inflammatory agents is necessary for the health of the body.
The antioxidants present in dates provide anti-inflammatory effects on the body. They help in reducing inflammation of the body. This helps in the maintenance of your overall health. It also helps in the prevention of inflammatory conditions linked to the brain or other parts of the body.
Dates improve Skin condition
Dates contain Vitamin C and Vitamin D. This helps in improving your skin conditions. It helps in improving the elasticity of your skin thus helping in reducing the wrinkles of your skin. It also provides freshness to your skin and prevents aging of your skin. The health benefits of dates include balancing of melanin on your skin that leads to improved complexion of your skin.
Dates are beneficial for every skin type. It helps in the reduction of oil on your skin as well as gives a moisturizing and soothing effect to your skin as well. Many skin issues like skin itching and rashes can be prevented as well as treated with the consumption of dates.
Dates improve Brain function
Dates have antioxidants that help in the improvement of brain health and reduce the risk of diseases related to the brain.
The presence of interleukins in your body may lead to a high risk of developing diseases related to your nervous system. There is a great chance of the development of diseases related to the degeneration of your nervous system for example Alzheimer’s disease.
The antioxidants reduce the level of interleukin in the body thus reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It also improves the overall health of the brain. It promotes your learning ability as well as your memory.
Dates improve Heart Health
Dates are known to have beneficial effects on the heart as well. They have no cholesterol in them. Decreased cholesterol in turn means a decreased risk of diseases related to the heart. It also
The omega acids and antioxidants present in dates help in reducing the risk of vascular diseases. It also does not let cholesterol accumulate in your blood vessels thus normalizing blood flow and a healthy heart. The antioxidants present in the heart protect the tissues of the heart from any damage related to inflammation.
Dates are very suitable for patients with heart diseases and high cholesterol. If you are suffering from any condition related to the heart, you should start consuming dates in your daily diet.
Dates help in improving Bowel function
The high content of fiber is present in dates. Almost 100 g of dates contain 6.7 g of fiber. This helps in the improvement of your bowel function. Fiber helps in improving bulk content and treats conditions like constipation as well. Eating dates on a daily basis leads to improvement in your digestion. It regulates the function of the bowel. It is essential for people having digestive issues.
According to U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the consumption of fiber, calcium, and potassium is necessary for a healthy diet, but its consumption is very low among the U.S. population leading to many health issues. Dates are a rich source of all these components that impart great health benefits.
It also helps in the prevention of weight gain. People suffering from obesity or trying to lose weight should include dates in their daily diet.
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Dates give strength to Bones
Dates contain a large amount of minerals that include calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. These minerals are a source of providing strength to your bones.
If you are suffering from conditions related to bones, then you should increase your intake of dates in your diet. It helps in providing strength to bones. Vitamin K and magnesium are also present in dates that are essential for your bones.
Dates provide health benefits to people dealing with bone conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis, as the minerals and nutrients present in them will increase bone density and maintain bone health.
Dates help in easing Labor
It is advised for pregnant women to take one date daily during their pregnancy period, as they have a beneficial effect on pregnancy. It is beneficial for the health of the mother as well as the baby.
Women who intake dates during their pregnancy are known to have more chances of natural labor as compared to those who do not take it. The folic acid and tannins present in dates are the essential nutrients playing their role in this aspect. They promote the dilation of the cervix leading to very low chances of inducing labor. The tannins facilitate the contractions thus leading to natural labor and ease in delivery of the baby.
Dates reduce the chance of Diabetes
Among the health benefits of dates, diabetes is one of them. Dates are known to be beneficial for people suffering from diabetes. They have low glycemic index thus reducing the chances of diabetes.
Dates help in the regulation of blood sugar levels. The nutrients present in dates help in increased absorption of glucose in the body. Diabetic people can take dates as a sweetener in their diet.
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Dates improve Hair Health
The nutrients present in dates have beneficial effects on hair health as well. Instead of using chemical hair products for your hair issues, you should try using dates in your diet. Dates contain rich amount of iron in it that boosts the circulation of the blood. It imparts strength to the hair follicles leading to stronger hair.
Consumption of dates helps in the prevention of hair fall and also promotes the growth of new hair. The vitamin B5 present in dates is a driving factor in the improvement of hair health.
Dates are Natural Sweeteners
Dates are a very good substitute for refined sugar. Replacing artificial sugar with dates in your diet will have many health benefits for your body. Dates are natural sweetening agents providing the same amount of sweetness as sugar.
Dates contain sucrose and fructose which are natural sweeteners. The consumption of artificial sugar may cause health issues while replacing the same amount with dates will have beneficial effects. You can look for many recipes that have dates instead of sugar as a sweetening agent in them.
Conclusion
The health benefits of dates are countless. The minerals and nutrients present in it are essential for the maintenance of health. Everyone should have dates in their diet as it provides numerous health benefits to skin, heart, bone, brain, etc. It covers all your daily nutrient requirements.
