You can get some real benefits from this food.
Dates have been a common food throughout history.
If you look back, you’ll even find that they’ve been cultivated as long ago as 7000 BC. There must be some health benefits of dates if they’ve been a common food for such a long time.
Dates are a tasty and versatile food. You can use them in so many recipes, whether that’s sweet or savoury. You’ll also find that eating dates is actually really good for you.
So if you pick up a packet of dates from the shop, keep this in mind. If you’re eating them as a snack or using them in recipes, you can get some real benefits from this food.
The Nutritional Value of Dates
One of the main health benefits of dates is that they have a great nutritional value. Dates contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals which are good for you.
First of all, dates contain a great deal of fibre. This is good for your digestive system and can help with issues like bloating and constipation. Fibre can also help to boost your heart health.
Dates also contain a large amount of potassium. Potassium is an important mineral because it is crucial for the health of your brain. Getting enough potassium in your diet can be key in helping to prevent strokes.
Another one of the health benefits of dates is that they contain a lot of vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for your health because it helps keep your immune system strong. As well as maintaining a healthy immune system to fight off illness, vitamin A can also help to improve the health of your eyes and bones.
Vitamin A is especially important for children because it’s key for good bone development.
Selenium is another interesting mineral which can be found in dates. This mineral is important for keeping your heart healthy. It can also strengthen your immune system as well as help to keep your thyroid healthy. It can keep your hair healthy as well.
Try this delicious lamb and date curry for a meal which is delicious and packed with nutrients.
Eating Dates for Weight Loss
As dates are such a versatile food, it’s not surprising that many of you will want to include them in your cooking. They’re actually a great food for you to be eating if you’re looking to lose weight or simply live a healthier lifestyle.
The massive variety of vitamins and minerals which can be derived from dates means that it’s great for helping you lose weight. You can get lots of vitamins and minerals from one source so they can help to reduce the possibility of over-eating.
As dates can also help prevent bloating and can help with bowel movement, this can help you lose weight simply by keeping your digestive movements healthy.
Dates also provide a lot of nutrition in comparison to the calories they contain. Calorie rich foods like this mean that they can help you to feel fuller for longer. This helps to prevent overeating.
Another one of the health benefits of dates is that they can help you to consume less fat. Dates contain little to no fats at all, meaning that if you want to reduce fat in your diet then they’re a great food to go for.
While dates do contain sugar, the excellent fibre content means that the sugar can be processed easily by your body. You shouldn’t see the negative effects normally associated with eating a lot of sugar.
Eating Dates During Pregnancy
Throughout history and legends, dates have apparently been seen as an excellent food for pregnant women. While this might seem like something that’s arisen due to tradition or superstition, there actually is some truth to it.
One of the most amazing health benefits of eating dates is the impact they can have on a pregnancy. Studies have been done to show these benefits, so if you’re an expecting mother then dates might just be the food you want to snack on.
Consuming dates during pregnancy can lead to having an easier birth. Women who consumed dates frequently in the above study saw a shorter birth, which happened naturally and spontaneously.
Many mothers who ate dates during pregnancy also experienced a less damaging birth. The chemicals in dates can help stimulate contractions of the uterus, which leads to an easier and quicker birth. It also means that there can be much less damage and less bleeding.
The vitamins and minerals in dates can also obviously contribute to a better pregnancy. One of the vitamins which dates contain is folate. Folate is well known as being crucial for the development of an unborn child. It’s considered so important that many expecting mothers will take supplements to ensure they get enough.
Check out this no-bake, kid friendly date bar recipe for something to snack on.
Dates are a Superfood
Whether you’re pregnant, dieting or just looking to be healthy, eating dates are a great choice. They’re ideal as a snack or as an addition to other dishes, so it’s easy to add them to your diet.
There are so many vitamins and minerals in dates that you’ll be doing your body a huge favour by eating them. You don’t even need to eat that many to see the benefits.
You can improve your health with just a few of these fruits, so why not give it a try?
Loading ...