Dates are high in some essential nutrients and have a variety of uses and advantages. They contain a variety of minerals, fibre, and antioxidants, all of which may provide health benefits ranging from improved digestion to a lower risk of disease.
It’s important to note that, while dates are abundant in fibre and minerals, they’re also high in calories and should be consumed in moderation.
1. High in Nutrients
Dates have a high nutritional value. When they’re dried, their calorie count is larger than that of most fresh fruit. Dates have a similar calorie content to other dried fruits like raisins and figs.
Carbohydrates account for the majority of the calories in dates. Dates, despite their caloric content, contain some important vitamins and minerals, as well as a considerable amount of fibre. Dates are also abundant in antioxidants, which may contribute to many of their medical benefits.
2. Rich in fibre
Getting adequate fibre is essential for good health. Fiber can help your gut health by keeping you from becoming constipated. It encourages regular bowel motions by aiding in the production of faeces.
Furthermore, fibre in dates may help with blood sugar regulation. Fiber slows digestion and may help keep blood sugar levels from skyrocketing after meals.
3. Packed with disease-fighting antioxidants
Dates include a variety of antioxidants that have a variety of health benefits, including a lower risk of certain diseases. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals, which are unstable substances in your body that can trigger detrimental reactions and contribute to disease.
4. May Promote Natural Labor
Dates have been researched for their ability to promote and ease late-term labour in pregnant women. Consuming these fruits in the latter weeks of pregnancy may enhance cervical dilatation and reduce the need for induced delivery. They may also be beneficial in terms of lowering labour time.
Dates may play a role in pregnancy because they contain chemicals that bind to oxytocin receptors and appear to imitate the effects of oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin is a hormone that triggers contractions during labour during childbirth.
Dates also include tannins, which are chemicals that have been demonstrated to aid with contractions. They are also a good source of natural sugar and calories, both of which are required to keep energy levels up during labour.
5. Natural Sweetener
Dates include fructose, which is a form of natural sugar present in the fruit. As a result, dates are incredibly sweet and have a slightly caramel-like flavour. Because of the minerals, fibre, and antioxidants they give, they make an excellent healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes.