Dates, also known as ‘khajur’ in Hindi, are well known for sweet snacks, and there are proven benefits of benefits of eating dates as well. Dates are the staple natural sweeteners in India, as well as in several other countries. They are often used as a healthier alternative to sugar.
Dates are not just pleasant to our taste buds but have numerous health benefits as well. The benefits of eating dates result from the high concentration of useful vitamins and minerals in them. Besides carbohydrates, they also consist of fibers and antioxidants, which are great for sustaining your pulmonary and cardiac functions.
Scientifically known as Phoenix dactylifera, dates are tropical fruits collected from the palm trees. They will be your favorite snacks when you have nothing else to munch on.
The instant benefit of eating dates is the immediate energy boost that follows. This happens because of the presence of carbohydrates in dates. You should surely include the consumption of dates in your daily routine, and in this article, we’ll talk about all the important benefits of eating dates that will inspire you to do the same.
Read along to find out more!
7 Proven Benefits of Eating Dates
Here are some benefits of dates:
1. Stronger Bones
Dates are known to contain vitamin K, which is amazing for controlling blood coagulation and helps metabolize the bones. The benefits of dates include sustaining bone health and preventing bone disorders.
benefits of eating dates
This can be done because of minerals like magnesium, copper, and selenium in dates. If you have osteoporosis, there are chances that you might suffer from bone fractures as well. Dates can alleviate the same by making your bones firmer.
2. Better Heart Health
The benefits of eating dates are immense for the heart. The antioxidants contained in dates are responsible for curbing the emergence of atherosclerosis. If you have a few dates regularly, the chances of cardiac diseases would also reduce. You would often notice doctors prescribe the consumption of dates when you have issues related to your heart.
3. Steadier Bones Post Menopause
Women and other menstruators usually reach menopause at the age of about 50 years. After that, their bone health is often seen to deteriorate with age. The benefits of eating dates for women include the strengthening of bones after menopause.
Studies show that if you have adequate potassium levels in your body, you can battle the ill effects of menopause on your bones. Dried dates have a high concentration of several nutrients, including potassium. According to some experts, high amounts of potassium consumption lead to the sustenance of bone mass by lowering the intensity of calcium released through our excreta.
4. Aid to Natural Labor
During pregnancy, some women crave sweet foods. During this time, one should have dates because of the immense benefits of eating dates for pregnant women. They contain tannin, a compound that regulates uterine contractions during natural labor.
They also stimulate the dilation of the cervix and reduce the requirement for induced labor. Moreover, dates emulate oxytocin's function, and the uterine muscles' natural contractions are brought about during pregnancy.
5. Fighting Diseases
By consuming dates regularly, it’s possible to reduce the advent of diseases in our body, owing to the different kinds of antioxidants found in them. Antioxidants are responsible for shielding your body's cells from the action of free radicals. These radicals might otherwise lead to detrimental effects on your body and can cause diseases.
Thus, antioxidants like phenolic acid, carotenoids, and flavonoids are very useful and important components of dates. Flavonoids are extremely beneficial for treating diabetes and have anti-inflammatory properties as well. They are very powerful and help in lowering the chances of certain complex diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and some types of cancer as well.
Phenolic acid also curtails the risk of certain types of cancer and some heart issues. Moreover, it is an anti-inflammatory agent as well. Carotenoids are antioxidants that will cater to all your eye-related disorders and help solve them. Issues related to the heart are also benefited from these antioxidants.
6. Maintenance of Brain Health
Since we have talked about the betterment of the main organs of our body that are associated with the benefits of eating dates, it’s only fair to mention how they help the brain to function. Dates contain a wide range of vitamins, vitamin B being one of them. They also contain choline. These two make sure to boost the issues of learning and remembering things, especially for children suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies have shown that including dates in your diet can lessen the threat of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s. However, they are known to assist cognitive performances in adults and older people. The prevention of plaque formation in our brain and the anti-inflammatory properties of dates make them immensely essential for curbing, controlling, and eliminating diseases as major as Alzheimer’s.
7. Diabetes Under Control
Diabetes mellitus is a very common disorder, but at the same time, it’s incurable and extremely hard to keep in control. Individuals should maintain a proper diet with diabetes at a bigger intensity. According to some experts, controlling fats and blood sugar levels are proven benefits of eating dates.
Dates considerably lower the rate of glucose absorption from the intestine and facilitate the formulation of insulin. All these factors help alleviate the chances of becoming diabetic if one takes proper care and follows a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
We have mentioned some of the most vital benefits of eating dates that are enough for you to understand the significance of having dates. Their delicious taste is an add-on that makes them the best choice when you’re in a rush and don’t have the time to eat anything else.
You can have dates whenever you want to because of their dry consistency. They are very convenient to use and carry. So what are you still waiting for? Munch on some dates right away!
