Losing weight requires a lot of patience, hard work and a good diet. Controlling your diet can make you lose weight very easily. Sugary treats and desserts are something you need to remove from your life if you swore to lose weight anytime soon. If you can’t resist yourself from munching sugary treats or snacks when you are on a diet, it’s time to switch to dates for weight loss.
They can be the yummy and beneficial midday snack for you. They are sweet and sticky dried fruits which are packed with bioavailable sugars which are very beneficial for your health. So, why should you try dates for weight loss? Do dates benefits weight loss?
Well, to find out, continue reading the article!
Nutritional Value Of Dates
Dates are amazingly healthy for the body. Dates have been around for thousands of years. It has many health, skin and hair benefits. It has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Dates are rich in flavonoids, ferulic acid, quercetin and bioactive compounds.
Also, dates have many therapeutic uses too. This dried fruit is sweet yet despite its sugar content, this fruit doesn’t put you in a risk of diabetes or worsen the condition. What makes dates stand out from other diet fruits is its antioxidant content.
This sweet dried fruit is proven to be great food for weight loss. Also, it has many health benefits, weight loss is just one of them. It also helps flush out the toxins from the body and regulate blood sugar levels.
It’s nutritional value is
- Carbs: 44-88%
- Dietary fibre: 6.4-11.5%
- Protein: 2.3-5.6%
- Fats: 0.2-0.5%
- Calories: 66.5 calories per date
- Potassium: 5%
- Manganese: 4%
- Magnesium: 3%
Dates are also rich in calcium, copper, Vitamin B6 and niacin.
Also read: Weightloss Diet
Benefits of Dates for Weight Loss
Dates benefits weight loss in many ways. As it is great food with high nutritional value, it can be an amazing snack to munch when you are trying to lose weight. Dates and weight loss can go hand in hand to speed it up. Eating dates for weight loss is super nutritious and delicious too. But, how do dates benefits weight loss? Well, here are some points that may make you believe that dates and weight loss have a close relationship:
1. High Fiber Content
Fiber is extremely important for weight loss. Fibre is often known as good carbs because they make you feel full for a long time and it also helps in absorbing fat. Dates are rich in fiber and eating can improve digestion and make you feel full for a longer time which means less eating and healthy eating. This can make you lose weight easily.
2. Unsaturated Fatty Acid Content
All fats aren’t bad, just like the unsaturated fatty acids which are found in dates. Unsaturated fatty acids can help reduce inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by many reasons like injury, swelling, unhealthy diet and bad lifestyle. Dates are rich in unsaturated fatty acids which can reduce inflammation, hence lessening the chances of gaining weight.
3. High in Protein
Proteins are crucial in your diet if you are trying to lose weight. Proteins are also tough to digest and take a long time to digest. So, having protein in your diet may make you feel full for a long time which means no more munching when you are bored and not hungry. Also, proteins help build and repair muscles.
4. High in Antioxidants
Dates are packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are promising for your health and flush out harmful toxins from the body. The removal of toxins helps reduce stress and inflammation which are the most common reasons for excessive weight gain. Dates are rich in antioxidants which can also help boost metabolism and digestion which will ultimately lead to weight loss. So, in this way dates and weight loss have a close relation.
5. Natural Sweetener
If you have sweet tooth and can’t remove sweetness from your life for the sake of weight loss, it’s time to choose dates for weight loss rather than artificial sweeteners. If you love desserts but for the sake of weight loss you can’t, just eat dates as your evening snack and satiate your sweet tooth. This is a nutritional as well as a delicious way of losing weight.
6. Keeps your Blood Sugar Levels in Control
Dates are like natural candy which can keep your blood sugar levels in control. The flavonoids, saponins and phenolics content in dates can facilitate insulin production. However, if you have diabetes, you still need the doctor’s consultation for eating dates.
How to Eat Dates for Weight Loss ?
As you’ve already read, how can eating dates benefit weight loss? Well, now it’s time to know how to eat dates for weight loss. Dates can benefit in weight loss but it is crucial to know that eating dates excessively may give you more harm than any good. So, eat it in a moderate amount. Overeating will only cause weight gain. Therefore, have 4-5 days every day to satisfy your sweet and sugary needs.
So, if you are considering eating dates for weight loss, make a habit of eating dates but also remember, for weight loss, you need to burn calories. Consider exercising and working out regularly to see the results. You can include dates in your everyday diet in various ways, you can just pop them into your mouth or you can try eating it like this:
- Enjoy the dates with tea or coffee.
- Make a smoothie or a shake with dates. Just put them in the blender and add some milk and blend, you don’t even need to add sugar in it because dates are naturally sweet.
- Add them in your cereals. Add it in your oatmeal or cornflakes bowl and you end up with a yummy and healthy breakfast.
- Make a yogurt date bowl. Take a bowl of yogurt and add chopped dates and some fruits you like. Voila! You have a yummy snack ready to eat.
This was all about dates and weight loss. Dates for weight loss is an amazing idea. Remember to eat it in a moderate amount for a healthy experience.
Also read- Eating Dates During Pregnancy