Importance of dates in human life

Importance of dates in human life
Date fruit A product of the date palm and cultivated since approximately 6000 B.C, the date fruit is one of the sweetest fruits around and also happens to come in many different varieties. Although dates can be eaten fresh, the fruit is very often dried, resembling raisins or plums. But whether fresh or dry, the health benefits of dates are still just as plentiful.If you’re looking for fiber, potassium, or copper, look no further than dates. While dates are rich in many vital nutrients and therefore offer many health benefits, the fruit is so small that you’ll need to consume a larger quantity to intake the necessary amount.

The health benefits of dates include relief from constipation, intestinal disorders, heart problems, anemia,  sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, abdominal cancer, and many other conditions. Dates are good for gaining weight also. Dates are rich in several vitamins, minerals and fiber too. These delicious fruits contain oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium which are all beneficial for health. Some health specialists have said that eating one day per day is necessary for a balanced and healthy diet.

The massive health benefits of dates have made them one of the best ingredients for muscle development. People consume dates in several ways, such as mixing the paste of the dates with milk, yogurt or with bread or butter to make them even more delicious. The paste is beneficial for both adults and children, especially during a time of recovery from injury or illness.

According to a modern medical survey, it is now accepted that dates are useful in preventing abdominal cancer. Many Muslims break their fast by eating dates and water according to their cultural traditions. Breaking fast by eating dates helps avoid overeating of food after the fast is finished. When the body begins to absorb the high nutritional value of the dates, feelings of hunger are pacified. Also, the nervous system can get a lot of help from consuming dates, since they have such significant amounts of potassium.

Dates are one of the very best sweet and versatile foods that can regulate the digestive process. It can significantly boost energy levels in people within half an hour of consuming it. The American Cancer Society recommends an intake of 20-35 grams of dietary fiber per day, which can be supplied through dates. It is also said that taking one date per a day will help you to maintain your eye health all your life. They are commonly known to be quite effective in guarding against the problem of night blindness.

Dates are a good source of dietary fiber

Dates are rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants and the essential minerals potassium and magnesium. A diet that regularly includes low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like dates may enhance your health and help decrease your chance of developing many chronic diseases. Available both fresh and dried, dates can be substituted for raisins in baked goods, combined with nuts and rolled oats in granola or used as a sweet counterpoint in chicken- or lamb-based stews. Deglet noor dates are the most commonly consumed variety in the United States, but other types like Medjool and Khala dates are equally nutritious.

Dietary Fiber
A 1/4-cup serving of dried or fresh dates contains 3 grams of dietary fiber. This amount supplies 14 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recommended daily allowance of fiber for adult men and women following a 2,000-calorie diet. According to Dr. John Briffa, the bulk of a date's fiber is the soluble fiber pectin. A high intake of foods rich in soluble fiber may help lessen your risk of diabetes and high blood cholesterol. A 2009 "Nutrition Reviews" study adds that a fiber-rich diet can also help prevent obesity, stroke, heart disease and hypertension.

Potassium
Eating approximately six medium-sized, pitted dates provides you with 6 percent of the potassium your body requires daily. As both a mineral and an electrolyte, potassium triggers enzymes crucial for energy metabolism and is needed for cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscles to contract properly. If you do not consume enough potassium regularly, you may be more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, stroke, kidney stones or high blood pressure. If your diet includes a large amount of sodium, you may need more potassium in order to keep the two minerals balanced. Incorporate high-potassium foods like dates into your meals and talk to your doctor about ways to lower your sodium intake.

Magnesium
Every 42.6-gram serving of pitted dates -- an amount equivalent to five or six dates -- provides 5.8 percent of the RDA of magnesium for adult women and 4.5 percent of the RDA of magnesium for men. The body uses magnesium for energy metabolism, to regulate vitamins and other minerals and to help maintain the strength of bones and teeth. Adequate magnesium intake is linked to a decreased risk of diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Pregnant women, athletes undergoing strenuous physical training and individuals recovering from long-term illness or surgical procedures may need more magnesium to avoid deficiency.

Antioxidants
A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" examined the amount of antioxidant compounds in both the fresh and dried versions of three date varieties: Fard, Khala and Khasab. The researchers determined that all three types of fresh dates contained high concentrations of anthocyanins and carotenoids, two potent antioxidants. Dried dates contained a significant concentration of antioxidant polyphenol compounds. The researchers concluded that eating any variety or form of dates could add beneficial antioxidants to your diet. The American Dietetic Association reports that eating plenty of foods rich in antioxidants may help prevent diabetes, 
cancer, heart disease and neurological problems like Alzheimer's disease.

 Nutritional Value of Dates

Dates are a good source of various vitamins and minerals. Its a good source of energy, sugar and fiber. Essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc are found in dates.  It also contains vitamins such as Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin A and vitamin K.

Health Benefits of Dates

Constipation
Dates are often categorized as a laxative food. This is why dates are so frequently eaten by people suffering from constipation. In order to achieve the desired laxative effect of dates, you should soak them in water over night. Then, eat the soaked dates in the morning like syrup to get the most optimal results. Dates have high levels of soluble fiber, which is essential in promoting healthy bowel movements and the comfortable passage of food through the intestinal tract, which can relieve symptoms of constipation.

Intestinal Disorders
The nicotine content in dates is thought to be beneficial for curing many kinds of intestinal 
disorders. Continuous intake of dates helps to inhibit growth of the pathological organisms and thus, they help stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines. In terms of digestive issues, dates contain those insoluble and soluble fibers, as well as many beneficial amino acids which can stimulate the digestion of food and make it more efficient, meaning that more nutrients will be absorbed by the digestive tract and enter your body for proper usage.

Anemia
Dates have a high mineral content, which is beneficial for many different health conditions, but their 
impressive levels of iron make them a perfect dietary supplement for people suffering from anemia. The high level of iron balances out the inherent lack of iron in anemic patients, increasing energy and strength, while decreasing feelings of fatigue and sluggishness.

Healthy Nervous System 
The vitamins present in dates make it an ideal boost to nervous system health and 
functionality. Potassium is one of the prime ingredients in promoting a healthy and responsive nervous system, and it also improves the speed and alertness of brain activity. Therefore, dates are a wonderful food source for people as they begin to age and their nervous system becomes sluggish or unsupported, as well as for people who want to keep their mind sharp.

Healthy Heart
Dates are quite helpful in keeping your heart healthy. When they are soaked for the night, crushed in the morning and then consumed, they have been shown to have a positive effect on weak hearts. Dates are also a rich source of potassium, which studies have shown to reduce the risk of stroke and other heart related diseases. Furthermore, they are suggested as a healthy and delicious way to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a major contributing factor heart attacks, heart disease, and stroke. Therefore, when taken twice a week, dates can seriously improve the overall health of the heart.

Bone Health and Strength
The significant amounts of minerals found in dates make it a super food for strengthening bones and fighting off painful and debilitating diseases like osteoporosis. Dates contain selenium, manganese, copper, and magnesium, all of which are integral to healthy bone development and strength, particularly as people begin to age and their bones gradually weaken. So, eat your dates and give a boost to your bones!

Sexual Weakness 
Studies have shown that dates are even beneficial for increasing sexual stamina. Soak a handful of dates in fresh goat’s milk over night, then grind them in the same milk with a mixture of cardamom powder and honey. This mixture becomes a very useful tonic for increasing sexual endurance and reducing sterility caused by various sexual disorders. The science behind this phenomenon is largely due to traditional usage which stimulated formal research. In 2006, Bahmanpour studied the effects of date palms and their oil on sexual functioning and found that the high levels of estradiol and flavonoid components of dates are what increase sperm count and motility, as well as promoting increased testes size and weight. So, if you are looking for a masculine boost, eat some dates, because they are a great natural aphrodisiac!

Abdominal Cancer
Research has pointed towards dates being a legitimate way to reduce the risk and impact of abdominal cancer. They work as a useful tonic for all age groups, and in some cases, they work better than traditional medicines, and are natural, so they don’t have any negative side effects on the human body. They can be quickly and easily digested for a quick boost of energy.

Allergies
One of the most interesting facets of dates is the presence of organic sulfur in them. This is not a very common element to find in foods, but it does have a worthwhile amount of health benefits, including the reduction of allergic reactions and seasonal allergies. According to a study done in 2002, organic sulfur compounds can have a positive impact on the amount of suffering people experience from SAR (Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis), which affects approximately 23 million people in the United States alone. Dates are a great way to somewhat stem the effects of those seasonal allergies through its contributions of sulfur to the diet.

Diarrhea 
Ripe dates contain potassium, which is known as an effective way of controlling diarrhea. They are also easy to digest, which further helps alleviate the unpredictable nature of chronic diarrhea. The soluble fiber in dates can also help relieve diarrhea, by providing bulk to the bowel movements and promoting normal, healthy functioning of the excretory system.

Night Blindness 
The benefits of dates are extensive, and are commonly employed to fight off various conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat. When the leaves of the date palm are ground into a paste and rubbed on and around the eyes, or when dates are ingested orally, it has been shown to reduce the frequency of night blindness, and this solution is commonly used in rural areas where dates grow as an alternative medicine.