Did you know that North African eats 7 dates every morning? And in the Middle East, they eat 3 dates every morning. No wonder, dates are without a doubt one of the healthiest fruits on the planet.
We have already seen that they have endless health benefits in this article, including cancer prevention and many others. Here we look a little closer at this fruit with exceptional benefits to our body.
North African dates improve digestion
Dates are rich in fibers. As such they help digestion hence reducing risks for piles.
They are also high in many other nutrients that can treat and cure a number of body health issues.
They help prevent heart issues, avoid strokes, regulate your cholesterol levels, and of high importance prevent cancer. Also, it is known that the Middle East and North African eat these to break their fasting as it suppresses appetite, hence avoiding them to eat way too much after a long day not eating.
They have a high content in sugar and can be a substitute for processed unhealthy white sugar.
Dates are rich in iron
This fruit is a strong and rich source of iron. So if you are a victim of anemia (some spell it anemia), then eat dates.
Look just 100 g of dates provide 0.90 g iron. This is equivalent to 11% of the recommended daily iron intake. You do not need to eat many dates to help your body to be healthy.
This is definitely a perfect fruit if you do not have time to eat at lunch and many eat it in mid-afternoon when our bodies are low in sugar level. It definitely gives you a boost.
Iron has long been accepted as having health benefits. One of these is so important to us that we tend to take it for granted. Iron simply improves the oxygen flow to one of our most important parts of our body – The brain.
They prevent strokes
We tend to say OUCH to this. Strokes are the highest killer in the world with cancer. So why not eating dates to prevent these?
Dates are very high in potassium content. This protects your nervous system. This is great but not enough if you ask us.
So if you eat them in sufficient levels, then you will definitely lower your stroke risk by 40%. As said at the beginning of this point, OUCH!
North African Brain food
Phosphorus is one rich ingredient that helps the brain function and it turns out that Dates are rich in phosphorus. So if you eat dates on a daily basis, guess what will happen? Yes, you’ll improve your brain function. NO Comment.
Treat diarrhea
I know, you’d be skeptical about this one. But it is true. Why? because dates are high in calcium.
Calcium helps replenish and refreshes your gut flora. By doing so, it supports and eases the creation of gut bacteria in your intestines. In turn, these bacteria treat and ease diarrhea.
Treat constipation
So if it treats diarrhea, why would it treat constipation. Well, dates have unique substances that detoxify the body.
Doing so helps your digestion, and therefore treats constipation.
If you prefer to drink something, then why don’t you put a few dates in some water. Leave them to soak overnight. They will release some ‘natural chemicals’ which will act as laxatives. In the morning just drink the juice and repeat for a few days or longer if you want.
If you want healthy intestines, then eating dates will accelerate your metabolism and digestion, hence reducing stomach, guts, etc. issues.
Improved libido
This is a little bit controversial here and we did ask ourselves if we should put this point forward. The reality is that this is true.
Dates have proven that they can improve your sex life. In fact, mixed with some chestnut and a little bit of honey, you’ll see a big improvement over time. It is not a one-night quick fix. You need a couple of days and you’ll a real difference.
Another recipe is to soak some dates in goat milk and in the morning, add honey and cardamom to the mixture. A great recipe to first boost your energy and second; your potential for other things. Again no comment.
Strengthen your heart
We already said it, but here, we want to make sure you take action. So every evening try and soak dates in water.
In the morning, when you just wake up, blend the water and dates. When you drink these about 4 times a week, you’ll get a healthier heart.
Weight loss
As if it was not enough, dates can help you lose weight and not in the way you are thinking.
Basically, they regulate your appetite. By doing so they provide the right body nutrients. This then helps you lose those extra pounds.
Note that this is not a one-off weight loss solution. But if you eat them in the long run, then you’ll see the effect of this precious fruit.
Yet, do not forget that they contain sugar. So you need to eat 7 dates a day, but not 7 pounds a day. To be consumed in moderate amounts.
Reduce high blood pressure
You may ask yourselves how can date reduce high blood pressure?
It is quite simple, if you eat 5 to 6 dates (we prefer 7), this will provide your body with 80 mg of magnesium.
Magnesium intakes dilates blood vessels.
And research has shown that you need about 370 mg magnesium on a daily basis. If you eat these quantities, then you’ll lower high blood pressure and keep it regulated. If 5 dates equal to 80 mg, you have already taken a quarter of your daily intake.
Support eye health
We said it, this fruit is unique. It also contains several vitamins that support eye health via lutein and zeaxanthin.
These are highly beneficial for eye retina and macula.
One thing to remember is that they improve eyesight by preventing damage of the macula due to aging.
Help delivery
And things keep getting better. Scientists from the Jordan University of Science and Technology found that regular consumption of this dry North African type fruit for 4 weeks soothes the pain and reduces bleeding before the due date.
It simply eases the delivery.
One last thing dates definitely prevents postpartum depression signs. It provides more milk in the mother’s breasts with all of the above benefits for the baby.
Why deprive yourselves and the baby from this wonderful fruit?
Back to you
Dates have been out there for centuries, and we are just learning about their benefits.
But what one should retain from this article is that North African or Middle East dates are really nice to eat, can be used in a number of cakes and cooking recipes and can prove endless health benefits to your body.
So we strongly advise 7 dates a day to have a better, healthier and easier life.