Dates are common in this part of Africa, Nigeria, especially in the north. My first encounter with this fruit was during my youth service in Zamfara state in Nigeria. Date was always eaten to break the Muslim fast during their Ramadan or lent.
Little did I know that the fruit consists of some health benefits suitable for consumption. Having made research about this fruit, and more consumption, I have come to realise the importance of dates.
There are ways you can enjoy this fruit, as an example, blend it with Tigernut and coconut to make Tigernut milk. You can also eat it raw or blend it dry and substitute it for sweetener in your tea, oat and smoothies.
Dates are highly nutritious and healthy for consumption even as a diabetic. Here are seven health benefits of dates.
1. Dates contain high nutrients
Nutrients are part of the essential properties we need to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dates contain such nutrients and vitamins. It is rich in fibre which is helpful for the general well-being of humans. They also contain antioxidants that are required to fight against chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
2. Dates aids regularity
If you have irregular bowel movements, dates can be a go to for you. The high fibre content in it helps with easy and smooth digestion. Dates have extremely high fibre content which can be highly beneficial to people who are suffering from health issues caused due to irregular bowel movements.
3. Antioxidant properties
Dates help to fight harmful radicals that cause health hazards in the body cells. Oxidation can be very dangerous as it can be very harmful to the structural and genetic integrity of your cells.
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4. Brain Booster
Dates improves brain functionality and keeps it proactive. A regular intake of dates is beneficial in reducing the IL-6 levels and thereby helping in reducing the risk of developing brain degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
Regular consumption of the fruit reduces issues related to anxiety disorder and also helps in boosting memory and learning. The effective consumption can also include the overall improvement of your brain.
5. Promotes Smooth Childbirth
In our modern times, the frequency of natural labour is declining gradually. The complications that arise out of cesarean deliveries are troubling a lot of young mothers in our generation, especially in Africa. Eating dates at the later stages of pregnancy can help in making the entire process of delivery much smoother.
6. Eliminates Risk of Cancer
Dates help to reduce developing cancer. Cancer is a deadly disease which claims a lot of lives worldwide and also presents a huge financial burden on the healthcare sector of many countries. The increased prevalence of cancer is attributed to the rapid changes that have occurred in the lifestyle and diet of modern times.
Some studies reveal that dates have some uncommon properties that have been studied in-depth, and the results revealed that the presence of beta D-glucan in it is very advantageous in promoting an anti-tumour activity within the body.
7. Dates Help Fight Diabetes
Blood sugar level is one of the silent killer diseases in the world today. The treatment for diabetes is also a painstaking procedure.
Dates have the ability to increase the production of insulin; and also have several properties that can help reduce the rate of absorption of glucose from the intestine. This can help a lot in reducing the risk that is posed by diabetes.
The lack of insulin is what causes diabetes to happen in the first place and the ability dates have in increasing the production of insulin makes it an excellent natural substitute for several synthetic medicines.
8. Protects Kidney Damage
Kidney is one of the major internal organs of the human body. The nephrological activity in humans is one of the most important functions that determine the overall health of the person. Dates have the nutritional ability to protect the kidney and help it stay healthy in difficult circumstances.
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9. Fertility Enhancement
Men who are looking at boosting their sexual life can include dates into their daily diet. Infertility is a very common condition these days and a lot of married couples are suffering due to it.
I’ve had the opportunity of making Tiger nut drink for men who recommended the drink for their friends suffering from quick ejaculation. According to them, it enhanced their sexual performance. So, I made research and found it quite interesting. You can make yours too with coconut and dates.
Certain lifestyles can be responsible for infertility such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and higher exposure to radiation caused by electronic devices.
There are various vitamins and minerals present in the fruit which can help in improving the sperm count and also in increasing the sexual libido in the person.
10. Stimulates Healthy Bone
Strong and healthy bones are very important and one of the ways to achieve this is the need for daily consumption of Dates. This fruit has sufficient supply of several micronutrients that play an important role in ensuring healthy bones.
Dates are highly rich in micronutrients such as selenium, manganese, magnesium and copper.
11. Strengthens Nervous System
Neurological problems are highly dangerous as it can affect multiple parts of the body at the same time. Dates are highly rich in nutrients such as potassium and at the same time contain very low levels of sodium which makes it an extremely successful fruit in ensuring your neurological health.
12. Helps Maintain Healthy Skin
Dates are one of the various nutrients that can be beneficial for your skin because of the presence of Vitamins C and D which can be found in Dates. Dates are a very good alternative to these harmful chemicals that can do more harm to your skin.
The high concentrations of vitamin C and vitamin D in dates ensure that your skin gets well-nourished and all the nutrient expectations for healthy glowing skin are met. Both Vitamins work for the improvement of your skin’s elasticity which is very hard to maintain as you grow older.
Dates also help in preventing faster ageing and help you to look young for a longer period of time.
