Dates Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Dates nutrition facts

What are the nutrients in dates? Actually a lot! Here's the sweet fruits, delicious tropical oasis, filled to the brim with essential minerals and energy to help you stay fit and healthy.

Botanist; Are the fruits grow on the Palm family of Palms (Arecaceae), typically: Phoenix, scientifically named as Phoenix Dactylifera. The tree is probably in the countries on the shores of the Nile and Euphrates rivers of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia originate. Date palm tree is now widely cultivated for its edible fruits in warmer climates in all continents.

The date fruit is a "stone fruit", in which the outer fleshy part (exocarp and mesocarp) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. The fruit is oval to cylindrical, 3-7 cm long and 2-3 cm diameter, and mature date range of yellow-gold, yellow, light red, deep brown depending on the variety.

There are many varieties of cultivated palms. Hajj ' Amir ', ' Shock ', ' Khadrawy ' and ' Medjool ' are some of the main varieties known for their rich taste, aroma and excellent quality.



Health benefits of dates

Wonderfully delicious date one of the most popular fruits are filled with an impressive list of important nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are needed for normal growth, development and general well-being.

Fresh dates consist of soft flesh, easily digestible and simple sugars like fructose and glucose. 100 g Mejdool deadlines 277 calories. If you ate, recharge and revive the body immediately. For these properties, you need to break the fasting of the month of Ramadan since ancient times.

The fruit is rich in fiber, prevents the LDL cholesterol absorption in the intestine. In addition, the works of vaguely fiber laxative. So the colon against cancer-causing chemicals in the colon helps protect the mucous membrane bind.

Contain health benefit as antioxidant flavonoids known tannins poly phenol. Tannins are known to anti-infective, which are anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic (prevention of mild bleeding tendencies) properties.

Are moderate sources of vitamin A (IU/100 g 149), which is known to have antioxidant and essential to the vision. In addition, it is also necessary to maintain healthy mucous membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A, which is known to protect against lung cancer and oral cavity.



Consist of flavonoids antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lutein and Zea Xanthin. These antioxidants found to have the ability to protect cells and other structures in the body from the harmful effects of free oxygen radicals. Then eat dates provide protection against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung and pancreatic cancer found.

Zea Xanthin is an important dietary carotenoid, which selectively absorbed in the retina macula lutea, where antioxidant and provide security features that filter the light. It provides protection against macular degeneration, especially among the older population.

Dates are an excellent source of iron, fruit 0.90 mg/100 g (about 11% of RDI). Iron, a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.

Furthermore, they are an excellent source of potassium. This electrolyte contains 100 g 696 mg or 16% of the daily recommended levels. Potassium is an important part of cells and body fluids, to regulate heart rate and blood pressure. So, provides protection against stroke and coronary heart disease.

Date fruit is also rich in minerals such as calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral, essential component of bones and teeth and is required by the body for blood clotting, muscle contraction, the conduction of nerve impulses. Manganese is of the body as a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase used. Copper is necessary for red blood cell production. Magnesium is important for bone growth.

In addition, the fruit has moderate levels of Group B vitamins and vitamin k. It contains very good amounts of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), niacin, Pantothenic acid and Riboflavin. These vitamins act as cofactors helps the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fat. Vitamin K is essential for many types of factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.



Selection and conservation

Appointments can be kept available year around food. Some types of fresh fruit, soft, good, found only from September to December. In some arid Africa dates after reaching sexual maturity only collected and may tyres in glasses.

In the shops to get soft, semi-dry and dry display types for sale. To save, at home at room temperature in a cool environment inside an air seal can container, where they remain for several months.


Preparation and method to serve

Date of generally high quality directly from the fruit group came and sold as a variety of premium markets. On a commercial scale, are harvested most of you fumigated the entire cluster, cleaned, sized, lunch, cold storage and application store markets.

Here are some tips on how to serve:

  • Soft dry dates are usually eaten out of hand.
  • Can be filled with fillings such as almonds, walnuts, candied orange and cream cheese.
  • May also violate and fruit salad and added in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
  • The dates are also used to juice and descarpentries (a type of syrup popular in the Middle East and from dates, grape molasses and rose water) to prepare.