Dates are dried fruits rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Their nutritional benefits are one reason they stand apart from other fruits. Dates can be smooth or wrinkled and are primarily grown in tropical regions. They are small, very flavoured, and chewy.
Here are the health benefits of eating dates:
1. Rich in antioxidants
Dates are among the fruits with the highest antioxidants. It can protect you from heart disease and diabetes and help with stress. This fruit is also rich in phenolics, carotenoids, and flavonoids that prevent cells from being damaged by oxidation.
2. Prevent cancer
Dates can prevent various cancers, such as prostate, colon, lung, and breast because they’re rich in phenolics, carotenoids, and other antioxidants that protect cells and reduce inflammation.
3. Help the brain
Dates contain phytosterols, carotenoids and polyphenols that help with neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation. It can also enhance the growth of new brain cells and prevent cognitive problems.
4. Protect your kidney
Dates can protect your kidney from nephrotoxicity and reduce oxidative stress to enhance its functionality. In addition, your chances of having stones in your kidney is low.
5. Strengthen the bones
Another health benefit of eating dates is how it can strengthen your bones through minerals such as copper, magnesium and manganese. It also prevents the bones from getting deficiencies like deformities, fractures and osteoporosis. The antioxidants in dates protect bone cells from damage; hence, as you grow older, your bones are strengthened.
6. Increase male fertility
Erectile dysfunction and male impotence can be managed by dates. These fruits can help with sperm counts and hormones which include sterols and estrogen that reinforce the male reproductive organ.
7. Help nervous system
Dates have potassium that can support you by regulating or balancing fluid in your body. It can also improve your neurodegeneration that occurs while ageing and reduce neuroinflammation. Vitamins B (folate, niacin and pyridoxine) present in dates can also enhance neural function.
8. Control diabetes
As a diabetic patient, the health benefit of consuming dates is that it can control your blood sugar and improve glucose metabolism and absorption. Whereas, dates provide sweetness but will not affect your blood sugar levels.
9. Control microorganism
Dates can control the growth of bacteria that cause infections, illness, and foodborne diseases. Their antioxidant properties and vitamin C help with the immune system and the functionality of the white blood cells.
10. Movement of the bowel
Dates are rich in soluble fiber that enables digestion and bowel movements. It also makes defecation very easy, assists with constipation and helps with detoxification.
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