Dates are highly versatile and can be used in many different ways. You can eat them as a snack, you can use them in raw desserts, or simply add them to your smoothies and salad dressings. When you buy these sweet fruits, it is very important to choose the organic variety that is free of any added sugar.
Here is what happens if you add only 3 dates to your daily diet:
1. Improve Digestive Health
Dates are rich in soluble fiber, which is crucial for your digestive health because it draws water to the digestive tract. This ensures better bowel movement and cleanses the digestive system, which practically makes dates a natural remedy for constipation. Dates are also full of potassium, a mineral that can help reduce diarrhea symptoms. Eating dates regularly also stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the stomach.
2. Help and Prevent Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. It can also be defined as an inability of the blood to carry oxygen. The most common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, poor ability to exercise, confusion etc. There are different causes of anemia, but iron deficiency is probably the most common. Dates contain a good amount of iron, which makes them ideal in the fight against anemia.
3. Bone, Blood and Immune System Health
Dates also contain essential minerals such as magnesium, manganese, and selenium, which are important for the bones, blood, and the immune system.
4. Energy Boost
Dates can raise you energy levels instantly due to their high content of natural sugars such as fructose, sucrose, and glucose, as well as fiber.
5. Heart Health
Dates are a good source of potassium, which is important for heart health. Potassium reduces the risk of stroke and can lower your LDL (also known as bad) cholesterol.
6. Alleviate Allergic Reactions
This probably sounds surprising for most of us, but according to a study published in 2002, dates contain organic sulfur compounds that may relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
BONUS RECIPE!
We recommend you to make this healthy, raw, vegan, gluten-free, paleo, protein-rich ENERGY DATE CHOCOLATE BAR that contains numerous healthy ingredients (including dates).
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of raw cacao powder
- ⅛ cup of slivered raw almonds
- ⅛ cup of pecans chopped into small pieces
- ⅛ cup of chopped dates
- 1 tsp of cinnamon
- ⅓ cup of melted coconut oil
Directions:
Mix well the cacao powder, cinnamon, and coconut oil, and spread the mixture on a cookie baking sheet covered with wax paper. Then, sprinkle the almonds, dates, and pecans over the mixture, and put it in the fridge until it hardens. Serve chilled. It is recommended to keep the choco bar in the fridge because the coconut oil melts at warm room temperature.
source: http://fitlife.tv/
