Dates: benefits and harms for the body, how much you need to eat for health

Dates. Botanical description

Dates are native to North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. For many centuries of cultivated agriculture, the date palm has spread wherever there are natural conditions suitable for its cultivation. Arab countries are leading in the production of these fruits. This culture is also grown in Israel, the USA, Mexico, Australia.
In order to understand where and how dates grow, you need to know the natural conditions of dry subtropics. Palms, which produce an abundance of sweet fruits, thrive in hot and moderately dry summers.

The wet and cool winters of the subtropics allow palms to store moisture and grow between flowering and fruiting.

The date palm is a member of the Palmae family and the Phoenix genus. It is a dioecious plant with feathery large leaves located at the very top. These trees can reach a height of 25-30 m and a width of 80 cm (diameter). The length of each leaf can reach 6 m. The number of leaves in a whorl ranges from 35 to 75. Reproduction is carried out by sexual and vegetative methods. Complicated inflorescences are surrounded by a veil.

When a person asks what a date is, he does not represent a tree, but a fruit. It is a cylindrical drupe with a fleshy pericarp. It is covered with a tough skin, which helps to preserve the pulp in hot and dry conditions.

Since the date palm became a cultivated plant, many varieties have emerged, which affects the types of dates as well. There are more than 1000 varieties of palm trees in the world. They differ in the characteristics of adaptation to environmental conditions, as well as in the appearance and quality characteristics of the fruit.

For example, the Dairi variety, which grows in Iraq, has long, dark fruits with soft pulp. The Hayani variety is known mainly by the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, because from this tree only fresh dates can be consumed immediately after harvest. On the palms of the Bahri variety, fruits of a cylindrical shape, having a light amber color and rich taste, ripen.

Palms of the Deglet Nur variety can bear fruit well only in conditions of relatively high humidity, so they are preferred to be grown in the subtropics of America.

Chemical composition and glycemic index

When dates are regularly eaten, the chemical composition of the fruit must be taken into account in order to create a balanced menu. In this case, you should know not only the composition of vitamins and minerals, but also the calorie content of the product.

Dried fruits have a high level of energy saturation. 100 g of product contains 290 kcal. At the same time, the glycemic index is 146. This is a high indicator, higher than the index of white bread, which is the main indicator of carbohydrate safety of products.

  • carbohydrates - 68%;
  • proteins - 2.5%;
  • fats - 0.5%.

Thus, a person receives most of the energy from these fruits with carbohydrates.

  • choline (B4) - 6.3;
  • biotin - 4.2;
  • phylloquinone (K) - 2.7;
  • nicotinic acid (PP) - 1.9;
  • ascorbic acid (C) - 0.3;
  • alpha tocopherol (E) - 0.3;
  • pyridoxine (B6) - 0.1;
  • pantothenic acid (B5) - 0.8;
  • niacin - 0.8;
  • thiamine (B1) - 0.05;
  • riboflavin (B2) - 0.05;
  • folic acid (B9) - 19 mcg.

Thus, the vitamins in dates have an unusual composition. The dominance of choline, biotin and vitamin K is uncommon for most fruits sold in stores.

  • potassium - 370;
  • silicon - 167;
  • magnesium - 68;
  • calcium - 65;
  • phosphorus - 56;
  • sodium - 32;
  • chlorine - 13;
  • gray - 7.
  • copper - 206;
  • aluminum - 158;
  • boron - 92;
  • strontium - 80;
  • rubidium - 63;
  • chrome - 60;
  • nickel - 25;
  • zirconium - 16.

Naturally, the benefits of dates primarily depend on the amazing composition. Most familiar to us is that dates contain proteins, fats, carbohydrates, amino acids and water. Also salts and various minerals.

This includes:

  • phosphorus;
  • calcium;
  • magnesium;
  • aluminum;
  • copper;
  • sodium;
  • potassium.

Importantly, they contain tryptophan. This is one of the most important amino acids that the human body needs so much. It has many positive effects on the body, including the normalization of the brain and nervous system.

Also contained in dates are glutamic amino acids, B vitamins, pectins, dietary fiber, vitamins A and A1, beta-carotene, fluorine.

Accordingly, if one date weighs about 10 grams, then the calorie content of one fruit is 23 kilocalories. Therefore, they can easily replace snacks for you between full meals.

Structure

The chemical composition of dates is represented by various trace elements (minerals, vitamins, saturated fatty acids). The composition contains more than 50% carbohydrates. Therefore, dates are considered an energy product. Having eaten just a few berries, the body will be filled with energy. Brain activity will increase, performance will improve. Due to the high amount of carbohydrates, date palm fruits can cope with stress, depression and mood swings.

In addition, the chemical composition of dates has a sufficient amount of minerals:

  • iron;
  • zinc;
  • magnesium;
  • potassium;
  • phosphorus

The calorie content of dates is small (1 berry accounts for 90 Kcal). On average, you will need to saturate 3-4 berries.

Benefits for men

Any food is useful if it does not harm the body. It is necessary to include certain foods in the diet taking into account the state of your health.

The chemical composition of the fruit makes it possible to imagine how dates are useful. They can be eaten for a long time without harm to the body. However, a small amount of proteins and fats, as well as the absence of some vitamins in the composition, do not allow using these fruits as the main product of a constant diet.

  • Solving problems with the cardiovascular system. Potassium, which is contained in large quantities in fruits, strengthens the heart and blood vessels. Dates and pressure are also directly related. Regular use of these fruits can reduce the number and severity of manifestations of hypertensive crises.
  • Fight inflammation. Dates contain a substance similar to acetylsalicylic acid. This allows you to fight both colds and chronic inflammations outside the acute stages of development.
  • Normalization of the digestive system. These fruits are a food that can be eaten by people suffering from gastritis with high acidity. They promote the activation of peristalsis, cleanse the intestines from toxins.
  • Improving immunity. Regular consumption of these fruits allows a person to acquire resistance to infectious diseases, especially influenza, including intestinal. It is recommended to give dates to children as a prophylaxis for the occurrence of intestinal disorders of an infectious nature.
  • Stabilization of the nervous system. The fruit contains the amino acid tryptophan. It improves mood, helps to activate intellectual activity, improves memory.
  • Restoring strength, relieving fatigue.This effect is due not only to the high calorie content of the fruit. A combination of vitamins, minerals and high-molecular organic compounds also gives a person vigor.

The use of dates for women is associated primarily with pregnancy, childbirth and breast milk. You need to eat these fruits throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Their rich vitamin and mineral composition allows you to avoid problems and complications associated with a lack of many substances and elements.

In addition, dates for women are also useful because they contain oxytocin, which is able to strengthen the walls of the uterus. The same substance also stimulates the secretion of breast milk.

These fruits have a high energy value, which makes it possible to use them with great physical, emotional and intellectual stress. However, to preserve men's health, it is not the fruits themselves that are used, but their broth in milk. Taking it regularly increases sexual arousal and emotional acuity.

The benefits of these fruits are invaluable. It is practically unlimited.

  • Dates are used as an antiparasitic agent.
  • Increase mental performance, give strength and energy.
  • Prevention of oncology.
  • They are also actively used during the treatment of heart failure and anemia.
  • In addition, they help cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and normalize the digestion process.
  • Dates improve vision, relieve eye fatigue.
  • They normalize blood pressure, increase blood circulation, and reduce side effects after antibiotics.
  • Useful for those who live in unfavorable conditions (in relation to the environment), as dates fight carcinogens.
  • In addition, dates normalize blood cholesterol levels.

We can also say that they have a positive effect on the body in the following directions:

  • They give strength to the nails, and with the use of dates, they will become more beautiful than they were.
  • Increases hemoglobin.
  • Reduces blood sugar.
  • Help with diseases of the liver, kidneys, lungs.
  • Cleans the blood from various toxins.
  • Save from stressful conditions.
  • Gives a healthy look to hair and skin.

For men

The benefits of dates for the masculine gender are proven by scientific research.

  • Dates are used to prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels. It is for these reasons that death most often occurs in men.
  • Minimizes the development of prostate cancer.
  • Increases sperm count.
  • Dates cleanse the blood of toxins and actively fight carcinogens. This is especially useful for those who abuse alcohol and smoke.
  • Increase efficiency.

For women

  • Dates help relieve unpleasant symptoms during your premenstrual cycle.
  • Helps cope with irritability, apathy and mood swings.
  • Dates will provide women with the correct functioning of the reproductive system. During menopause, they will help reduce the number of hot flashes, eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

For women, dates are especially useful when carrying a baby. They contain useful substances that will significantly strengthen the walls of the uterus. As a result, childbirth will be easier, and the risk of bleeding after childbirth will decrease. While nursing, dates will help release the hormone oxytocin. It will enhance lactation. Dates can help cope with depression after childbirth.

For kids

Children really need vitamins and minerals, which are found in the fruits of the date. They provide energy to the child's body, respectively, his body develops better.

What are the particular benefits for children?

  • Dates are good for bone health due to their high amounts of calcium.
  • Potassium, which is found in dates, improves brain development and also normalizes the rate of general development.
  • Eliminate parasites.
  • Serves as the prevention of dysbiosis.
  • Protects against the harmful effects of various infections. For example, typhoid, hepatitis, jaundice.The child's body is especially weakened for them.
  • Reduces the appearance of stomach ulcers in children.
  • Fights constipation.
  • Develops teeth and gums.
  • Restores the immune system.
  • Dates are good for the heart of the child.
  • Helps babies gain weight. This is especially good for those who are lagging behind their age norm.

Dates are added to the diet for children after they start taking solid food. It is advisable to start giving dates to children from the age of two. Then you will be sure that the child's body will perceive them normally.

Useful properties of dates

Dates are rich in vitamins A, vitamins B, C, P, beta-carotene, niacin, as well as riboflavin and pantothenic acid. High content in dates and amino acids, as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, sulfur, boron and manganese. Dates are quite sweet, they contain glucose and fructose, and there is no sucrose in them. However, they are quite high in calories - 100 g contains 292 Kcal.

Useful properties of dates

Thanks to this set of useful substances, regular consumption of dates helps to remove excess fluid from the body, as well as to cleanse it of toxins, and get rid of excess weight. In addition, by eating dates, you gain strength and intensify mental activity. To do this, it is enough to eat only 10 dates a day.

For people with cardiovascular diseases, as well as with heart failure, it is recommended to include dates in the diet, as they stimulate the heart. Dates will also be useful for diseases such as paralysis of the facial nerve, chronic fatigue, diabetes mellitus. These miraculous fruits will be of great benefit to pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. They contribute to the ease of childbirth and the appearance of the first breast milk. Dates have a beneficial effect on male potency. Dates are believed to promote longevity and immunity, prevent cancer, and strengthen the liver and kidneys.

With anemia, impotence and chronic fatigue, put 10 dates, 1 teaspoon of ginger, a pinch of saffron and cardamom on the tip of a knife in a liter jar. Close the jar and put it in a warm place for two weeks. After two weeks, take one date every morning. And with gastrointestinal flatulence, dates are consumed with ground black cumin. Date broth with rice helps with dystrophy. You need to drink it often. 50-100 gr. dates every day will help with migraines. And in case of nervous disorders, dates are washed down with a glass of milk. To get rid of exhaustion or thinness, dates are eaten with any nuts.

Dates are not used in cosmetology, but they help to improve the condition of the skin and hair. And if you grind a few burnt dates and, before going to bed, bring your eyes with the resulting mass, it will contribute to the strengthening and growth of eyelashes.

Dates are widely used in cooking. They are added to all kinds of confectionery, fruit salads, muesli, honey and sugar are made from them. They are also used to prepare compotes and jelly, and even an alcoholic drink.

Dates for weight loss

It may sound surprising, but dates can actually help you lose weight. The most important thing is to choose the right product and take into account the peculiarities of metabolism. Dates contain not only healthy fiber, but also sugar and glucose. They, in turn, are the strongest enemies of the figure.

How many dates should you eat per day

People who have a slow metabolism can also eat dates for weight loss without mixing them with other foods. The fruit should be eaten slowly. Preferably with green tea. It will be better than any sweets.

Any variety of dates is digested slowly. From this it follows that you need to eat fruits at night two hours before bedtime. In addition to their slimming benefits, they will soothe your sleep.

Harm and contraindications for use

Despite the great benefits, they are still contraindicated for people who suffer from:

  • diabetes mellitus;
  • stomach ulcer;
  • gastritis;
  • colitis;
  • enteritis and other diseases of the digestive system.

Remember about individual intolerance. Obesity is also considered a contraindication. People with dental caries need to be extremely careful.

They can also harm the body:

  • Increases blood sugar levels for diabetics.
  • It is dangerous to eat them for those who are intolerant to fructose.
  • Often unnecessary organisms and dirt adhere to the fruit. Along with the intake of dates, unnecessary microflora may get to you.
  • Do not take dates with citrus fruits at the same time. This guarantees an upset stomach.
  • It can stop the stomach and lead to constipation, as it takes a long time to digest.
  • Large consumption of fruits will lead to headaches, increased blood pressure, disruption of the liver and spleen.
  • acute pancreatitis;
  • individual intolerance;
  • diarrhea;
  • diabetes at any stage of development;
  • intestinal diseases associated with fiber intolerance.

How many dates should you eat per day

In the latter case, the dried fruit can be replaced with date syrup. It is made from fresh fruits, but you can make a syrup yourself from dried raw materials.

Dates harm to the human body

Despite its many beneficial properties, dates can also in some cases have an adverse effect on the human body. This is why dates are harmful to health:

Extra calories

There are 111 calories per 40 gram serving of Medjul dates, which is quite high considering the small serving size. If you regularly consume dates as part of your diet (or as a snack or ingredient in a dish), be aware of the extra calories they add. Excessive consumption of dates can lead to weight gain.

Fiber problems

Dates are high in fiber - a 40 gram serving contains a whopping 2.7 grams The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day. Men need more of it than women, which means that eating just one serving will supply your body with 11% of the RDA. Since most people in developed countries consume about half of the recommended amount of fiber, a sudden increase in fiber intake can cause gastrointestinal problems such as excess gas production, constipation, and bloating.

Fructose intolerance

Dates are very sweet as they contain 66.5 grams of sugars per 100 grams. Their sweet taste is due in part to the presence of fructose they contain. Fructose is a natural sugar found in fruits and several vegetables, and some people have difficulty digesting sugar - fructose intolerance. Poor absorption of fructose causes sugar to pass through your digestive system entirely because the body is unable to break it down. When it reaches the intestines, it can cause diarrhea and gas, as well as stomach pain, because it reacts with naturally occurring bacteria in the intestines. ()

Cooking applications

Dried and fresh fruits of the date palm are used as filling for pies, ingredients for sweet cereals. With their help, you can beautifully decorate the cake. Minced through a meat grinder, they can become part of casseroles, puddings, curd cheeses.

Compote

Most often, dates are part of a compote from a set of different dried fruits. However, the drink can only be brewed on the basis of one type of dried fruit. For this, the fruits are poured with water in a ratio of 1: 3. Boil the compote over low heat for 20 minutes. Sugar adds to taste. To enhance the flavor, you can add a little lemon juice, lingonberry juice, raspberry syrup.

Jam

For jam, the fruits must be separated from the seeds, and then filled with ready-made syrup (400 g of sugar per 1 liter of water). The ratio of syrup and dates is determined so that the fruits are covered with liquid on top of 3-5 cm. Boil the jam over low heat for 40 minutes.

Apples, pears, plums, currants can be used as components that give flavoring nuances.

Composition and calorie content

It can be cooked hot and cold. In the first case, pitted fruits are poured with warm boiled water. Proportions - 500 ml of water per 500 g of fruit.

The container with the future syrup is placed in a cool place for 48 hours. After that, beat the mass with a mixer until puree. The product can be consumed as it is. If you want to get pure syrup, then the puree must be filtered through cheesecloth.

With the hot method, 1 kg of fruit should be poured with 2 liters of water. Simmer the syrup for 2 hours. After cooling, the puree is filtered, and the resulting liquid is boiled again for 20 minutes. While hot, the syrup is poured into jars.

Migraine

It is quite difficult to get rid of migraines, but prevention can be carried out by consuming 80 grams of dates daily. This will also reduce the number of attacks.

Prostration

Dates will help you regain strength, get rid of chronic fatigue.

Recipe:

  1. Take 11 date fruits, gram cardamom, five gram ginger, gram saffron. Put the dates in a liter jar, add the spices.
  2. Close the lid, put in a warm place for 15 days.
  3. During this period, the dates are saturated with all the spices, so one fruit can be eaten every day. It will be very useful for you.

Take half a liter of water, pour it over five dates, boil. The broth should be drunk on an empty stomach.

And from the remaining broth and dates, do this: pour flakes there, mix, let it brew for half an hour. Here is a delicious breakfast for you.

Nowadays, people often suffer from stress, depression, so in order to improve their emotional state, dates should be consumed. It will be enough to eat ten dates, and then the mood will really increase. But this should be done if you have no contraindications.

It is worth reminding once again that before use, dates should be thoroughly washed. If you bought dates in syrup, then soak them in boiling water.

Dates are very useful to use instead of sweets. You can even make your own sweets from them, with the addition of other dried fruits.

Date sweets

To prepare this type of sweets, you will need:

  • Ten dates.
  • A two-hundred-gram bar of white chocolate.
  • Ten prunes.
  • Ten pieces of dried apricots.
  • Ten hazelnut kernels.
  • One-hundred-gram bar of dark chocolate.

Preparation:

  1. Wash dried fruits first, remove seeds from dates.
  2. Keep prunes and dried apricots in warm water for a quarter of an hour.
  3. Send the products to the meat grinder.
  4. Melt the white chocolate separately, half the black chocolate separately.
  5. Grate the other half.
  6. Combine all cooked dried fruits with melted dark chocolate. Roll the sweetness into balls.
  7. Place on a stick, skewer or toothpick and dip the balls in white chocolate. Without waiting for the icing to harden, sprinkle the sweets with shabby chocolate.
  8. Set to freeze in a cool place. Two hours will be enough.

Diet options

  1. Strontium accumulates in the pulp of tamarind. 100 g of fruit contains 10% of this toxic element from the permissible norm.
  2. It is not recommended to consume a large number of dates for peptic ulcer and gastritis in the acute stage.
  3. Due to the high content of sucrose, it is necessary to minimize the daily intake of fruits for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. With type 2 diabetes, it is advisable to completely exclude the treat from the diet.

Now no one will be surprised by the chocolate or marshmallow diet.Losing weight on sweets is suitable for those who cannot refuse them even for a few days. From the standpoint of healthy eating, this is not necessary. Sweet taste is found not only in sweets, cookies, jams, cakes.

It lasts 10 days and consists of stages:

  • From 1 to 4 days, it is allowed to eat only dates (10-14 pieces) and drink water, green or herbal tea, coffee.
  • From 5 to 10 days apples (3-4 pieces) are added to the diet. Some sources also mention oranges and pears.

The authors claim that it is possible to lose 6-8 kg on this diet. The effect is explained by the fact that dates quickly saturate, and the sweet taste helps to maintain a good mood. Like any mono-diet, the date diet has contraindications:

  1. Diabetes;
  2. High blood sugar;
  3. Pregnancy and lactation period;
  4. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
  5. Children and old age;
  6. Anemia;
  7. Low pressure;
  8. Metabolic disease;
  9. Increased physical and mental stress.

Diabetes Pregnancy Lactation Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract Anemia Low blood pressure

Even if the listed conditions do not apply to you, consult your doctor before use. The described diet cannot be kept for more than 10 days, and if unpleasant symptoms occur, it is stopped. It is recommended to repeat the diet no earlier than after 1-2 months.

Each organism is individual, and the described method is not suitable for everyone. If you really want to lose weight on dates, but such a diet seems heavy, there are several variations.

With milk

The diet is designed for a week, and the weight loss will be 3-4 kg. Meal plan:

  • Eat 7 fruits three times a day and drink a glass of milk;
  • Increase the amount of clean water consumed up to 2 liters;
  • Let's take herbal decoctions.

With the help of milk, useful substances from dried fruits are more easily absorbed by the body. It contains protein and gives you a feeling of fullness. Allergy to milk is added to the contraindications.

With kefir

Kefir with dates
Fermented milk products are rich in calcium and potassium, help to establish the digestive tract.
For 7 days they adhere to the diet:

  1. Eat 1.5 liters of fat-free kefir daily;
  2. Eat 250-300 g of dried fruit;
  3. Drink dates with kefir or make a cocktail.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the cycle of menstruation

With oatmeal

This recipe is suitable for those who want to include dates in their diet for weight loss, and not completely replace other foods with them.

Ingredients:

  • Hercules - 1 glass;
  • Low-calorie milk - 2 glasses;
  • Dates - 15 pieces;
  • Flaxseed flour - 1-2 tsp;
  • Honey - optional.

Preparation:

  1. Rinse fruits, remove seeds and chop;
  2. Pour milk over Hercules with flaxseed flour;
  3. Cook for 10 minutes over low heat, stir;
  4. After 5 minutes, add dried fruits to the porridge and remove from heat;
  5. Drizzle with honey if desired and sprinkle with chopped nuts.

An energetic dish is best eaten for breakfast in order to recharge for the whole day with a portion of vitamins and healthy elements. To reduce the calorie content, milk is replaced with water.

How to buy dates. Fruit selection rules

When choosing this product in stores, you need to pay attention to how dried fruits look. It is best to give preference to those fruits that do not shine or stick to your fingers. Correctly dried specimens should be matt and dry. The processing with glucose syrup gives the fruit a shiny look. Gloss is also added by processing with other chemicals that increase the safety of the product during long-term transportation.

You also need to pay attention to how each instance looks. If you can find the stalks on at least part of the fruit, this means that they were collected not from the ground, but from a tree. Such specimens are usually clean, not overripe, and free from mold.

Pay attention to the color as well. Mature and properly dried specimens are dark brown in color. A light color may indicate that the fruits were harvested unripe.However, even properly dried specimens can turn out to be light if they are colonized by fungi or bacteria.

It is better to choose fruits with seeds. They retain their shape well and are weakly affected by fungi and bacteria.

What can be made from dried dates: recipes

Although dried dates are good to eat after rinsing and drying, many chefs use them in their meals.

What can be made from dried dates

  1. Vegetarians or those who are just about to stop eating meat can use a very simple dish of two dates and a glass of milk. Thanks to him, they will receive all the necessary amino acids.
  2. Baking with chopped fruit pulp becomes especially tasty.
  3. Date syrup called honey, wine and vinegar are also part of the culinary arsenal.
  4. Pitted dates are stuffed with nuts, orange and lemon peels, pre-candied. Cheese will do too.
  5. Gourmets know chickens stuffed with dates.

Date dessert

  1. The washed and stoned dates are dried on a towel.
  2. Camembert cheese prepared in the form of thinly sliced ​​strips is placed inside the fruit. Then a couple of cashews, peanuts or pecans are pressed into it.
  3. The dessert laid out on a baking sheet is sent to the oven, from where it is taken out after 10-12 minutes.
  4. Thyme leaves on top will decorate the sweet dish.

Halva with dates and raisins

Seeds, dried fruits, taken in 250 and 125 g, respectively, are all that is needed for such halva.

  1. Washed, dried and ground in a blender dried fruits are combined with chopped seeds.
  2. The ingredients mixed together are laid out in any shape, forming a candy or sausage. If halva crumbles, you can use honey.
  3. The dessert is kept in the refrigerator for at least one hour, then served on the table.

Snack balls

This original and unusual dish requires the following components:

  • roasted almonds - about 1 cup;
  • dried dates - 1.5 cups;
  • peanut butter - 2 tablespoons;
  • cinnamon - 1 teaspoon;
  • a pinch of sea salt and sesame seeds for decoration.

Separately chopped nuts and dates are mixed. After that, peanut butter is added, which gives the mixture a pasty state. A mixture of sesame seeds, cinnamon and salt is sprinkled over the formed balls. The balls folded into a container are placed in the refrigerator for an hour. After that, you can surprise guests or family with beautifully laid out balls on a plate.

Raw Kozinaki

For this sweet dish, you only need 250 g of dried dates and sesame seeds.

The food is pre-soaked for about 2 hours. With the help of a food processor, both ingredients are converted into a homogeneous and viscous mass. Formed in any form, kozinaki are sent to the degitrator for 12-18 hours at a temperature of 39 degrees. The dryness and fragility of the product will indicate that it is ready for use.

Red-haired beauty salad

The peculiarity of this oriental dish is that, in addition to dried dates, it contains sun-dried tomatoes and cucumbers.

  1. You need to start cooking with couscous, which is cooked in a volume of 500 g according to the recipe on the package.
  2. Cooked and chilled couscous is added to finely chopped sun-dried dates (300g), tomatoes (200g) and medium cucumber.
  3. Season the salad with squeezed juice from two lemons, 5 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Red Beauty salad decorated with chopped coriander is served.

Dates in bacon

10 pitted dates are cut and filled with a little cheese (200 g) with mold. Spread one almond on the cheese.

The dates filled in this way are wrapped in prepared strips of bacon (450 g), fixed with a toothpick and sent to the oven. After baking at a temperature of 170 degrees and the appearance of a golden brown crust, the finished rolls are laid out on a leaf of arugula and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. The dish is designed for 8-10 persons.

Date compote

In addition to dates (200–250 g), the drink contains 6 oranges, peeled and cut into small pieces. Place both ingredients in a saucepan. Sugar in the amount of 1 cup is fried in a pan, after which it is poured with 4 cups of water.

Grated orange peel will add citrus flavor and vitamins. Fruits are poured with sweet water and brought to a boil. After 3-5 minutes after boiling, the compote, removed from the heat and cooled, is placed in the refrigerator for cooling and infusion.

To give the drink a special taste, you can add honey, about 1 spoon, chopped nuts and cinnamon to it.

Date Jam

This sweet dish, especially in the morning with tea, porridge, pancakes, will not only give you vigor, but also energize you for the whole day.

400 g of granulated sugar is poured into a saucepan of water (3 glasses) and brought to a boil. Then, after the sugar is completely dissolved, the dates are poured, washed, pitted and finely chopped (600 g). Until fully cooked, the jam is boiled for 45 minutes. The finished product is poured into a jar, tightly closed and, after cooling, placed in a refrigerator.

Dried dates are rich in all kinds of nutrients. Therefore, dishes prepared from them become not only "suppliers" of vitamins to the body, but also a pleasant pleasure.

Video:

how to make date paste Expand

How to store dates at home

Quite a pertinent question: how to choose the right dates? There are several rules for this:

  • Their color should be dark brown, but at the same time of a uniform shade. Then you will be sure that your fruits are ripe.
  • They should be solid, with a matte surface, while not rigid. But pay attention to the softness of the dates, it should be in moderation.
  • The skin should be free of cracks.
  • Do not use sticky dates. This suggests that they are cooked in syrup.
  • Can be processed with fat. This will be seen by the shine of the fruit.
  • The date should not be greasy, sticky or smudged to the touch.
  • It is best to take with seeds, they are not so heavily processed.
  • After purchase, before eating them, the dates must be thoroughly rinsed with water.

Well-dried dates can last a long time without compromising quality. However, they should be stored in a cool, dark place in packaging that reliably isolates the product from the external environment. The fact is that moth butterflies can penetrate inside. Their caterpillars feed on a variety of foods, including dried fruits. If small caterpillars are found in the package, everything will have to be thrown away.

If possible, dry fruits should be refrigerated. Freezing of this product is also allowed. This procedure reduces the nutritional value, since some vitamins are destroyed, but does not greatly affect the taste.

Summarize

  • Dates are a very healthy food that you can include in your diet.
  • They are rich in several important nutrients, fiber and antioxidants that benefit the body, from improving digestion to reducing the risk of certain diseases.
  • There are several ways to add dates to your diet. One of the popular ways to consume them is to use them as a natural sweetener in a variety of dishes. They are also great for a snack.
  • Dates are generally sold dried and therefore have a higher calorie count than fresh fruit. That is why it is important to eat them in moderation - 40 grams per day.
  • Dates are definitely worth adding to your diet as they are nutritious and delicious.
  • In some cases, eating dates can cause minor side effects such as being overweight, bloating and constipation, but this is usually due to excessive consumption and fructose intolerance.

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How to use dates correctly

Dry dates are usually consumed unprocessed as a fruit delicacy. However, they can be incorporated into fruit and nut mixtures. They are used in cooking. In the place where palm trees grow, wine, jam, syrups are made from their fruits.

The number of average specimens eaten by a person without harm to health can fluctuate depending on weight, age and health status. If the fruits are part of the diet of a losing weight person, then it is allowed to eat from 5 to 10 copies per day.

People who do not set a goal to lose weight can use up to 15-20 pieces. Eating more is not recommended because the product is too sweet.

All dried fruits, with rare exceptions, should be washed in several waters. This must be done in order to wash off all the dirt that has adhered during storage. Many people scald dates with boiling water before eating. This procedure does not affect the nutritional and medicinal properties of the product, but increases the sanitary and hygienic protection of a person.

Useful properties of dates

This sweet product has a mild laxative effect. Those who need to stimulate peristalsis are advised to eat dried dates on an empty stomach, washed down with mineral water. If you have a tendency to diarrhea, you should not give up the use of dried fruits. Their action can be easily neutralized with a product that has a fixing effect.

These fruits are found in many weight loss mixtures and menus. Despite the relatively high calorie content, they can be used as a means to maintain the body during fasting diets.

The high glycemic index makes this product completely forbidden for diabetics. People with this diagnosis should not consume dates, even in processed form.

Is it allowed to use with diabetes?

These fruits have a low glycemic index. Depending on the variety, it is 38-46 units. Therefore, some people mistakenly believe that dates can be eaten with type 2 diabetes. It is possible, but very carefully.

The glycemic index of the fruit is really low. But their glycemic load is high - more than 120 units. When assessing the safety of a product for diabetic patients and people in a pre-diabetic state and in need of weight loss, it is important to take into account not only the glycemic index, but also the load. And if it is large, then the product is unsafe.

Since the glycemic load of dates is high, diabetic patients can eat no more than 1 or 2 of them a day. In case of a severe course of the disease, it is strictly forbidden to consume these fruits.

Date diet

Yes. Dates can be eaten while breastfeeding. And in the first month of feeding. And further. Fruits give a woman energy, help her recover after childbirth. And at the same time they are lactogenic products - they increase milk production.

But in this case, one must remember that with a massive inclusion in the diet, they can lead to weight gain.

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