Date fruit

Date is referred to nutrient-rich fruit and producing instant energy. Hence, the travelers often bring dates, dubbed as the bread of the desert, for their consumption during the trip.

Instant energy in the dates is derived from a fairly high sugar. The sugar is in the natural form such as fructose, glucose and sucrose, estimated at 70 percent.

Because it's so sweet, the fruit is also used as a sweetener.

In addition to it's sugar, nutrients in dates are, among others, carbohydrates, protein, vitamin A and B complex such as B1, B2 and B3, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and fiber. Carbs and potassium are standing out.

12 mid-sized dates contain 275 calories and 650 mg potassium. Unlike other fruits, dates don't contain vitamin C.

Potassium in dates is very high, 25 percent higher than bananas. Because of the potassium, dates have multiple benefits, ranging from preventing the contraction of muscles, including the heart, maintaining a healthy nervous system, helping remove sodium from the body thus lowering blood pressure to balancing the metabolism.

Vitamin B complex in dates is efficacious to help the body metabolize carbohydrates and fatty acids for energy, maintain blood sugar and form hemoglobin.

Meanwhile, calcium is important for bone growth, and the fiber is good to help overcome constipation. 100 grams dates contain 2.2 grams fiber.

Date is also suitable for nursing mothers, as it helps increase milk production.

Dates are indeed free of fat and cholesterol, but you need to watch out for the high sugar because the body will convert it into fat. When the fat accumulates in the body, it'll cause obesity.

Migraine sufferers should avoid dates because the tyramine can trigger this disease.

After you consume, dates are often stuck in the teeth. It can cause dental caries because dates contain high sugar. Preferably, immediately brush your teeth after eating dates to remove what stuck to the teeth.

Patients with diabetes also need to be careful in consuming dates. You'd select the dates with low calories. Usually, low-in-sugar dates have bitter taste.

In the market, many types of dates are offered. There's a yellow or reddish. Yellow dates are usually softer due to high humidity and low sugar. Usually, this type of dates is freshly consumed. The famous type of dates is golden brown from North Africa and Israel.

Meanwhile, the reddish dates are usually a bit hard because of the low humidity, and the calories are high. Those suffering from diabetes shouldn't consume this type.

You may also like:

Dates
The Whole 30
Health Benefits of Dates
Date Recipes
A Date with Plantain