Date fruits have a long history of cultivation for their health benefits, as well as for their sweet taste.
But today we have the advantage of knowing the exact nutritional content and health benefits of dates – and fresh or dried, there are plenty of health benefits to this small fruit.
They’re rich in fibre, potassium, and copper, and on top of that they taste great, too.
The following nutritional data is based on a 100 gram serving of dates.
- Fibre: 6.7 grams or 27% of recommended daily allowance
- Potassium: 696 milligrams or 20% of recommended daily allowance
- Copper: 0.4 milligrams or 18% of recommended daily allowance
- Manganese: 0.3 milligrams or 15% of recommended daily allowance
- Magnesium: 54 milligrams or 14% of recommended daily allowance
- Vitamin B6: 0.2 milligrams or 12% of recommended daily allowance
While they’re also high in sugar content, the health benefits of dates make them well worth making a part of your diet.
Some of the health benefits of dates include:
1. Promoting Digestive and Heart Health
Dates are high in fibre, which is essential for keeping you regular and promoting digestive health. The fibre in dates cleans out the gastrointestinal system, allowing your colon to work more efficiently.
Dates can be coupled with home remedies for hemorrhoids as well – they also reduce your risk of colitis and colon cancer. Fibre is also essential in promoting heart health and can lower your risk of heart disease.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Being rich in magnesium, dates are also known for their anti-inflammatory effects. “High magnesium intake is associated with lower concentrations of certain markers of systemic inflammation”, one recent study concluded. Magnesium’s anti-inflammatory effect can reduce your risk of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s, among other health problems.