Dates are fruits that grow on date palms, which grow in tropical and subtropical latitudes. For us, these fruits are a delicious dessert, and for indigenous Africans they replace bread. This is not surprising, since dates are equal in calorie content to flour products. The concentration of carbohydrates in date fruits reaches 60-70%.
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CALCULATORS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT
Chemical composition
The fruits of date palms contain almost all the substances necessary for the body: all known vitamins, 23 amino acids, pectins, mineral elements (almost the entire periodic table), fiber. They are superior to any other fruit in terms of potassium and magnesium content. Dates are rich in selenium, which reduces the risk of heart disease several times. It is enough to eat 10 pieces of fruit daily to provide the body with copper, magnesium and sulfur in the required quantities. Dried fruits also contain tryptophan. This essential acid inhibits aging mechanisms at the cellular level.
Calorie content of dried fruits
The calorie content of fresh dates with pits is 190-200 kilocalories per 100 grams. The calorie content of dried dates increases and reaches 270-300 kilocalories per 100 grams.
One dried date usually weighs 8-9 grams. Therefore, on average its calorie content is 23-25 kilocalories.
Dates in cooking
Date palm fruits are mainly eaten as dried fruits. They can be consumed during meals or used as a snack. Dried fruits should be washed thoroughly before eating, as they are usually treated with toxic substances - sulfur dioxide or sulfur dioxide - to prevent bugs from infesting them. There is no need to peel the fruit - it is rich in substances beneficial to the body.
Dates are also used as a filling for baked goods (cakes, pastries, pies), added to fruit salads (dates give them an exquisite taste), casseroles, jellies and ice cream. In eastern countries, they are used to make sweet paste, honey, carbonated and alcoholic drinks. But these amazing fruits serve not only as dessert. They are put into stews, pilaf and minced meat, and they are also stuffed into chicken rolls.
Beneficial features
Dates are used not only in cooking. They are also known for their healing properties, thanks to which they are used in folk medicine.
When consumed regularly, dates have a beneficial effect on the body:
- Strengthen the immune system;
- Improve metabolism;
- Tone the body;
- Prevent the development of various diseases, including strokes and heart attacks;
- Neutralizes high acidity in the stomach and prevents heartburn;
- Improve digestion due to the increased content of dietary fiber;
- Strengthens the heart muscle;
- Restore the activity of the cardiovascular and nervous systems;
- Lower blood pressure;
- Stimulate brain activity;
- Increases the body's energy;
- Improve performance;
- Normalize sleep;
- Improves mood;
- Get rid of unreasonable fears;
- Make it easier to survive stressful situations;
- Cleanse the body of toxic substances and toxins;
- Improves the condition of skin, nails and hair.
Dried fruits will help with chronic fatigue syndrome, physical and mental fatigue. They will also be beneficial for influenza, sore throat, and bronchitis, as they help remove mucus from the lungs, reduce coughing, and increase the body’s resistance to pathogens.
It is recommended to eat 2-3 dates after eating. They will reduce the activity of pathogenic bacteria and prevent the development of caries due to their high fluoride content.
Date fruit powder treats diarrhea and promotes the healing of scratches, wounds, pustules, erosions and ulcers. Date decoction normalizes the functioning of the urinary system and removes stones.
Date juice and honey can help men get rid of sexual dysfunction, improve male potency and improve sperm quality.
Benefits for the body
The benefits of dates for the body are undeniable: they have high energy value and quickly increase the level of glycogen in the blood. This substance is necessary for normal contractility of muscles, including the myocardium. The magnesium and potassium present in the composition stimulate the conduction of impulses along the nerve endings, increasing their sensitivity and motor activity.
Even a few eaten berries provide a feeling of satiety, which is especially important if it is impossible to eat a balanced diet. The body does not starve and does not destroy liver cells, the next meal is adequately perceived by the central nervous system, and metabolic processes are not disrupted. In the absence of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, dates stimulate the production of enzymes and participate in the digestion process.
Dried fruits are especially useful for people with:
- high cholesterol;
- chronic iron deficiency anemia;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
In the absence of contraindications, daily intake of berries increases immunity and stimulates the functioning of the hematopoietic system.
Contraindications
But dates can bring, in addition to benefits, harm to the body.
You will have to give up dried fruits if:
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive system (dietary fiber has an irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the intestines and stomach);
- Diabetes mellitus (due to the high concentration of carbohydrates, they can increase blood sugar levels);
- Tendency to caries (sugar, which is found in large quantities in dates, destroys tooth enamel).
Due to their high calorie content, it is recommended to limit the consumption of dates to people who are overweight and prone to obesity. But you shouldn’t exclude them from your diet. Delicious dried fruits will serve as a worthy replacement for sweets. Although the calorie content of dates is very high compared to other fruits, it is 2 times lower than chocolate.
But even those people who have no contraindications should not get too carried away with the delicious dessert. The daily norm is about 10 pieces. If it is exceeded, even a completely healthy person can suffer from headaches, possibly increased blood pressure, and malfunction of the spleen and liver.
Harm to the figure and contraindications for use
Despite their beneficial properties, dates also have harmful effects on the body. In order not to cause harm to the body, you should adhere to the norm and not overeat the fruit. The main contraindications are as follows:
- Since dates contain sugar, diabetics should be extremely careful when consuming this fruit. In any case, first of all, you need to consult a doctor and follow his recommendations.
- Obese people should also be careful. Again due to the presence of sugar in dates. Those who are prone to obesity should also be careful. Overeating will lead to weight gain. People who want to lose weight or are watching their figure can eat dates as a treat and only in the first half of the day. Dates in the evening or before bed are not the best solution for your diet. In this case, you cannot avoid excess weight.
- The sugar content of dates negatively affects the condition of tooth enamel. After eating the fruit, a yellow coating remains on the teeth. Therefore, if you have tooth decay, it is better not to eat dates.
- The fruits are contraindicated for people with allergies to dried fruits. Dates, dried apricots, and raisins are quite allergenic foods, so if you feel worse after taking them, you need to visit the hospital and find out if you have an individual intolerance to these berries.
Research also confirms that it is recommended for women and men with constant headaches, migraines, pulsation in the temporal region, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, sand, stones and other identified formations in the kidneys to stop eating dates.
So, dates cause harm to the human body mainly due to the sugar in their composition. To avoid health problems, contraindications should be followed.
Dates during pregnancy and lactation
Pregnant women, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, should consume dates with caution (you can eat no more than 2-3 dates per day). The fact is that these dried fruits contain oxytocin, which promotes uterine contractions. Therefore, they can provoke miscarriage or premature birth.
But you shouldn’t give up healthy dried fruits, as they:
- Relieves toxicosis;
- Have a beneficial effect on the intrauterine development of the child;
- Raises hemoglobin levels;
- Strengthen bones and contribute to the proper formation of the skeleton of the unborn baby.
But nursing women are allowed to eat dates without fear. They eliminate postpartum depression, have a calming effect, activate milk production and provide the baby with useful substances.
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How to eat dates to lose weight
You should not buy sticky fruits; this is not the product’s own juice, but the sugar syrup in which it is cooked. In order for the body to function properly, you need to know how to eat dates. Be sure to look at the production date and choose clean, mold-free dried fruits. Dried fruits must be washed before use, because... A large amount of dust accumulates on them. If there are disturbances in the digestive system, then it is worth boiling the fruits.
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Dates with milk
A diet based on milk and dates can rid the body of 3-4 extra pounds. This method of cleansing the body is designed for 7 days. The diet includes only dried fruits and milk. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, eat 7 fruits each, wash down with 200 ml of milk. Although these products contain all the necessary carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nutrients, the diet is not balanced, so you should not go on a weight loss diet for more than a week.
Dates with oatmeal
A simple recipe for those who want to lose weight - oatmeal with dates. A healthy breakfast that gives you energy for the whole morning and replenishes vitamin deficiencies. You can eat porridge not only in the morning, but also in the evening. For the recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- oatmeal – 1 tbsp.;
- milk (low fat) – 2 tbsp;
- pitted dates – 15 pcs.;
- flaxseed flour – 1 tsp;
- honey – 2 tsp;
- ground peanuts - optional.
Method for preparing porridge:
- Peel dried fruits and cut into pieces.
- Mix flaxseed flour with oatmeal flakes and add milk.
- Place on low heat. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring.
- After 5 minutes, add dry fruits.
- Pour the porridge into portions. Drizzle with honey before serving. You can add chopped peanuts if you wish.
- Consume slowly, in moderate portions.
Kefir and dates for weight loss
This weight loss diet is not recommended for more than a week. Kefir and dates are an excellent combination of ingredients that make nutrition balanced. The fermented milk product is superior to milk in terms of calcium and potassium content, and also practically does not cause allergies. The ingredients can be consumed as a cocktail or separately. For the diet, low-fat kefir is selected. Products necessary for daily nutrition for 7 days: 1% kefir - 1.5 liters, 200-300 g of dried fruits.
