Dates: benefits, harm, contraindications
The fruits of exotic plants are often attractive. They have an unusual and amazing taste. Dates are one of these. Many people call them just a tasty delicacy, but there are some connoisseurs who know everything about the valuable qualities of dates.
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Benefits of dates
The beneficial qualities of date palm berries allow us to call them a real natural pantry. In the countries of the Middle East, dates are still called “bread of the desert” - these berries are so beneficial to humans and replenish the necessary nutritional elements.
Date fruits are mostly carbohydrates and contain almost no water. There are a lot of vitamins in these berries. There are vitamins A, almost the entire composition of B vitamins, and there is also a lot of vitamin C, E and K. In addition, these nutritious berries contain a large number of mineral components. Dates also contain a lot of pectin and dietary fiber.
Date palm berries have a very sweet, rich taste and high calorie content. Therefore, people watching their weight try not to abuse them. But on the other hand, dates are much healthier than buns, cakes and other sweets.
The benefits of these fruits are invaluable - they tone well, relieve fatigue, increase the body's immune defense and are an excellent means of prevention against cancer. The potassium contained in dates perfectly strengthens the heart muscle, and iron relieves anemia. A large amount of dietary fiber allows you to significantly improve digestion, cleanse the liver and kidneys.
Harm of dates
In some exceptional cases, date palm fruits can cause harm. For example, due to their high carbohydrate content, these fruits can increase blood sugar levels. This is also harmful if you are overweight.
You should not get carried away with dates if you have stomach diseases. The fact is that a large number of dietary fibers activate intestinal activity and can provoke an exacerbation of the disease.
If you have high blood pressure, then do not consume dates in large quantities. They can increase blood pressure, which leads to headaches. Eating too many dates every day can cause problems with the liver and spleen. Therefore, do not eat more than 10 of them.
Dates can be eaten at lunch, or even better in the morning. They take a very long time to digest, so it is better not to eat them at night. However, try not to use them with acidic fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits. The carbohydrates found in dates are destroyed when mixed with acid and can lead to poisoning of the body.
Contraindications for dates
Based on the harmful qualities of these dried fruits, we can formulate the main contraindications to their use:
- Diabetes mellitus and endocrine system diseases.
- Excess weight and especially obesity.
- Inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Individual intolerance.
Calorie content of dates
The nutritional value of dates is largely determined by their variety. For example, dates of the Deglet nour variety, which are grown in Algeria, have a very high calorie content. It reaches 415 kcal per 100 g of dates. This is almost the same as what is contained in a pork chop. For comparison, strawberries have a value of 53 kcal, which is 8 times less. But this variety is far from the most nutritious. Medjool dates have the most calories. One berry of this variety has 66 kcal.
How many dates can you have per day?
Affordable and healthy, dates are very popular due to their excellent satiating properties. But keep in mind that they can only be consumed by those who watch their menu and adhere to moderate caloric intake in their diet. Without fear for your figure, you can eat no more than a dozen fruits a day. This amount will make up for the lack of nutrients and besides, you will not get extra calories. A serving of 10 pieces will be optimal for daily use. This will reduce cholesterol in the blood, which is beneficial for the prevention of heart disease.
Dates during pregnancy
As you know, women, when expecting a baby, are especially careful about their menu and eat unusual fruits with caution so as not to harm the unborn baby. But doctors are confident that dates will not bring anything bad to either the mother or the unborn baby. Moreover, the use of these dried fruits throughout pregnancy and especially before childbirth is even encouraged. After all, dates contain many valuable substances that are important for the normal formation of the fetus. For example, the calcium and phosphorus contained in these dried fruits have a beneficial effect on the child’s skeletal system. And for the expectant mother, a few dates a day will help restore potassium deficiency.
During the prenatal period, dates will help a woman maintain her moisture balance and also give her strength. This benefit comes from fructose contained in dates. It is also necessary to accelerate the formation of milk. Just before giving birth, it is useful to eat a few pieces to stimulate labor. This is explained by the fact that dates contain oxytocin, which stimulates labor and speeds up the entire process.
Dates contain potassium, the lack of which during the period of waiting for a child causes toxicosis. Therefore, these fruits can also be used as a medicine against toxicosis. For example, you can make a delicious drink from dates that will relieve attacks of nausea. Boil the milk and pour it over the washed dried fruits. Let the drink brew well and drink during attacks of toxicosis.
Dates during breastfeeding
Most experts speak positively about the use of dates while feeding a baby. It has already been proven that dates contain oxytocin, which has a good effect on lactation. These fruits stabilize the formation of milk and saturate it with useful microelements, which is very useful for the development of the baby’s bone tissue.
In addition, finches contain melanin, which is responsible for proper sleep. This will improve the child’s rest and solve the mother’s insomnia problem. Date palm fruits contain serotonin, known as the hormone of joy. It will help you prevent the occurrence postpartum depression, will relieve the feeling of fatigue, add vigor and improve your mood. In addition, dates are a good remedy for depression, restoring energy, a sense of joy and vigor, which is extremely necessary when caring for a baby.
If you decide to start eating dates while breastfeeding your baby, then start introducing them gradually. The initial dose should be minimal - 1 piece in the morning. At the same time, observe the baby’s well-being and his reaction to the new “dish”. Pay attention to whether there are any allergic manifestations or problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Try not to eat a lot of dates. It is enough to eat only 5 or 6 pieces per day.
Dates for diabetes
For people with endocrine diseases and diabetes mellitus, it is very important to adhere to the strictest diet. At the same time, all sweet foods, flour products, and candies are prohibited. But it’s very difficult to live without anything tasty. Therefore, various alternatives are being created for diabetic patients. Most often, dried fruits, including dates, become substitutes for sweets.
There are different opinions as to whether dates should be included in the diet of people with diabetes. Some experts believe that certain varieties of dates will benefit people with this diagnosis in small quantities. For example, majhol dates can be used for diabetes. But keep in mind that even in this case, no more than 100 grams per day is allowed.
Please note that it is permissible to eat dates only if you have a mild stage of diabetes, and then no more than a couple of dates per day. It is important to take into account their calorie content in the total daily calorie intake. If you are treating with insulin, keep in mind that several fruits are comparable to 20 units of bread. In moderate and severe stages of the disease, these dried fruits are strictly prohibited, like any other sweet foods.
Can children eat dates?
The issue of introducing dates into children's menus should be raised when the baby is at least a year old. But even in this case, it is necessary to take into account how long the child has been receiving complementary foods and how he tolerates the introduction of new products. If your baby is prone to allergic reactions, then start introducing dates as late as possible.
Regardless of age baby the initial dose should be minimal. To begin with, offer your baby a date compote, and then give half a small spoon of the steamed fruit. If the child’s reaction is normal, then gradually increase the number of fruits to 5 pieces. If you follow these recommendations, your baby will only benefit from dates.
You can prepare such a healthy drink from dates, in which all the beneficial properties of dried fruits will be preserved. Peel and wash the dates and put them in a thermos, then pour boiling water over them and leave for several hours. Strain the compote before using.
For older children, you can prepare delicious millet porridge with dates. It can be prepared in the usual way using water or milk as per your preference. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to add sugar to the porridge, but a pinch of salt and a piece of butter will wonderfully improve the taste of the porridge. Dates, cut into small pieces, should be added to the already prepared porridge, stirred and left covered for a few minutes.
