DATES

Benefits  

• Fresh and dried dates are high in fibre so help prevent constipation.
• Dried dates are rich in potassium, which helps maintain the body’s fluid balance and regulates blood pressure, heartbeat, and nerve and muscle function. 

Be aware - Adverse Effects

• Dried dates are high in sugar, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Fresh dates are very different to the sticky dried dates often associated with Christmas. The fresh fruits are a useful source of vitamin C - vital for the immune system - and 100 grams provides nearly a third of the adult daily requirement. Drying dates concentrates their nutrients, except for vitamin C, which is destroyed in the process. Vitamin C aside, drying turns them into a rich source of potassium, essential for maintaining the body’s fluid balance and blood pressure, and for regulating the heartbeat and nerve and muscle function. But drying also concentrates their sugar content, increasing the risk of tooth decay, and raises their calorie value, when eaten in excess; whereas 100 grams of fresh dates contains 107 Calories, the same weight of dried dates contains 227 Calories.

Both dried and fresh dates contain useful amounts of soluble fibre, which can help to relieve constipation and reduce blood cholesterol levels. Dates have been found to contain tyramine, a substance that also occurs in some cheese, which can cause migraine in susceptible people.

Return To The Following Index Pages:

1. Fruit
2. Vegetables
3. Herbs & Spices
4. Vitamins & Minerals