DATES

Grown extensively in hot, arid climates, mostly in the Middle East and North Africa, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) offers nourishment, food security, and a raw material for the food industry. It has been a staple meal for generations. Every component of the date palm has a purpose. Dates provide beneficial opportunities for combating illnesses and hunger. Over the past 40 years, global date output has expanded 2.9 times while the world's population has doubled.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF DATE

Date fruit contains a high percentage of carbohydrates (total sugars, 44 /88%), fat (0.2 /0.5%), 15 salts and minerals, protein (2.3 /5.6%), vitamins, and a high percentage of dietary fiber (6.4 /11.5%). It also provides 3150 calories per kilogram and is a rich source of sugar, nutrients, and pharmaceutical secondary metabolites.

In addition to a number of amino acids, they contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and vitamins A, A1, B, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and C. 20% moisture, 50–67% sugar, 2.5% protein, and less than 2% fat, minerals, and pectic compounds are all present in date flesh. Additionally, dates include pantothenic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.

Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that binds to oxygen and transports oxygen from the lungs to tissues, is produced by the body with the aid of these vitamins and minerals. The body requires potassium, a necessary mineral, to sustain healthy muscle contractions, particularly heart muscle contractions. Additionally, potassium supports the body's effective metabolism and a healthy neurological system.

 Along with 29 grams of naturally occurring sugars like fructose, glucose, and sucrose, dates also provide 3 grams of dietary fiber. Stated differently, 31 grams of carbohydrates found in one serving of dates provide the body with a significant amount of energy.

Dates are low in fat, cholesterol, and salt, and they are also a wonderful source of dietary fiber. Each of these elements plays a significant role in lowering the risk of cancer and heart disease. Dates have two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.

By reducing high blood sugar and high cholesterol, particularly low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, soluble fiber has been demonstrated to aid in the management of diabetes. Insoluble fiber improves the body's capacity to process food via the digestive system more quickly. Dates have 0.2% to 0.5% oil in their flesh and 7.7% to 9.7% in their seeds.

Palmitoleic, linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids are examples of unsaturated fatty acids The seeds' oleic acid content ranges from 41.1 to 58.8%, indicating that they may be utilized as an oleic acid source. At least fifteen minerals are present in dates. Depending on the type of mineral, the percentage of each mineral in dried dates can range from 0.1 to 916 mg/100 g date. Other salts and minerals that are present in different amounts include sodium, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and boron.

The seeds also contain different amounts of lead, sulphur, chloride, cadmium, and aluminum. The elemental fluorine found in dates helps shield teeth against rotting. Dates also contain selenium, an additional element thought to aid in cancer prevention and be crucial for immunological function. There are 23 different kinds of amino acids in dates' protein, some of which are absent from the most common fruits like bananas, apples, and oranges. In addition to a trace quantity of vitamin C, dates are a good source of B thiamine, B riboflavin, nicotinic acid (niacin), and vitamin A.

Date palm health benefits

1. Simple carbohydrates like fructose and dextrose and soft, readily digested flesh make up fresh dates. They instantly revive the body and restore energy when consumed.

2. Its high dietary fiber content inhibits the gut's absorption of LDL cholesterol and acts as a bulk laxative, protecting the colon mucous membrane by reducing exposure duration and binding to chemicals that cause cancer in the colon.

3. Anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, and anti-hemorrhagic (avoid easy bleeding tendencies) qualities are all possessed by tannins, which are health-promoting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants.

4. Moderate amounts of vitamin A, which is known to have antioxidant qualities and is necessary for healthy skin and mucous membranes as well as vision. It is well known that eating natural fruits high in vitamin A can help prevent malignancies of the mouth and lungs.

5. Antioxidant flavonoids, including lutein, zea-xanthin, and ß-carotene, can shield the body's cells and other structures from the damaging effects of oxygen-free radicals. Eating dates has therefore been shown to provide some protection against malignancies of the colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreas. Zea-xanthin guards against macular degeneration brought on by aging, particularly in older people. Another special quality of dates is that they are the only food that contains flavonoid sulphates.

6. The source of iron, which is a part of hemoglobin in red blood cells, controls the blood's ability to carry oxygen.