The benefits and harms of dates for men and women, contraindications

Since ancient times, in addition to tangerines, pomegranates, and oranges, European markets have been supplied with date palm fruits from North Africa, Turkey, Tunisia, and Morocco. These fruits have long been a staple food in Arab countries. Cultivated before the Common Era, the tree has been growing for over half a century, producing a bountiful harvest every year. The Egyptians knew about the enormous health benefits of dates, and the potential harm of the sweet fruit; the Arabs prized them like bread. Palm trees thrive even in the desert, but do not grow in cool climates.

Composition and calorie content of dates

Dried fruit, with its pleasant taste, quickly fills the body due to its high nutritional value. The fruit, which grows up to 25 meters tall, contains 69% carbohydrates, represented by fructose and other natural monosaccharides. This plant-based product also contains fiber, which improves digestion.

Dates contain a variety of vitamins:

1. Ascorbic acid strengthens the immune system, fights poisons and toxins, and has a beneficial effect on vision.
2. Tocopherol prevents cell degeneration, restores energy, and eliminates fatigue.
3. Retinol slows down aging, promotes bone tissue formation, and improves skin condition.
4. Pyridoxine relieves menstrual pain and normalizes hormonal levels.
5. Thiamine calms nerves and regulates lipid metabolism.

Pantothenic acid helps with stress, restores hair's beauty and strength, and regenerates cells. Vitamin PP promotes healthy liver tissue, blood vessels, and joints, and combats emotional disorders. Phylloquinone regulates blood clotting; a deficiency of this nutrient can lead to crooked teeth, migraines, bone pain, and anemia.

Dates are rich in microelements, including:

• phosphorus and zinc;
• selenium and potassium;
• iron and magnesium.

Dried fruits contain organic acids and salts that normalize intestinal microflora.Doctors recommend dates for men to improve potency, and for women to aid recovery after childbirth.

In what form to use

In African and Asian countries, people eat raw date palm fruits, add the fruit to salads, grind it into flour, and make alcoholic beverages from the juice. Dried and cured dates are sold in markets and stores; they retain their vitamins, minerals, and acids, making them a favorite among children. The fruit is eaten with the skin, and a healing drink is made from the seeds. It is not recommended to eat this fruit at night, as the high-calorie dried fruit takes a long time to digest.

How does fruit consumption affect human health?

This oriental sweet improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, promotes the elimination of toxins from the body, and prevents cell degeneration.

Sleep stimulant

The amino acids that dates are rich in, rubidium and thiamine, improve the functioning of the nervous system, and melatonin helps people cope with stress, makes it easier to fall asleep, and restores lost sleep.

Weight normalization

When eating date palm fruits, the body quickly becomes satiated and doesn't crave food for a long time. Although dried fruits are very high in calories, the carbohydrates they contain are natural monosaccharides, which have medicinal properties. For those trying to lose weight, this plant-based product won't harm, but rather benefit them; it won't add extra pounds, but will actually improve performance.

Increases potency

Dates are used to treat genitourinary disorders and cleanse the blood of toxins. The carbohydrates found in dates restore men's self-confidence and the energy needed for sexual intercourse. Eating this oriental sweet can help alleviate erectile dysfunction, improve potency, and treat infertility.

Other beneficial properties

The dietary fiber found in dates cleanses the intestines and promotes the elimination of waste products; fluoride prevents tooth decay and strengthens bones; and iron combats anemia. Eating several servings of the fruit daily can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. The B vitamins found in the fruit in abundance improve brain function.

Dates are beneficial for people prone to allergies; a decoction of this herbal product relieves inflammation, eliminates coughs, and speeds up recovery from colds.

This exotic fruit is recommended for kidney and liver problems. Decoctions and infusions made from the seeds help eliminate stones.

Various microelements that dates are rich in:

1. Normalizes blood pressure.
2. Reduce the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.
3. Improve heart function.

Eating the fruit boosts immunity, helping a person resist bacterial infections. Dates help with hangovers and speed up sobering up.

Norms and rules of use

Eating large quantities of sweet fruit is impossible, and it won't provide any benefits. To meet the body's micronutrient needs, eating up to 10 dates per day is sufficient.

For women

Dried fruits are essential for expectant mothers. Their components ease labor, reduce bleeding, strengthen the uterus, and relieve morning sickness. However, dates should be avoided in the last trimester. The amino acids and minerals found in the fruit are essential for anorexia. A fruit decoction can help with weight gain. For overweight women, 5 or 7 dates a day can help with weight loss while following a diet.

Women who have experienced depression after difficult childbirth know how beneficial dates are for the nervous system.

For nursing mothers, the fruits improve lactation and saturate milk with useful substances.

For men

Men suffer just as much from heart and circulatory diseases as women, and are exposed to stress, which often leads to erectile dysfunction. To maintain good health, men are recommended to eat 7–10 dates per day, and 25 dates per day during physical work or exercise.

For children

Sweet fruits are not recommended for children under 3 years of age. After this age, they can be introduced into the diet in salads, and dried fruits are introduced a little later, starting with just one date.

Nuances of use during diets

Although the fruits of this heat-loving tree are high in calories, those trying to lose weight can eat them with breakfast, lunch, or during fasting days. The main thing is to follow the recommended dietary guidelines. Dates pair well with sweet and semi-sour fruits, such as:

• bananas and peaches;
• plums and apples;
• pears and figs.

When planning your diet, high-calorie fruits should not be combined with fatty foods, spices, vegetables, honey, or sugar. Dates are not beneficial when consumed with protein-rich foods.

Can you eat the seeds?

After pollination, the palm's fruits produce oblong, brown seeds. A groove runs along the entire length of the large kernel. Date pits are rich in:

• fatty acids;
• carbohydrates;
• plant fibers.

People do not eat the seeds, but feed them to livestock and poultry, and use them to prepare medicinal decoctions.The oils contained in the seeds are used in the production of perfumes, colognes and soaps.

Contraindications and side effects

Despite its many beneficial properties and rich nutritional composition, date palm fruits are not recommended for diabetics, and overweight individuals are advised to limit their consumption. Dried fruits can cause allergies in those with glucose intolerance or other substances present in the fruit, and can exacerbate ulcers and kidney stones. They are also harmful for those with enterocolitis.

Healthy recipes

Dates are used to make jams, syrup, and halva; the plant product is added to salads, main courses, and baked goods.

Compote

To make a healthy and aromatic thirst-quenching drink, buy smooth-surfaced dates, wash them, remove the pits, and soak them. For 200 g of dates, you'll need:

• sugar - 2 spoons;
• 2 apples;
• water - 3 liters.

The palm fruits are chopped into strips. The apples are peeled, seeded, and sliced. The ingredients are dropped into boiling water, sugar is added, and the mixture is simmered for 5–6 minutes. Mint is added. The date compote is consumed after a few hours.

Jam

To prepare this delicious and nutritious treat, pour 600 ml of water into a saucepan, add 2 cups of sugar, and boil until the sediment disappears. Remove the pits from 600 g of dates, slice them, add them to the syrup, and simmer for 45 minutes. Pour the hot mixture into a jar and seal with a lid. Serve this treat with pancakes or spread on baked goods.

Syrup

A sweet, concentrated date drink is added to cakes, ice cream, and casseroles. To prepare the syrup, select 1 kg of fruit with skin free of blemishes, dents, or cracks and simmer it in 10 cups of water for 2 hours. Make sure the dates are constantly covered with liquid. The cooled syrup is strained to remove the pulp and boiled for 15 minutes.

Recipe with almonds

Store-bought candies not only contain a lot of sugar but also flavorings and additives. You can make this treat at home using healthy, natural ingredients. For 100 grams of dates, use:

• 50 g of almonds from oat flakes;
• 1 teaspoon each of coconut oil and cocoa;
• 1 tbsp. shavings.

Soak the nuts in water for about 5 minutes. Wash and chop the dates, then add them to a blender along with the oats and almonds. Add butter and cocoa powder to the resulting mixture. Form the thick paste into balls and roll them in coconut flakes.

With ginger and lemon zest

You can replace Sprite or Pepsi-Cola with a tasty and healthier drink without additives and sweeteners:

1. Dates are placed in 200 ml of water for 30 minutes.
2. Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons.
3. Place the ingredients together with the ginger powder in a blender and add 150g of cooled boiling water.
4. The device is started at the highest speed, all components are crushed until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

Strain the blender contents through a sieve, and the lemonade is ready to drink. For one serving, use about 200 g of pitted dates and 1 teaspoon of ginger root. Some cooks use a lime and an orange instead of two lemons, and replace plain water with soda.