The date palm is a palm in the genusPhoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around the Persian Gulf.[1] It is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. The leaves are 3–5 m long, with spines on the petiole, and pinnate, with about 150 leaflets; the leaflets are 30 cm long and 2 cm wide. The full span of the crown ranges from 6 to 10 m.
Date is the name of the fruit of the Date Palm, which is believed to have originated somewhere in the desert oases of northern Africa and, perhaps, southwest Asia. The people of the Middle East have consumed dates, as a part of their staple diet, since centuries, mainly owing to its high nutritional value. Apart from being rich in natural fibers, dates also comprise of a lot of other nutrients, like oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper, magnesium, etc. In fact, it is said that one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. In the following lines, we have listed the various health and nutrition benefits of eating dates.
Health Benefits of Dates
- Since dates get digested very easily, they are used for supplying quick energy and repairing waste.
- Milk, when boiled with dates, become a very nutritious and invigorating drink for children and adults, especially during convalescence.
- The nicotinic content in dates makes them an excellent cure for intestinal disturbances.
- Regular consumption of dates has been found to check the growth of pathological organisms and help in the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
- Being a laxative food, dates have been found to be beneficial for those suffering from constipation.
- For alcoholic intoxication, drinking water, in which fresh dates have been rubbed or soaked, is said to be quite effective.
- Studies have shown that consumption of dates, soaked overnight and crushed, is good for those who have a weak heart.
- It has been seen that dates serve as a tonic for improving sex stamina as well as sterility due to functional disorders.
- Researches have revealed that dates are effective in preventing abdominal cancer.
- Dates have a tonic effect and thus, hold value as medicines.
