Looking for a healthy quick energy-bite? Most of you would dig into a bowl of almonds or cashews (goodbye, cholesterol!). Another popular option that most of us would definitely try is recipes based out of dates. Guaranteed to give you wholesome energy and some great taste- try a handful of dates today and we tell you why!
Scientifically known as Phoenix dactylifera, the date palm belongs to Arecaceae family. Cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions in the world, this flowering plant gets its name from the Greek word daktylos which mean date and fero which means “bearing”. Known as Khajur in Hindi, Peritchambazham in Tamil and Eenthambazham in Malayalam, dates are a storehouse of energy.
For those who are health conscious or too conscious about their cholesterol, you don’t have to worry about munching a few dates as a healthy snack. Dates are known to contain very little amounts of fat. They are rich source of protein, dietary fiber and rich in vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B5 along with vitamin A1 and C. It contains vitamins like B1, B2, B3, and B5, as well as A1 and C. You can easily consume most of your required dose of vitamins by making dates a part of your diet. They are considered as quick-fix energy boosters because it contains natural sugars like glucose, sucrose and fructose.
You might have also heard the elders or your doctor suggest dates whenever you feel a tad weak or anaemic. That’s because dates are a known source of iron. They are also rich in proteins, carbohydrates, Vitamin B5 and B6, potassium, manganese and magnesium. This rich collection of nutrients ensures they help in muscle formation- and hence suggested for growing children. Dates are suggested for maintaining a healthy nervous system because of their high potassium content and low sodium content. The fluorine in dates helps prevent tooth decay. Dates are also known to prevent constipation when had soaked in water.
There are a world of recipes you can try with dates. From having seeded or deseeded dates as a part of snack, they can also be had as a healthy milkshake by soaking dates in water and blending them to a thick consistency. The puree can also be sauteed in ghee and then mixed with sugar and milk to form a delicious dates halwa! Easy to digest and forms a healthy sweet for toddlers and preschoolers. They can also be chopped into small pieces, deseeded and mixed as a dry salad along with nuts such as almonds and cashews for snacks. Got a sweet tooth? Just add extra sugar and some roasted nuts to make tasty dates kheer/payasam for special occasions. Recipes aplenty- have it the way you like. Just make sure you indulge in the goodness of dates every day to reap the benefits of this natural wonder!