The delicious date, otherwise known as nature’s candy, is changing its reputation. Usually seen as solely a dessert add-in, it’s becoming easier and easier to find them in grocery aisles in snack form—if you pay attention to ingredient labels, you’ll find this fruit is used as a key ingredient in many sugar-free products hitting the market. Here’s what you need to know about the different varieties, their benefits, and how you can add them to your regular diet.
Dates are a type of fruit that grows in clusters on palm trees, and they’ve been an important ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking for thousands of years. Interestingly, while many assume these fruits are dried, the tacky texture they’re known for is actually their fresh state. Regions all over the globe have discovered the naturally sweet flavor of these chewy gems and the versatility that comes from all the different varieties.
BHG / Joules Garcia
In addition to their delicious taste, dates are also super nutrient-dense, resulting in some impressive benefits.
These fruits are full of fiber, which helps to promote and maintain healthy digestion, regularity, and gut bacteria. It also has the ability to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels, making it a perfect heart-healthy food choice. Plus, the fiber content means eating a handful of dates will make you feel full and satisfied while also regulating your blood sugar.
Dates contain high levels of many minerals including potassium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and copper.
Snacking on dates will provide you with the opportunity to add plenty of plant compounds to your diet, including carotenoids and flavonoids. These bioactive compounds are powerful antioxidants that help the body’s immune system function at
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