7 Benefits Of Eating Dates During Sahur And Iftar

This is the advantage of eating dates during sahur and breaking the fast (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Dates are highly recommended fruit for consumption during sahur and breaking the fast. In addition to sweet and delicious taste, dates are also rich in nutrients that provide various health benefits.

No wonder this fruit is often used as healthy snacks and natural ingredients in various dishes. Here are 7 benefits of dates for health that can be obtained from consuming them regularly, as reported by the Healthline page

Dates contain various vitamins and minerals that the body needs. In 100 grams of dates, there are calories, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, potassium, magnesium, copper, magnesium, copper, iron and B6 vitamins from daily needs. Dates are also rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from various diseases.

Fiber is very important for digestive health. In 100 grams of dates, there are 7 grams of fiber, so consuming dates can help meet daily fiber needs.

Fiber in dates helps improve digestion and prevent constipation by smoothing the movement of the intestines. A study shows that people who consume 7 dates per day for 21 days experience a significant increase in the frequency of bowel movements compared to those who do not eat dates.

In addition, fiber also helps control blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion and preventing a spike in blood sugar that is too high after eating. Therefore, dates have a low glycemic index.

Dates contain various types of antioxidants that can protect the body from free radicals, dangerous molecules can cause various diseases.

Compared to other dried fruits such asmas and plums, dates contain higher antioxidants.

Some of the main antioxidants in the dates include flavonoids that help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's, and some types of cancer.

In addition, there are carotenoids that can support heart health and lower the risk of eye problems such as macular degeneracy. Phenolate acid, has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Some studies suggest dates can increase brain function. Dates help reduce inflammation in the brain, especially by lowering IL-6 levels, which if high can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Other studies in animals show that dates can reduce the formation of plaques in the brain related to Alzheimer's. In one study, mice fed to dates have better memory and experience less anxiety than mice are not given dates.

This effect is thought to have originated from the antioxidant content in the dates, especially flavonoids, which help reduce inflammation in the brain.

Dates have been researched because of their ability to assist the delivery process for pregnant women.

Consuming dates during the last few weeks of pregnancy can help widen the cervix, reduce the need for induction of childbirth, and speed up delivery times.

Several studies show that women who eat dates before delivery experience a shorter delivery process than not eating dates. This effect is thought to come from substances in the dates that work like the hormone oxytocin. This plays a role in contraction during childbirth.

Dates also contain tannins, compounds that help contract uterine muscles, as well as natural sugars and calories that provide energy during childbirth.

This dried fruit with a sweet taste contains fructose, which is a natural type of sugar found in the fruit. Sweet taste with a little touch ofition makes dates a substitute for white sugar in various recipes.

One way to replace sugar with dates is to make pasta dates, namely a mixture of dates and water that is smoothed in a blender. This pasta can be used as a substitute for sugar with a ratio of 1:1. For example, 1 cup of sugar is replaced with 1 cup of date pasta.

However, even though it is healthier than white sugar, dates still contain quite high calories, so it should be consumed in reasonable quantities.

Dates also have several other health benefits that still need further research, maintaining bone health because dates contain phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, which are important for bone health and help prevent osteoporosis.

Then the dates have a low glycemic index, high fiber content, and are rich in antioxidants, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and support diabetes management.