Benefits Of Date Milk Consumed In The Month Of Fasting

Illustration of date milk (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Date milk has many benefits if consumed during fasting because dates are rich in carbohydrates, and contain protein, fat, fiber, as well as various vitamins and minerals.

"Dates are good for consumption during the fasting month because they contain carbohydrates, namely glucose, fructose, and sucrose, which are the body's source of energy needed to run a 14-hour fast," said nutritionist dr. Feni Nugraha Mars, Mgz, SpG in his statement, Friday, April 29.

The high glucose and fructose content in dates is a form of simple sugar that can be quickly used by the body as a source of energy.

Quoted from the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, dates are rich in nutrients, which can be consumed to help restore energy lost during fasting, both at dawn and iftar. In 1 grain of dates weighing 24 grams contains 66 calories and 16 grams of sugar.

While milk is a source of calcium and vitamin D, which are good for bone and joint health. In 1 glass of milk contains about 300 mg of calcium, which is equivalent to 30 percent of our daily calcium needs.

Date milk is present in the MilkLife date variant which is claimed to have many benefits because it contains fresh milk, 9 minerals and 9 vitamins, so that it can restore energy, help maintain body resistance, and maintain bone strength.

"We hope that everyone can experience the dual benefits of milk and dates through the newest variant of MilkLife, namely the taste of dates which is available in practical packaging so that it can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere," said Ihsan Mulia Putri, Global CEO of Dairi Alami. Doctor Feni further reminded that fasting is not an obstacle to activities as usual. However, we must pay more attention to the nutrients that enter the body during sahur and iftar.

"Date milk can be a healthy choice and can also be easily processed into various family favorite menus such as takjil when breaking the fast or dessert. Apart from containing animal protein, date milk also contains other nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, lactose, vitamins and minerals, " said Dr. Feni.

Fasting itself has many benefits for the health of the body, from controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels, keeping the immune system good, to helping lose weight.

Therefore, at the time of sahur and iftar, it is very important to regulate the portion of food according to the body's needs, so that it can still meet all the nutritional needs needed by the body. The ideal distribution of food portions during fasting is 40 percent at dawn, 50 percent at iftar, and 10 percent after tarawih.

According to the balanced nutrition guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, an easy way to regulate meal portions is to use my plate guide for meals. On my dinner plate, you can divide the plate into two parts. Half of the plate can be filled with carbohydrates (2/3 parts) and protein (1/3 parts). The remaining half of the plate is filled with vegetables (2/3 portions) and fruit (1/3 portions).

At suhoor, make sure your body continues to eat foods that contain complete nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Do not forget to add consumption of vegetables and fruit to meet the body's vitamin and mineral needs.