Dates are often overlooked in Western cultures when it comes to healthy fruits. While oranges, apples, and lemons receive a lot of attention, dates are actually one of the most valuable natural foods in terms of health benefits.
Natural-remedy advocates claim that regular consumption of dates can improve various body functions. Here are a few examples of how dates can make your life healthier:
1. Give your liver a helping hand
Dates and date seed extract can help reduce liver fibrosis, which occurs when the liver heals improperly from dealing with toxins, resulting in excess collagen. Consuming dates can promote a healthier liver that recovers better from everyday wear and tear.
2. Keep your heart pumping
Dates are excellent for heart health. They can help regulate your heart rate due to their potassium content, which is effective in fighting heart disease. Additionally, dates can reduce LDL cholesterol, the harmful type of cholesterol.
3. Get rid of artery clutter
Dates are also effective in preventing atherosclerosis. This condition involves the formation of plaque in the arteries, which not only narrows them but also increases the risk of plaque breaking off and causing clots, which can be fatal. Dates contain high levels of antioxidants and phenolic acids that can reduce artery clogging and related issues.
4. See no evil
Dates are rich in vitamin A, which helps protect your corneas from various harms. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two lesser-known nutrients that enable your eyes to filter harmful light exposure and prevent macular degeneration, a condition that causes vision loss.
5. Add a spring to your step
Try combining dates with almonds or cashews for a delicious and high-energy snack. The natural sugars in dates provide a good energy boost. Additionally, the vitamins and potassium in dates promote brain activity and reactivity in the nervous system, helping to prevent age-related sluggishness.
6. Can promote brain health
Recent studies have shown that dates may have properties that can help slow down the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Dates achieve this by reducing inflammatory markers, such as interleukin 6, in the brain.
