Dates

Dates – the fruit the most deserving of the title “the fruit of paradise”.

I remember having dates in the fridge since I was a kid. At that time we use to buy them in a packet of 16pcs on a small plastic stick. We collected those sticks and played with them. At that time we only ate dates as sweets, but now I use them in a variety of recipes, mostly as a substitute for sugar.

Dates are also delicious when added to smoothies and/or salads. They can be stuffed with walnuts, coconut, and ginger. They are almost irreplaceable in homemade energy bars and desserts.

They can provide a wonderful energy boost and help revitalize the body at any time of the day. Dates can be eaten out of hand as a quick snack. I always have a few dates with me, a great solution for emergency cases. Although they are sweet, it is great to eat one date two hours before bedtime for better sleep.

There are so many benefits you can gain from by consuming dates:

• Improved energy and brain function
• Helps to build bone and muscle strength
• Good source of vitamin A and B-complex
• Rich in minerals, such as iron, calcium, manganese, copper
• Contains anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties
• Helps to control heart rate and blood pressure
• Could be irreplaceable in the fight against colds and infections
• Regular use of dates helps the body recover faster after a disease or surgery
• Dates contribute to the removal of excess fluid that causes swelling from the body.

Some interesting historical facts: Date palm is probably the most ancient cultivated tree in the world. The earliest record comes from Mesopotamia 3000BC. The Ancient Egyptians used the dates to make date wine. And there is a legend that the date palm was the tree of knowledge of good and evil and that the date was the fruit Eve so generously offered to Adam in the Garden of Eden.

However, I invite you to include dates in your diet and soon you will feel all the blessings of this paradise fruit.