Date palm: Experts weigh in on health benefits, nutrition facts, and more
Date palm image© Provided by Getty Images
Perspective from Leticia Soares
Benefits
- Date fruit may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The fruit improves blood triglyceride levels, reduces cholesterol oxidation and arteriosclerosis development, which is an important cause of heart attacks and stroke.
- Dates can help normalize digestive function. The fruit is a source of soluble and insoluble fiber, which promote regular bowel movements, preventing constipation or diarrhea.
- Dates have antioxidants properties. Data is rich in zinc, B-complex vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acid, which are substances that help to boost the body defences.
- Dates consumption during pregnancy can help promote natural labor. There are scientific studies indicating that the consumption of dates during the last few weeks of pregnancy can help shorten the time to labor.
- Dates may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases. The date fruit is rich in substances that improve memory and cognitive ability such as flavonoids and zinc.
Possible Side Effects
- Dates fruit can lead to weight gain when consumed in excess. Thus, diabetic patients should consult with their healthcare practitioner before increasing their date intake.
Perspective from Christos Sittas
Benefits
- Palm date contains the highest amounts of antioxidants across other dried fruits. These antioxidants act as free radical scavengers that reduce inflammation and in animal models date palm's extracts show anticancer properties (Rahmani et al. 2014).
Possible Side Effects
- Some individuals may be allergic to date palm's pollen and suffer from symptoms that mainly include allergic rhinitis and asthma (Radwan et al. 2006, Serhane, 2017).
Reference: Leticia Soares, Postgraduate Degree in Public and Family Health/Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and Christos Sittas, MSc in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences - 25 Sept