Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Dates (phoenix dactylifera)

Dates (phoenix dactylifera) are small dark brown oval shaped fruits with a hard inner seed, though they are often sold pitted.

 
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Health Benefits of Dates:
  • Increased Immune Function
  • Reduced Risk of Colon Cancer
  • Alleviation of Cardiovascular Disease
  • Alleviation of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
  • Promoted Eye Health
  • Osteoporosis Protection
  • Stroke Prevention
  • Antioxidant Protection
  • Prevention of Epileptic Seizures
  • Alleviation of the Common Cold
  • Prevention of Alopecia (Spot Baldness)
  • Due to the tannin content in dates they have been used to treat intestinal troubles. They have also been used as a syrup to treat sore throat. *Some of these health benefits are due to the nutrients highly concentrated in Dates, and may not necessarily be related to Dates.
Natural vitmains, minerals, and nutrients found in Dates: Carbohydrates | Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Vitamin B6 | Calcium | Dietary Fiber | Phosphorus | Manganese | Iron | Potassium | Zinc |
Click here to compare these nutrition facts with other fruits.
Nutrition Facts
Dates Deglet Noor
Serving Size 100g
Calories 282
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.39g1%
    Saturated Fat 0.032g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 2mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 75.03g25%
    Dietary Fiber 8g32%
    Sugar 63.35g~
Protein 2.45g~
Vitamin A0%Vitamin C1%
Calcium4%Iron6%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Vitamins  %DV
Vitamin A 10IU0%
    Retinol equivalents 0μg~
    Retinol 0μg~
    Alpha-carotene 0μg~
    Beta-carotene 6μg~
    Beta-cryptoxanthin 0μg~
Vitamin C 0.4mg1%
Vitamin E 0.05mg0%
Vitamin K 2.7μg3%
Vitamin B12 0μg0%
Thiamin 0.052mg3%
Riboflavin 0.066mg4%
Niacin 1.274mg6%
Pantothenic acid 0.589mg6%
Vitamin B6 0.165mg8%
Folate 19μg5%
    Folic Acid 0μg~
    Food Folate 19μg~
    Dietary Folate Equivalents 19μg~
Choline 6.3mg~
Lycopene 0μg~
Lutein+zeazanthin 75μg~
Minerals  %DV
Calcium 39mg4%
Iron 1.02mg6%
Magnesium 43mg11%
Phosphorus 62mg6%
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 656mg19%
Zinc 0.29mg2%
Copper 0.206mg10%
Manganese 0.262mg13%
Selenium 3μg4%
Water 20.53g~
Ash 1.6g~

Useful Stats
Percent of Daily Calorie Target
(2000 calories)
14.1%
Percent Water Composition 20.53%
Protein to Carb Ratio (g/g) 0.03g
How to choose Dates: Dates should look soft and moist, try to avoid dates which look like they have dried out and have white discolorations.
Climate and origin: Dates originated in the Persian Gulf and grow best in dry, hot, tropical climates.
Taste: Dates have a very sweet, almost caramel, flavor. As they are often sold dried, dates have a sticky and chewy texture.
Substitutes with more vitamins: Apricots
Miscellaneous information: Date trees can be tapped for a sweet sap that can be made into molasses or alcohol.

1 comment:

Anshuman said...

Great post :) .. Very informative