Why dates are a must-have superfood for your diet

In the Middle East, dates have been successfully replacing sweets for centuries. They are delicious, easily available, and very healthy. Why should you include dates in your diet?

These unassuming fruits are a real powerhouse of health benefits. Thanks to their simple sugar content, they quickly add energy, which athletes greatly appreciate. Advocates of a healthy lifestyle emphasize that dates can successfully replace sweets—they reach for them when craving something sweet, but also add them to oatmeal, desserts, or cakes.

Due to their high sugar content, people with diabetes should be cautious with dates. For everyone else, however, they are an ideal snack. The fruits contain a lot of fiber, so they are recommended for patients struggling with constipation and/or irritable bowel syndrome.

Dates are also suitable for people dealing with hyperacidity and heartburn—they have alkaline properties and effectively and naturally neutralize stomach acids. Furthermore, they are rich in iron (an excellent choice for anyone dealing with anemia), niacin, potassium, magnesium, and folic acid. This is a great combination not only for physically active individuals but also for future moms.

Consuming dates has an excellent effect on the condition of the skin and eyes due to the content of vitamins A, E, and K. Also valuable, especially during periods of reduced immunity, is the high content of vitamins C and B6.

It also turns out that, especially when dried, dates act like a "broom"—they prevent the deposition of cholesterol, thus (when eaten regularly, a few per day) having anti-atherosclerotic properties. They also reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Interestingly, in the Middle East, dates are considered a delicious aphrodisiac. This is not surprising—after all, they instantly add energy.