No plant and fruit blending is more attractive and exotic that the dates fruit. While at first glance it looks like a pod or cocoon the date is among the most densely packed nutritious fruits nature's garden has presented mankind with since the beginning of time.

Where does this modern miracle derive from? The date palm tree yields dates fruit. Dates are a fresh fruit often prepared by first drying the fruits and then consuming them either wholly topped with molasses, honey or sugar; or as a part of a dessert dish or other assortment of flavorful delights. Of course, picking dates straightly from the date palm and consuming them is a perfectly acceptable way of trying dates for the first time.

Dates have a long history "dating" back to earliest history. A lot of Mediterranean islands feature the date palm along with olive and orange trees. Dates provide a world of health benefits. They are popular in many countries, and a staple in many cuisines especially in Greece and other European countries such as Spain and Italy.

Dates vs. Figs

Dates are cousins to figs; each offer sweet and sumptuous snacking. Each provide plenty of vitamins and many trace minerals. The primary difference however is in the structure. Fig fruits are far softer compared to dates, and tend to grow in tropical climates, whereas date palm fruit originates from the date palm tree.

Dates have a tiny pit or stone in the center. The dates fruit nutritional value is relatively of a shocker to someone inexperienced in tiny fruits. Dates pack an astonishing 277 calories and 6.7 grams of fiber. They also possess just fewer than 700 mg of potassium.

Actually, dates fruit benefits far surpass that of most other fruits. Dates also contain 64 mg of calcium and a little iron. That's fairly zippy.

Figs on the other hand, possess just 74 calories and only 3 grams of fiber. That's nothing to sneeze at, but it's much less compared with the nearly 7 grams of fiber the fresh dates fruit provides.

Health Benefits Dates

There are many other benefits of taking dates. Apart from fiber, supplementing with dates may add small amounts of iron to a diet deficient in this trace nutrient. For those people that cringe at the thought of eating dates, consider creative dates fruit recipes.

One method to incorporate dates into the daily diet is to cut them up into tiny pieces and add those to banana bread recipes or pancake batter. Dates become virtually invisible in pies and cakes, and add a sweetness which is out of this world.

Many people find dates a delightful component to protein shakes. The extra potassium benefits that dates feature helps to prevent charley's horses and leg cramps that often strike after long workouts.

Little Known Facts About Dates

Dates may look ugly but they are anything but on the inside. Besides being sweet dates are stuffed with surprises. Here are a few:

Dates have won the position of most popular fruit all over the world largely because dates nutrition value is so high. Dates contain essential vitamins, minerals and calories that help overall health and wellness. They normally grow in hot and dry climates which makes them easy to cultivate.

Fresh date is easy to digest.

Dates prevent the buildup of LDL in the body, which may help protect the body from chronic ailments including colitis and cancer.

Among the benefits of fresh dates fruit nourishment include health benefiting antioxidants called tannins, that contain anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic properties. That means regular consumption of dates will help prevent excessive bleeding.

Dates contain certain bio substances that prevent infection.

dates fruit