The History of Dates
Dates have a long history and go back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in 4000 B.C. [1]
This naturally sweet treat is a fruit of the date palm tree. It’s Native to the Middle East in areas like Iraq, Iran, Arabia, and Morocco. In the early 20th century this dried fruit was cultivated in sub-tropical regions like Southern California, Arizona, and Florida. [1]
There are several varieties of dates varying in shape, color, or taste. The most popular types of dates are deglet noor dates and my personal favorite, Medjool dates.
Dates are used and widely known for their natural sweetness and caramel-like texture. These fresh fruits have been used to elevate the sweetness of dishes all over the world.
Today many enjoy this fruit as-is or as a natural sweetener. And at Raw Generation, we use it as both a sweetener and for its many health benefits in each one of our smoothie recipes.
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What are the Health Benefits of Dates?
Aside from their delicious taste, dates possess many potential health benefits, making them a nutritious addition to any diet.
Here are the key health benefits of consuming dates regularly:
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Rich in Nutrients - Dates are packed with your daily dose of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Dates are a good source of potassium, magnesium, copper, and B vitamins, specifically vitamin B6 [2].
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Good Source of Fiber - Dates are high in dietary fiber, which promotes digestive health. In just three dates, you’ll have 5 grams of fiber. Thanks to their high fiber content dates can prevent constipation and support regular bowel movements making them a great addition to your gut health.
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Antioxidant-Rich - Dates are rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acid, which help protect your body from free radicals, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
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Natural Energy - Dates contain natural sugar. The natural sugar content in dates is made up of fructose, like other fruits. Sugar found in nature provides the perfect energy boost and is especially beneficial for athletes as a pre-workout or if you need a quick “pick me up.”
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Heart Healthy - Dates are the perfect snack for your heart health. As expressed earlier, dates contain polyphenols, which are directly correlated with lower inflammation in the body. The result? Good cardiovascular health. The potassium and magnesium present can also help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels. [3]
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Blood Sugar Balance - Dates are naturally sweet. Because of their natural sweetness, they have a low glycemic index, meaning they have very little impact on blood sugar levels.
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Pregnancy Support - This may not apply to everyone reading, however consuming dates late in pregnancy can promote dilation and reduce the need for an induced labor [4].
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Bone Support - Dates contain potassium and magnesium, two crucial minerals for strong bones [5].
To put it simply—dates are a nutritional powerhouse that makes a great addition to any diet.
Are Dates Healthy Or Fattening?
Dates are extremely healthy and actually can help you lose weight, however many fear because of their sweetness that they have a high sugar content. This could not be further from the truth. First and foremost is understanding that not all sugar is created equally.
Refined added sugars and artificial sweeteners are everywhere you turn. From fast food to even the so-called "healthy" snacks, you can't get away from them. And while all these sugars may taste sweet, they are anything but sweet when it comes to your health. They have zero nutritional value and are proven to lead to common American diseases that plague our society today like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation, and obesity.
Dates, on the other hand, contain natural glucose and fructose—not to be confused with chemically made processed sugar. These little gems are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy carbohydrates. They have a rich, delicious sweet flavor, making them the perfect choice to use as a natural sweetener for smoothies without causing weight gain or contributing to the standard American diseases.
Rather than looking at the number of sugar grams on a label, it’s important to understand that the TYPE of sugar being used can make or break your weight loss goals. This is the exact reason why dates are used to naturally sweeten our smoothies at Raw Generation.
I Want Smoothies Sweetened With Dates
Do Dates Have Too Much Sugar?
The simple answer is no.
As a holistic nutritionist for many years, I have never once heard anyone ask me if the birthday cake they were about to eat had too much sugar or if the ice cream they were enjoying had too much sugar.
I find it ironic how there is an attack on natural sugars across the board from fruit sugar to date syrup or honey.
Natural sugar is a different product entirely from processed white sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Healthy Whole Food Ingredients
At Raw Generation, we believe in the power of whole food ingredients and NEVER use anything artificial— sweeteners and refined sugars included.
If you have a bit of a sweet tooth but do not want to compromise on your health, our Build-a-Box option has a selection of delicious date-sweetened smoothies that are so good they taste just like dessert.
With flavors like Pina Colada, Cookies & Cream, & Vanilla Cashew there are so many tasty options to choose from.
All Build a Box Smoothies Contain DatesSources:
