Dates are a naturally sweet and chewy fruit with a caramel-like flavor and a tender, slightly sticky texture. Beloved worldwide, they are a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and are gaining popularity as a nutritious snack and natural sweetener. Packed with essential nutrients like fiber, potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants, dates can provide numerous health benefits.
Brandon Lewis, a certified functional medicine practitioner, recently shared a viral TikTok explaining the various health benefits of eating just two dates every day. Some of benefits include improvements in digestion, reduced inflammation, and more. Read on to learn all about it!
@brandon.lewis.np Wanna give dates a try? You should! Here’s why: 1. Rich in Fiber: Dates help improve digestion and prevent constipation, keeping your gut healthy. 2. Natural Energy Boost: Packed with natural sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose, dates provide a quick energy boost. 3. High in Antioxidants: Dates are loaded with antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acid, which help fight inflammation and protect your cells. Top 3 ways I use dates on a (almost) daily basis: 1. Stuffed Dates: Fill pitted dates with nuts or cheese, for a quick snack or dessert. 2. Smoothie Sweetener: Blend dates into your morning smoothie or homemade nut milk drinks for natural sweetness, adding fiber and nutrients without refined sugar. 3. Date Energy Balls: Mix dates with nuts, seeds, and cacao in a food processor to make easy, no-bake energy bites perfect for on-the-go snacks. #dates #eathealthy #healthysnacks #longevity #functionalmedicine original sound – Brandon.lewis.np
1. Rich in Fiber
Lewis notes the high-fiber content of dates, stating that “they help improve digestion and prevent constipation, keeping your gut healthy.”
“They promote healthy digestion, reduce inflammation,” and are great for kicking those sugar cravings.
2. Natural Energy Boost
Dates can also provide a natural energy boost, unlike other sugary treats that are usually made with refined sugars and other unhealthy additives.
“Packed with natural sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose, dates provide a quick energy boost,” he explains.
3. High in Antioxidants
Dates are also known for their anti-inflammatory and heart-protective properties; flavonoids can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
“Dates are loaded with antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acid, which help fight inflammation and protect your cells,” Lewis notes.
Ways To Eat Dates
If you need some tips on making dates fun to eat, Dr. Lewis has you covered!
His go-to hack is to transform dates into a treat that’s kind of similar to a candy bar. Mars, Snickers, and Kit Kat are packed with fillings, so why not replicate the concept with dates? He says to “fill pitted dates with nuts or cheese for a quick snack or dessert.”
If you prefer to add dates to your smoothies, you could “blend them into your morning smoothie or homemade nut milk drinks for natural sweetness, adding fiber and nutrients without refined sugar.”
Finally, if you want to get a little fancier and please your guests with a date dessert, try date energy bars. “Mix dates with nuts, seeds, and cacao in a food processor to make easy, no-bake energy bites,” he reveals.
