Health Benefits of Dates And Recipes

Anemia
Dates have a high mineral content, which is beneficial for many different health conditions, but their impressive levels of iron make them a perfect dietary supplement for people suffering from anemia. The high level of iron balances out the inherent lack of iron in anemic patients, increasing energy and strength, while decreasing feelings of fatigue and sluggishness.
Allergies
One of the most interesting facets of dates is the presence of organic sulfur in them. This is not a very common element to find in foods, but it does have a worthwhile amount of health benefits, including the reduction of allergic reactions and seasonal allergies. 
According to a study done in 2002, organic sulfur compounds can have a positive impact on the amount of suffering people experience from SAR (Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis), which affects approximately 23 million people in the United States alone. 

Dates are a great way to somewhat stem the effects of those seasonal allergies through its contributions of sulfur to the diet.
Anti-Inflammatory
Dates are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits.
One study found that “inflammatory indicators in the body such as CRP (C-reactive protein), TNF (tumor necrosis factor alpha), and IL6 (interleukin 6) were all reduced when magnesium intake was increased.”
Further, inflammation in the arterial walls was also reduced with magnesium intake.
Based on magnesium’s anti-inflammatory properties and the findings of this study, magnesium can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other inflammation-related health ailments
Reduced Blood Pressure
Magnesium has been shown to help lower blood pressure – and again, dates are full of the mineral. Additionally, potassium is another mineral in dates that has several functions within the body, aiding with the proper workings of the heart and helping to reduce blood pressure.
Reduced Stroke Risk
After evaluating 7 studies published over a 14 year time period, researchers found stroke risk was reduced by 9% for every every 100 milligrams of magnesium a person consumes per day.
The research can be found in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Boosting Brain Health
Some studies, such as one found in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that sufficient vitamin B6 levels are associated with improved brain performance and better test scores.
Boosting Heart Health
Dates are quite helpful in keeping your heart healthy. When they are soaked for the night, crushed in the morning and then consumed, they have been shown to have a positive effect on weak hearts.
Dates are also a rich source of potassium, which studies have shown to reduce the risk of stroke and other heart related diseases. Furthermore, they are suggested as a healthy and delicious way to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a major contributing factor heart attacks, heart disease, and stroke. Therefore, when taken twice a week, dates can seriously improve the overall health of the heart.
Promoting Digestive Health, Relieving Constipation
Fiber is essential for promoting colon health and making for regular bowel movements.
The insoluble and soluble fiber found in dates help to clean out the gastrointestinal system, allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency.
Some other benefits relating to fiber and colon health are reduced risks of colitis, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids.
A Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery
Further adding to the health benefits of dates, one study performed by researchers at the University of Science and Technology set out to discover how the date fruit impacted labor parameters and delivery outcomes.
After studying 69 women for a year and 1 month, the researchers found that “the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomised controlled trial.”
Weight Gain
Dates should be included as a part of a healthy diet. They consist of sugar, proteins and many essential vitamins. If dates are consumed with cucumber paste, you can also keep your weight at a normal, balanced level, rather than over-slimming.
One kilogram of dates contains almost 3,000 calories, and the calories in dates are sufficient to meet the daily requirements for a human body. Of course, you should not eat just dates throughout the day.
If you are thin and slim and want to increase your weight, or if you are trying to build your muscles to impress some girl, or you have become weak due to a serious medical problem – you need to eat dates!
Nervous System Health
The vitamins present in dates make it an ideal boost to nervous system health and functionality. Potassium is one of the prime ingredients in promoting a healthy and responsive nervous system, and it also improves the speed and alertness of brain activity. Therefore, dates are a wonderful food source for people as they begin to age and their nervous system becomes sluggish or unsupported, as well as for people who want to keep their mind sharp.
Energy Booster
Dates are high in natural sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Therefore, they are the perfect snack for an immediate burst of energy. Many people around the world use dates for a quick afternoon snack when they are feeling lethargic or sluggish.
Sexual Weakness
Studies have shown that dates are even beneficial for increasing sexual stamina. Soak a handful of dates in fresh goat’s milk over night, then grind them in the same milk with a mixture of cardamom powder and honey. This mixture becomes a very useful tonic for increasing sexual endurance and reducing sterility caused by various sexual disorders. The science behind this phenomenon is largely due to traditional usage which stimulated formal research. In 2006, Bahmanpour studied the effects of date palms and their oil on sexual functioning and found that the high levels of estradiol and flavonoid components of dates are what increase sperm count and motility, as well as promoting increased testes size and weight. So, if you are looking for a masculine boost, eat some dates, because they are a great natural aphrodisiac!
Night Blindness
The benefits of dates are extensive, and are commonly employed to fight off various conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat. When the leaves of the date palm are ground into a paste and rubbed on and around the eyes, or when dates are ingested orally, it has been shown to reduce the frequency of night blindness, and this solution is commonly used in rural areas where dates grow as an alternative medicine.
Diarrhea
Ripe dates contain potassium, which is known as an effective way of controlling diarrhea. They are also easy to digest, which further helps alleviate the unpredictable nature of chronic diarrhea. The soluble fiber in dates can also help relieve diarrhea, by providing bulk to the bowel movements and promoting normal, healthy functioning of the excretory system.
The following nutritional data outlines some of the key nutrients found in dates, and is based on a 100g serving of the fruit.
Fiber================6.7 grams. 27% RDA.
Potassium============696 milligrams. 20% RDA.
Copper==============0.4 milligrams. 18% RDA.
Manganese===========-0.3 milligrams. 15% RDA.
Magnesium===========54 milligrams. 14% RDA.
Vitamin B6===========0.2 milligrams. 12% RDA.
Note: Dates are high in sugar content – coming in at a whopping 66.5 grams per 100 gram serving of the fruit. It is recommended to lessen sugar consumption as much as possible, even when the sugar is being consumed from fruit.
Check out the USDA Nutrient Database for a full nutritional profile of dates.RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance)
The RDA, the estimated amount of a nutrient (or calories) per day considered necessary for the maintenance of good health by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council/ National Academy of Sciences.

1=Date Milkshake Recipe
Ingredients
1 generous cup dates ( remove seeds)
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups quality ice cream, vanilla or similar mild flavor
_Blend datesand milk together on high speed for about a minute, scraping down the sides and the blades as necessary to help everything come together. If it really seems too thick you can add a little more milk, a tablespoon at a time, but try to avoid making it too thin, since you’ll want a thick base to make a thick milkshake.
_Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for: adding the ice cream! I recommend you either use vanilla, or something that’s fairly mild and won’t overwhelm the date flavor.
_So add your scoops of cold ice cream, and blend until it’s completely incorporated and you have a thick shake.
_Give it a taste (or two!) to check the texture, then blend in additional milk or ice cream until the texture is perfectly suited to your taste.
Pour the milkshakes into two large glasses and enjoy...!
2= Date Milkshake Recipe
Ingredients
Dates -10
Milk – 1 ½ cups
Vanilla Ice cream – 1 small scoop, Optional
Instructions
_Remove the hard pit from dates, chop them coarsely.
_Add them to the blender with ½ cup of milk.
_Blend it till it gets smooth puree.
_Then add rest of the milk and vanilla ice cream (if using.).
_Pour into the glass and serve.
Shelf life – why someone wants to store? Isn’t it very easy and quick to make? Still if you want to store, it can be refrigerated up to 3 days.
3=Date Milkshake Recipe
Ingredients
Dates - 1 packet (200 gms)
Milk - 1/2 cup hot milk + 2.5 cups cold milk
Vanilla Icecream - 4 scoops (optional).
Method
1. Wash the dates clean
2. Chop them in to pieces
3. Soak them in hot milk for 30 min at least to make it soft.
4. Transfer this to the food processor or blender. Add the vanilla ice cream.
5. Grind them to a smooth paste. Add the 1/2 the cup of cold milk and give a stir again
6. Transfer the content to another bowl and add the remaining cold milk and give a stir.
7. Top it with vanilla ice cream.
8. Delicious and Healthy Milkshake is ready to be served.
Notes:
1. Adding ice cream is purely optional.
2. I didn't add any sugar, as the sweetness of dates is enough for our family.
4=Apple and Dates Milkshake
Ingredients
Apples - 2
Dates - 10 to 12
Low fat milk - 3.5 cups (chilled milk)+ 1/2 cup hot milk.
Method
Wash and deseed the dates
Soak the dates in 1/2 cup hot milk for 10 to 15 min.
Cut the apples just before blending. Apples may discolour very quickly
Blend all the ingredients, pour into glasses and serve.

The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider