Three dates a day keeps old age away, this is a praise for the benefits of eating dates. Everyone fears getting old, especially women, so, how can one stay young forever? One of the tips is to persist in eating three dates every day.
"Big red dates are round and sweet," the protein content of fresh dates is about 11 times higher than that of pears, and the fat and sugar content is twice that of pears. The sugar content of fresh dates is as high as 20%-36%, even higher than that of sugar beets and sugarcane, which are raw materials for sugar. More importantly than being sweet, vitamins have made their home in dates, making red dates suddenly glorious.
The content of vitamin C and vitamin P in dates is the highest among all fruits. In fresh red dates, the vitamin C content is 7-10 times higher than that of citrus fruits and 75 times higher than that of apples. It is generally recognized that lemon is a representative rich in vitamin P, but compared to fresh dates, it is pale in comparison. Vitamin P plays a certain role in strengthening the body's capillaries, preventing blood diseases, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. If there is a deficiency or insufficiency of vitamin C in the diet, people will feel tired and listless, and even develop scurvy; eating red dates regularly can make people's complexion ruddy and radiant. Vitamins A, B1, and B2 are also "permanent residents" of dates. Therefore, dates have the reputation of "living vitamin pills." The phosphorus and calcium content in red dates is also 2-12 times higher than that of ordinary fruits. Red dates also contain cyclic adenosine monophosphate, a hormone that participates in the body's physiological metabolism. In addition, red dates also contain 14 amino acids, 6 organic acids, 36 trace elements, etc.
Generally speaking, fresh dates should be washed and eaten directly, while dried red dates are better eaten cooked in rice porridge, which allows the body to fully absorb their nutritional ingredients. Women can benefit from qi and blood nourishment when consuming them during their menstrual period. It should be noted that although red dates are a good tonic, they are not suitable for excessive consumption. Overeating red dates may cause a feeling of abdominal fullness. Zhang Hude, Director of the Health Preservation Room, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Source: Life Times
——Extended Reading——Which type of date is the most nutritious
Dates are also known as big dates, red dates, or Chinese dates, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, and evolved from wild sour jujubes. According to research, the cultivation of dates in China began 7,000 years ago. By the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago, the cultivation of dates had spread all over China. Chinese dates were introduced to neighboring countries such as North Korea, Japan, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, India, Burma, Pakistan, and Thailand very early, and were spread along the "Silk Road" to Western European countries along the Iranian and Mediterranean coasts. After the 1950s, countries such as the United States and the former Soviet Union imported a large number of excellent Chinese date varieties. It can be said that the date trees cultivated in all countries in the world today were introduced directly or indirectly from China.
The vitamin C content of fresh dates is the highest among fruits, reaching over 200 mg per 100 grams. The vitamin D content is more than 70 times higher than that of apples, earning it the name "living vitamin pill." The content of flavonoids and rutin in dates is relatively high. Flavonoids can protect blood vessels, and rutin has the effect of lowering blood pressure, so dates are a health food for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Dates are a traditional tonic in China. It is a folk saying that "eating three dates every day keeps you from getting old for a lifetime," and "five grains plus small dates are better than lingzhi grass." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that dates can nourish blood, replenish qi, calm the mind, moisten the heart and lungs, nourish the five organs, and treat deficiency and damage. They are often used in prescriptions for replenishing qi and blood.
China is the only country that cultivates dates on a large scale. China has rich date tree resources with 700 varieties. Among them, the best quality ones include Cangzhou Golden Thread Small Dates, Zanhuang Big Dates, Dapo Dates, and Huangkou Big Dates from Hebei; Leling Golden Thread Small Dates and Damaya Dates from Shandong; Hui Dates and Lingbao Big Dates from Henan; and Xiang Dates and Hamadates from Shanxi.
Cangzhou Golden Thread Small Dates
Cangzhou Golden Thread Small Dates, also known as "Xihe Red Dates," has a cultivation history of more than 2,000 years. The date output in Cangzhou City is very large. Every golden autumn, red dates are piled up like mountains. Because the dates are small in size and have fine flesh with golden honey threads inside, they are called "Golden Thread Small Dates." Golden Thread Small Dates have thin skin, thick flesh, small pits, and juicy pulp. The flesh is yellowish-green, with a sweet and delicious taste, and has high nutritional value. They enjoy a high reputation in domestic and international markets and are exported to more than 20 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, the United States, Switzerland, and Canada.
Zanhuang Big Dates
Zanhuang Big Dates are a specialty of Zanhuang County, Hebei. The average weight of a single fruit is 17.3 grams. It is large and egg-shaped, with uniform size, and its skin is purplish-red and shiny, like a exquisite work of art. It has a very small pit, thick and fleshy pulp, and a sweet, fresh taste like cheese. When dried, it can be seen that honey threads several feet long are connected when broken open, so people praise it as "Golden Thread Honey."
Leling Golden Thread Small Dates
Leling Golden Thread Small Dates, produced in Leling County, Shandong, have fleshy, sweet, and fragrant pulp with long golden threads. Cultivation began in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, with a history of more than 3,000 years. In the Qing Dynasty, it was selected as a tribute and was named "King of Dates" by the Qianlong Emperor. Leling County still preserves the "Imperial Gift of King of Dates Plaque" bestowed by Emperor Qianlong. Source: Baidu Dates are nutritious but cannot be "eaten indiscriminately"
The nutritional value of dates is very rich, with a sugar content between 19-44%. The sugar content of dried red dates is as high as 50-87%. The calorie content per 100 grams of pulp is 309 kcal, similar to rice and refined white flour. The fruit also contains protein, fat, and various mineral elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, all of which are indispensable nutrients for the human body. The vitamin C content of mature fresh dates is extremely rich, 100 times that of an equal weight of apple, 15-20 times that of citrus, and 3-4 times higher than that of kiwi fruit. It also contains 18 amino acids, 8 of which are essential types that the human body cannot synthesize, which is why there is the folk saying, "Eat three dates a day, and you'll never grow old for a lifetime." However, there are "tips" for eating dates:
One, do not eat them with vitamin supplements at the same time. The vitamins in dates can decompose and destroy vitamin K, reducing its therapeutic effect.
Two, do not eat them with cucumber or radish. Radish contains ascorbic acid enzyme, and cucumber contains vitamin decomposing enzyme. Both ingredients can destroy the vitamins contained in dates.
Three, do not eat them with animal liver at the same time. Animal liver is rich in elements like copper and iron, which can easily oxidize the vitamins in dates and make them ineffective.
Four, avoid eating dates when taking antipyretic drugs. Because taking high-sugar foods at the same time as taking antipyretic drugs can easily form insoluble complexes, slowing down the absorption rate of the drug.
Five, people with toothache, lower abdominal bloating, and constipation should not eat dates. It should be especially reminded that they should not be eaten with scallions or fish.