Dates have high concentration of antioxidants

  • Dates contain several antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases.
  • Dates are a rich source of antioxidants that prevent free radicals from causing inflammation and damage to cells. .
  • Free radicals are atoms that are extremely unstable and can cause cell damage and premature aging in the body leading to a variety of illnesses.
  • Antioxidants are necessary to combat free radical damage, and a diet with a high concentration of antioxidants has been shown to improve health.
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Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, found throughout tropical regions and in the Mediterranean. A significant increase in popularity has occurred in recent years for dates.

In Western countries, dried dates are almost exclusively consumed.

You can determine whether dates have been dried or not by their appearance. Unhealthy dehydration is represented by wrinkles, whereas the smoothness of the date represents youthfulness.

Fresh dates are generally small and range in color from bright red to bright yellow, depending on the variety. Medjool and Deglet Noor dates are the most widely consumed dates globally, accounting for nearly half of all consumption.

Dates have a chewy texture and sweet flavor, making them a popular snack. They are high in essential nutrients and have a wide range of health and culinary applications.

What are antioxidants?

An antioxidant aids in the prevention or delay of the cell damage caused by free radicals. 

If free radicals build up in the body, they can be harmful. Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are all linked to elevated free radicals. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are rich sources of antioxidants. As potent antioxidants, vitamins E and C are essential.

 

What free radicals are and how they work

Free radicals are atoms that are extremely unstable and cause cell damage and premature aging in the body. Free radicals are constantly forming in your body.

Free radicals would quickly cause significant harm and even death if antioxidants didn’t counteract them. Free radicals are also necessary for your health. Free radicals, for example, are used by the immune system to fight infections. A proper balance of free radicals and antioxidants is needed in your body.

When the amount of free radicals in the body exceeds the number of antioxidants, oxidative stress occurs. 

Numerous environmental, stress, and lifestyle factors have been implicated in the excessive formation of free radicals and oxidative stress, including the following:

Prolonged oxidative stress increases the risk of developing adverse health outcomes such as heart disease and certain types of cancer.

 

Foods containing high concentration of antioxidants

Antioxidants are necessary for all living things to survive. Your body produces antioxidants on its own, including the cellular antioxidant glutathione. To protect themselves from free radicals and oxidative damage, all living things—plants, animals, and microbes—have mechanisms in place. This means that antioxidants can be found in everything from plants and animals to whole foods. It is critical to consume an adequate amount of antioxidants. Indeed, your health depends on the consumption of certain antioxidants, specifically vitamins C and E.

Numerous other non-essential antioxidants are found in food. While your body does not require them, they are critical for overall health.

The health benefits of a plant-based diet are due to the variety of antioxidants found in plants. Antioxidant-rich foods such as dark chocolate, green tea, berries, and coffee are well-known. Some studies claim that coffee is the most antioxidant-rich food in the Western diet, but this may be due to people not eating enough antioxidant-rich foods. Antioxidants are found in meat and fish but not as abundant as fruits and vegetables.

Antioxidants can help both natural and processed foods last longer. So they’re often used as food additives. Vitamin C, for example, is commonly used to preserve processed foods.

 

Types of nutritional antioxidants

Antioxidants are classified as water-soluble or fat-soluble. Antioxidants that are water-soluble act in both the inside and outside of cells, whereas fat-soluble ones act primarily on cell membranes.

Among the essential antioxidants found in food are the following:

  • Flavonoids: This class of plant antioxidants has many health benefits.
  • Vitamin E: This fat-soluble antioxidant is critical in preventing oxidative damage to cell membranes.
  • Vitamin C: This water-soluble antioxidant is a necessary component of the diet.

Numerous substances that are antioxidants also perform other critical functions.

Curcuminoids are found in turmeric and oleocanthal in extra virgin olive oil. These compounds are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.

 

Dates Fruit

Antioxidant-Rich Dates fruit, Helps Fight Disease

Dates contain antioxidants that have been shown to reduce of developing chronic disease. 

Dates have the highest antioxidant content when compared to other dried fruit like figs and dried plums. The three most powerful antioxidants found in dates are:

Researchers have investigated the anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and brain-protective properties of the flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids found in Medjool dates, among other things.

 

Possibly Improves Brain Function

Consuming dates may help to improve the function of one’s brain. Several studies demonstrated that dates are helpful in lowering inflammatory markers in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Additional animal research has shown that dates are beneficial in decreasing the activity of amyloid-beta proteins, which are known to accumulate in the brain, causing plaques to form. This can lead to the death of neurons and cognitive disease if plaques build up in a way that inhibits communication between cells. When mice were fed food containing dates, one study found significantly improved memory and learning ability and exhibited significantly lower levels of anxiety-related behaviors than mice fed food without dates. The high antioxidant content of dates, including flavonoids, has been attributed to their potential brain-boosting properties. 

 

Very Nutritious

Dates are nutrient-dense. 

They are dried, and thus, contain more calories than fresh fruits. Dates have a calorie count comparable to other dried fruits, such as raisins and figs.

Dates contain a high concentration of carbohydrates, which account for most of their calories.  Despite their calories, they have many essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

It’s Easy to Add to Your Diet

In addition to other foods such as almonds, nut butter, and soft cheese, they are frequently served on their own.

Dates also have a high stickiness, making them an excellent binding agent for baked goods such as cookies and bars. Alternatively, you can make healthy snack bars or energy balls by combining dates with nuts and seeds.

Adding dates to salad dressings and marinades or blending them into smoothies or oatmeal are other ways to use dates. For this reason, it’s important to keep in mind that dates are high in calories and easy to overeat because of their sweet flavor. 

 

Risks and factors to consider

Dates have a low glycemic index, according to one study. In both diabetics and non-diabetics, they appear to have little effect on blood sugar levels.

This study was limited in sample size because only a few people were included, but the results show that eating dates in moderation could have little effect on blood sugar levels.

An adequate intake of antioxidants is required for a healthy life. Too much of anything can be harmful: some research suggests that supplementing with high doses of antioxidants may be unhealthy.

Get your antioxidants from a diet high in whole foods like fruits and vegetables for the best health outcomes.

Summary

Dates are nutritious fruit that you can easily incorporate into your diet.

They are high in various nutrients and antioxidants, which may provide various health benefits, from improved digestion to a decreased risk of disease. Dates can be added to your diet in a variety of ways. They are frequently used as a natural sweetener in a variety of dishes. Additionally, they make an excellent snack.

Dates are easiest to find dried, though they contain more calories than fresh fruit, so they should be consumed in moderation. 

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION:

  • Antioxidants: An antioxidant is a substance that can aid in the prevention or delay of the cell damage caused by free radicals.
  • Free Radicals: Free radicals are extremely unstable atoms and can cause cell damage and premature aging in the body.
  • Oxidative Stress: Oxidative stress occurs when the production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues exceeds the biological system’s ability to detoxify them.
  • Glutathione: Glutathione is an antioxidant produced by the body’s cells.
  • Neurons: A neuron is a type of nerve cell that serves as the fundamental unit of the nervous system.
Written by:
Dr. Faisal Rasheed, MBBS
Orthopaedic Surgery

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