Can you eat fresh dates?
In this article we are going to answer can you eat fresh dates, what are dates, are fresh dates healthy to eat, what is the risk of eating fresh dates and how can you add them to your diet fresh dates.
Can you eat fresh dates?
Yes, fresh dates are very healthy to add to your diet. Fresh dates are an excellent fruit to add to your diet when trying to lose weight. On the other hand, dried dates are better to add to your diet when you are trying to build up some muscle or gain weight.
Fresh dates have less sugar than dried dates so they are an excellent option to cure your sugar cravings without indulging too much.
What are the dates?
Dates are a fruit that comes from date palms and are among the sweetest fruits. They are native to the middle east where they have been eating dates for centuries.
Dates can be sold fresh or dried and are very famous to add to some desserts and salads. Fresh dates are the ones that are most easily found in the United States and they contain more sugar content than dried dates.
Medjool dates are more expensive than fresh or dried dates because their harvests take more time and work. Medjool and Deglet are the most common varieties of dates that you can find in the supermarket or local stores.
Are fresh dates healthy to eat?
Yes, fresh dates are a super healthy and nutritious fruit to add to your diet. According to the USDA, a single fresh date contains 20 calories, 5.33 grams of carbohydrates, and no fat while one dried date contains 66 calories, 18 grams of carbohydrates, and no fat.
Dried dates have almost three times more carbohydrates than fresh fruit because in the process of drying fruit water is lost and sugar content increases.
Fresh dates are a better option for you to keep you satisfied for longer, control blood sugar levels, and help you with constipation without eating the high amount of sugar you can eat with dried dates.
Fresh dates are also an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Also, the USDA has proven that fresh dates have a high concentration of antioxidants which brings a lot of benefits to your health. They might help prevent heart disease and some types of cancer.
Fresh dates are a better option than dried dates for diabetic patients. Even if fresh dates do have a high amount of sugar, they are full of fiber, and paired with proteins glucose can be controlled.
Some benefits of fresh dates include
- Rich in fiber content
- High in minerals and vitamins
- Help you to stay hydrated
- Low in sugar compared to dried dates
Rich in fiber content
Fiber helps to keep you full, have fewer cravings, and have healthy digestion. Fresh dates are excellent to help you fight constipation.
High in minerals and vitamins
Fresh dates have a high content of several vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy life. They are especially high in copper, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. They can help you replenish lost electrolytes in the summer.
Help you to stay hydrated
Fresh dates have a high concentration of water. They contain more than 20% more water than dried dates. Food is part of your water intake and they are very important to help you stay hydrated.
Low in sugar compared to dried dates
Compared to dried dates, fresh dates have much lower sugar content. Even if fresh dates are still high in sugar, this sugar is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
What is the risk of eating fresh dates?
Eating too many fresh dates comes with some disadvantages and side effects such as
- Weight gain if consumed in excess
- High blood sugar if eaten alone. Try to pair them with protein such as Greek yogurt, nuts, almonds, cheese, or turkey breast.
- If you have kidney disease, you need to check how much potassium you have eaten that day because fresh dates are high in potassium.
- There have been several reports of allergy to date.
How can you add to your diet fresh dates?
Fresh dates are perfect to eat with a cup of coffee or fresh tea to ease those sugar cravings. They can also be added to some desserts or eaten by themself as fresh fruit paired with some protein.
Other FAQs about Dates that you may be interested in.
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat fresh dates, what are dates, are fresh dates healthy to eat, what is the risk of eating fresh dates and how can you add them to your diet?”
Citation
https://www.livestrong.com/article/317862-calories-in-fresh-dates/
https://www.boldsky.com/health/nutrition/2014/fresh-dates-vs-dried-dates-058310.html?story=2
