Since ancient times dried fruits were considered as tasty and useful delicacy. Dried and dried fruit were an obligatory treat on holiday tables of the people of the East. They were used also in an everyday diet as nutritious and healthy food. Dried fruits filled the shortage of energy, lightened the mood and maintained vitamin balance in an organism. With the advent of industrial confectionery, dried fruit became a worthy alternative to tasty, but not useful sweets. They are used in dietary and sports food, from them cook pleasant delicacies. Dates are considered as one of the most useful dried fruits. In this article we will consider their advantage for an organism, nutrition value, we learn more about consumption rates and rules of storage of these useful sweets.
Caloric content and the chemical composition, nutrition value, vitamins, macro - and minerals
The number of calories in these dried fruits rather low — 275 kcal on 100 g. In comparison with other dried, dried fruit and candied fruits the fruits of a date palm tree at the average caloric content provide an organism with all necessary substances.
22 g of water, 2 g of proteins, 0.5 g of fats and the whole 67 g of carbohydrates are the share of 100 g of these fruits. Other weight is occupied by the ashes and cellulose necessary for health of intestines.
Important! When choosing dates pay attention to a smell which from them proceeds. The fruits which ripened and dried on a tree under sunshine will smell sweet and is clean. From the dried fruits which are dried up in the furnace the luscious caramel smell which demonstrates that they were overroasted will proceed.
The vitamin structure of these fruits is very rich. Most of all in them RR vitamin — 2.2 mg. Concede group B vitamins from which B5 vitamin prevails in quantity a little. The normal quantity in these fruits contains vitamins of "youth" — carotene and nicotinic acid.
Dates include record amount of potassium — 625 mg are the share of each 100 g of this product. Also there is a lot of in them calcium, phosphorus and magnesium (approximately on 60 mg). These substances improve assimilation of each other, and in dates they contain in ideally identical proportions.
From minerals these dried fruits contain iron and magnesium — approximately on 1 mg. Also copper, zinc and selenium are a part.
Useful properties of dates for women
First of all, the use of these fruits positively affects work of a cardiovascular system. Potassium which is a part of these dried fruits much strengthens a cardiac muscle and walls of vessels, provides their tone. It is fine prevention of age changes in an organism. Women in old age feel much better, every day consuming the minimum norm of this product. It is useful at arrhythmia, a hypertension and hypotonia as it has the strengthening effect on a blood system and the haematogenic function.
The general toning action of these fruits stimulates immunity. They are very useful during the winter and autumn periods, during the outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Regular consumption of dates during cold will help to get rid of it quicker. They kill pathogenic microorganisms, stimulate growth of own intestinal microflora, working as bactericidal means. The intestines vermicular movement improves, its internal walls are cleaned from slags, there pass locks.
Whether you know? The people of the countries of the Middle East presented a date palm tree with the romantic name "life tree". This exclusive tree which is used in the national economy entirely — from fruits and leaves to bark and wood.
The excess of carotene as a part of these fruits strengthens sight. They are especially shown by that whose work is connected with considerable load of eyes. At bad mood, disturbing states, the panic attacks and sleep disorders it is necessary to include this product in the diet.
It facilitates course of mental disorders and increases ability of an organism to counteract external stresses.
Features of the use
This product affects an organism of different people differently. Often for health future mothers or women who nurse are interested in advantage of dates. It is interesting to them how such increase to a diet will affect health of their kids.
To pregnant women
During this special period it is necessary to listen to requirements of an organism. Consumption of these dried fruits is shown to pregnant women, but their daily dose should not exceed ten large pieces. They facilitate course of the first trimester, weaken toxicosis, eliminate breakdown and apathy.
If you ail, discomfort in intestines or pain in the lower part of a stomach, include this product in the diet. It will strengthen uterus walls that will favorably affect process of childbirth. Also it helps to bring excess liquid out of an organism, and it saves from puffiness and prevents a varicosity.
Important! Before the use rinse these dried fruits in soap solution to remove the remains of the vegetable oil which is used for preservation and small litter. Then wash out them under flowing water and pour boiled water to remove all foreign microflora.
The rich vitamin and mineral structure will provide both a maternal organism, and a fruit with all necessary substances. Hair, teeth, nails and a bone tissue will become stronger.
The fruit will enough receive useful substances through a blood-groove and will not begin to extend them from a maternal organism. Easy laxative action is necessary very opportunely in recent weeks before childbirth and the first several weeks after them.
To nursing mothers
During this period the moral spirit of the woman is very important. These sweet and nutritious dried fruits have ability to lighten the mood and to bring out of depressions. They saturate a maternal organism with carbohydrates, macro - and minerals, restore vitamin balance.
Learn what useful properties also sunflower seeds of a sunflower, peanut, pomegranate, pine nuts, cashew, green tea, ginger, a feijoa, pomegranate and quail eggs for a female body have pumpkin.
With them milk becomes more nutritious, and the kid develops properly. Not allergenic dates, but it is worth checking individual reaction to them at the kid. It is necessary to eat several dried fruits, to feed the baby and next day to check whether allergic rash developed at it. At normal reaction the day portion can be increased.
Growing thin
High caloric content of these fruits is compensated by their ability to sate. Eating three-five pieces after considerable physical activities, you can be sure that you filled the shortage of energy and useful substances. You will not overeat as complex carbohydrates will give fast sense of fulness for long term. For competent weight loss it is necessary to eat several pieces of these dried fruits instead of one of nourishing dishes at dinner and instead of late meal. The glass of warm milk and a handful of dates will sate you till next morning and will present good mood.
Whether you know? Fruits of a date palm tree are often mentioned in the Bible. Also mentions of them occur in the text of the Quran. According to east legends, the person can live on dates and water within several years. Today these legends found scientific confirmation. The Israeli scientists established that the person can really receive all necessary for the organism of these fruits. Some American nutritionists claim at all that the use of only one such fruit in day is capable to support strength of the person within two and a half, and even three months.
At diabetes
Earlier was considered that because of the high content of sugars these fruits are contraindicated to diabetics. Now the opinion of doctors changed. Generally sugar in these fruits are presented by fructose. Fructose does not increase sugar level in blood sharply, and is acquired gradually therefore in moderate quantities (it is no more than five pieces for time) these fruits can be used.
They are useful at diabetes of both the first, and second type as they help to stabilize body weight and to normalize exchange processes.
At gastrointestinal diseases
Both gastritis, and pancreatitis have a sharp phase and a stage of remission. In both cases during a sharp phase it is impossible to use dried fruits. As soon as the disease begins to weaken, it is possible to include dates in a diet gradually. It is necessary to begin with broths and compotes, then to pass to kissels and mousses. It is recommended to remove a rigid thin skin from fruits and to boil them for simplification of comprehensibility. At a stage of recovery it is possible to use this product in a dried and dried look, without exceeding norm in ten pieces a day. He reduces puffiness of mucous membranes of digestive organs, muffles production of active pancreatic enzymes and removes irritation, softly enveloping mucous at gastritis.
It is important! If you suffer from the increased gas generation or intestinal frustration, begin consumption of these dried fruits with fruit drinks and kissels. Their soft action and high comprehensibility will help your organism to pick up enzymes, necessary for digestion of dried fruits.
How to choose a quality product upon purchase
Date palm trees in the countries of the East grow therefore their fruits undergo preliminary processing before being sent for export. Sulphurous gas for conservation of these fruits is not used. Their ripening is accelerated by drying in furnaces at high temperatures.
The low-quality products are presoaked in glucosic syrup that increases its caloric content many times and impacts luscious and sweet relish. When choosing these dried fruits first of all pay attention to their appearance. The surface of qualitative fruits has to be smooth, integral, without cracks and flakings. Existence of cracks indicates that fruits ripened and dried up not on a tree, and were fried in the furnace.
Study useful properties of such dried fruits as: prunes, dried apricots, dried apricots, dried fig and apples.
The thin skin from such dates gets down if to try to wash them. If you buy these dried fruits by weight, be convinced that they did not slezhatsya in a box in uniform layer. If they stuck together with each other or have sugar crystals on a surface, it demonstrates sugar soaking.
Try to pound one of dates in a hand. Its thin skin should not be fat, oily, and pulp should not stick to fingers. Look at color. Too light fruits collected unripe. The quality products have a shade of dark buckwheat honey and an opaque thin skin. However, they can be processed vegetable oils for the best safety therefore sometimes their surface shines. Choose dried fruits with a clean sweetish smell, avoid the mold, sour and overroasted notes. Also buy only those dried fruits in which there is a stone — they are more safe in respect of a bacterial obsemeneniye.
Whether you know? At excavation of ancient Egyptian settlements the frescos demonstrating that residents of Ancient Egypt produced wine from fruits of a date palm tree were found. This culture is known to mankind already more than seven thousand years and there is it from east countries. In the early sixties the last century at excavation of one of the Egyptian tombs the stone of a date fruit was found. Its long time was stored, and then managed to be couched in 2005 that demonstrates improbable viability of these seeds.
How to store dried dates in house conditions
If you bought these fruits in an original cardboard packing, do not shift them in other capacity. Shift the dried fruits acquired by weight in the glass, ceramic capacity or a container from food plastic. Capacity for storage of these fruits has to be dry and exclusively clean as they are subject to fermentation processes.
Put the packed and hermetically closed dates in the fridge and take in the portions as required. In such look they can remain about one year. Dates which store in a tight package in the freezer keep the properties from three to five years, is dependent on cooling temperature.
One more way of storage provides crushing of these fruits. Date paste in the frozen look can be stored about half a year, and in the fridge — two-three weeks. To prepare paste, wash dried fruits with weak soap solution, rinse with flowing water and scald boiled water. Take stones, crush pulp in the blender and put the turned-out puree in a clean glass jar with a tight cover.
You should not hold these dried fruits in the open air and at sunlight. The plastic bag is not suitable for storage too as in it dates will sour and will choke. Optimum temperature of storage — +12 °C. At the room temperature on their surface the pathogenic microflora quickly develops, and they become unsuitable in food.
Important! Do not allow an otsyrevaniye of these fruits in storage time. In pulp which became impregnated with moisture fermentation processes which spoil this product begin.
How many it is possible to eat in day
When calculating average norm of dates it is necessary to consider the general caloric content of a day diet. For adult men the day norm of dried fruits is fifteen-twenty pieces, for the woman — ten-fifteen, depending on physical load.
Children of three years can eat five-seven fruits a day. Kids to three-year age can include dates in structure of compotes, kissels and pastries.
Contraindications
These fruits can do much harm that who suffers from individual intolerance. In addition, people need to use them with care with chronic diseases of digestive tract. During the periods of aggravations dates cannot be eaten in general. In limited quantity they should be accepted in food to people with an excess weight and those who has diabetes of any type. Also dates can accelerate development of caries therefore soon after their inclusion in food it is recommended to rinse or clean teeth.
Whether you know? At the beginning of the 20th century in Israel the campaign for revival of date plantations began. Thousands of saplings began to take out illegally from neighboring countries — Egypt, Iraq and even Pakistan. They were brought through seaports smuggling, divided on grades and carried through the whole country. For the present moment the largest plantation is the Beit-Sheansky plantation. On it more than sixteen thousand trees grow.
Dates are a unique gift of the nature. They sate, give strength, energy and strengthen a human body. Their vitamin structure is rich, and the nutrition value is caused by the high content of carbohydrates. In total the handful of these dried fruits in day covers a half of daily need of the adult for potassium and phosphorus. He is included in baby food from six-month age and recommended to add to a diet of pregnant women. At the moderate use, dates will bring to an organism only benefit and also will become a useful and tasty alternative to harmful store sweets.