31 Days of Raw: Day #10 - Dates!!!

31 Days of Raw: Day #10
Dates!

Ahhhh, dates, how I love you. Nature’s candy, my favorite sweet, and good for me as well!! They are my choice of sweeteners for anything sweet – cookies, candies, cakes, pies, shakes, etc.  We are so conditioned to eat anything sweet minimally that we apply the same thought process to sweet fruits. Ah ha, but dates are not refined sugar, and will actually help your health, prevent disease, cure constipation and lots of other fun medicinal properties.  Of course, moderation is always necessary, but don’t be afraid of dates.  Enjoy them!  Let’s find out what’s so wonderful before we make little candies. ;)

Dates

Nutritionally Abundant:
Dates are very good source of dietary fiber, protein and are rich in vitamin C, vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B5 and vitamin A1. There are 20 different kinds of amino acids which ease the digestive process. Dates are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. According to the American Cancer Society, consuming 20-35 grams of dietary fiber every day is healthy for your body.

Great Energy Booster:
Dates are considered to be one of the best energy boosting snacks as they are power-packed with 29 grams of natural sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose. They also contain 31 grams of carbohydrate and 3 grams of dietary fiber. These qualities of dates make them the rightful candidate for boosting energy. Adding dates in milk can be a very nutritious snack for both kids and adults.

Low in Calories:
Dates have a very low calorie count; around 23 calories for a single date fruit. That is why it is also suitable for health conscious people.

Dates are Rich in Potassium and Low in Sodium:
One of the key health benefits of dates is its ability to regulate a healthy nervous system, thanks to the rich potassium content. Research has recommended that higher intake of potassium (about 400 mg) can cut the risk of stroke by 40 percent.  Other important mineral salts include copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous. They also have a dense concentration of phenol antioxidants and other nutrients. Another key health benefit of dates is its ability to lower undesirable LDL cholesterol.

Constipation:
Date is termed to be a laxative food. This is the reason that dates are beneficial for people suffering from constipation. For getting the laxative effect from dates, you need to soak dates for one full night in water. You should consume these soaked dates in the morning like syrup to get their actual advantages.

Intestinal Disorders:
The nicotinic content that is present in the dates is said to be beneficial for curing any kinds of intestinal disorders. Continuous intake of dates helps to maintain a check on the growth of the pathological organisms and thus, helps in the rise of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

Gaining Weight & Weight Gain:
Dates are said to be a part of healthy diet. They consist of sugar, fats, proteins as well as many essential vitamins. If the dates are consumed with the paste of cucumber, one can easily come out from the problem of over-slimming. One kilogram of dates contains almost 3,000 calories. These calories alone are sufficient to meet the daily requirements of a human body.

Healthy Heart:
Dates are quite helpful in maintaining your heart in a healthy condition. When soaked for a night and crushed in the morning and consumed, they prove to be quite advantageous for weak hearts. They help in fortifying the heart, if taken twice in a week.

Sexual Weakness:
Dates are even beneficial for increasing sexual stamina in the human body. A handful of dates, when soaked in fresh goat's milk for the night and then grinded in the same milk with the mixture of cardamom powder and honey, becomes a very useful tonic for increasing sex endurance and sterility caused due to functional disorders.

Diarrhea:
Ripe dates contain potassium. Potassium is beneficial for controlling diarrhea. They are easily digestible, which helps to cope up with the problems of diarrhea.

Intoxication:
Dates are known as an excellent remedy for alcoholic intoxication. Dates provide quick relief in the case of alcoholic intoxication. They should be rubbed and soaked overnight for getting more nutritious values from them.

Abdominal Cancer:
Dates are beneficial for curing abdominal cancer. They work as useful tonic for all age groups. They work as better as the medicines, and are natural and do not bear any side effects in the body. They can be easily digested and used for supplying extra and needed energy.

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Date/Cashew Candies

• 10 medjool dates
• 10 raw cashews

Cut lengthwise down each date and extract their pits. Place cashew in pit’s place. Savor slowly. ;)

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