Latest news with #dates
Health Line
a day ago
- Health
- Health Line
6 Benefits of Medjool Dates
You can eat Medjool dates raw, dried, or as a sugar alternative in recipes. They contain fiber and other beneficial nutrients, including iron and potassium. Medjool dates are a variety of dates enjoyed for their natural sweetness. They're larger, darker, and more caramel-like in taste than other common types like Deglet Noor. As tropical stone fruits, they have a single pit surrounded by edible flesh. Native to Morocco, Medjool dates come from the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) and are now grown in warm regions of the United States, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. They're often sold dried but not dehydrated, making them soft and sticky. Their sugars become more concentrated as they dry, increasing their sweetness. This article explains the nutritional content, benefits, and uses of Medjool dates. Medjool date nutrition facts Medjool dates are a concentrated source of healthy nutrients. Just 2 dates (48 grams) provide: Calories: 133 Carbs: 36 grams Fiber: 3.2 grams Protein: 0.8 grams Sugar: 32 grams Fat: 0 grams Calcium: 2% of the Daily Value (DV) Iron: 2% of the DV Potassium: 7% of the DV Copper: 19% of the DV Vitamin B6: 7% of the DV Magnesium: 6% of the DV Dates offer a significant amount of fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, potassium, B vitamins, copper, and magnesium. Medjool dates contain significantly more calcium than other common varieties like Deglet Noor. Calorie and sugar content Dates are a concentrated source of natural sugars. While people who monitor their blood sugar may need to moderate their intake of dates, one 2016 clinical trial found that this stone fruit has a glycemic index (GI) of 55.3, which is considered low. A recent study also found that eating dates did not negatively impact blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, Medjool dates pack many calories in a small serving, so you may want to limit your intake. Dried fruits, such as raisins, dried apricots, and prunes, contain more calories per serving than their fresh counterparts because they contain less water. Most of the calories in Medjool dates come from their sugars. Potential health benefits Medjool dates offer several health benefits. May protect your heart The fiber and antioxidants in Medjool dates may help protect your heart. Fiber can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and keep your arteries clean, reducing your risk of heart disease. Just two dates (48 grams) contain over three grams of fiber. One 2013 test-tube study found that Medjool and other date varieties stimulated cholesterol removal from blood cells and prevented the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, which can lead to the buildup of plaque in arteries. Plaque accumulation can eventually block blood flow, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Further research is needed to confirm this. More recent reviews and analyses of human studies show mixed results. A 2024 study concluded that dates may lower total cholesterol and triglycerides and improve HDL (good) cholesterol, but found no consistent reduction in LDL. Another study in 2025 found that dates reduced total cholesterol but had no effect on LDL, HDL, or triglycerides. Medjool dates are also a rich source of antioxidants, which help fight damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. Their carotenoid and phenolic acid antioxidants have both been studied for their beneficial effects on heart health. Supports healthy digestion Fiber is essential to promoting healthy digestion and bowel regularity. Sufficient fiber in your daily diet helps form stool and prevent constipation. Eating enough fiber may also reduce your risk of digestive diseases like colorectal cancer. In a 3-week study, 21 people ate 7 dates (50 grams) daily, significantly improving their bowel movement frequency compared to when they didn't eat dates. High in antioxidants Medjool dates boast several antioxidants, which can protect your cells from oxidative damage that can lead to diseases like cancer, heart disease, and brain ailments. The antioxidants in Medjool dates include flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids, which have been studied for their anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and brain-protective properties. Other potential health benefits Natural fuel for your body. Medjool dates offer a high number of carbs in a small serving. Carbs are your body's primary source of energy. May support bone health. Medjool dates contain a small amount of calcium and are a decent source of potassium, manganese, and copper, all of which are important nutrients for bone health. May protect brain health. Animal studies link dates' antioxidants to lower levels of inflammatory markers and reduced brain plaques associated with conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Bear in mind that more research is needed on these benefits. How to add Medjool dates to your diet Medjool dates are available year-round at most grocery stores. They're often sold along with other dried or raw foods. Some Medjool dates are pitted, but if you purchase ones with pits, you must remove them before eating. Simply slice the date open lengthwise and pull out the pit. These dried fruits make a great sugar alternative due to their sweetness, which comes from fructose, a natural sugar. To substitute Medjool dates for sugar, make a date paste by blending 2 cups (480 grams) of pitted dates with 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) of water. Then, use this paste instead of sugar in your recipes at a 1:1 ratio. You can also add these sweet fruits to smoothies, sauces, and dressings, or chop them in a food processor and use them for no-bake desserts like pie crusts, energy balls, and fruit-and-chocolate bars. What's more, you can fill raw Medjool dates with peanut butter, cheese, nuts, or even cooked grains like rice.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sharjah Chamber announces 9th Al Dhaid Date Festival to kick off on July 23
Sharjah: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) announced the agenda and key features of the 9th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival, which will take place from July 23 to 27 at Expo Al Dhaid. The festival will feature extensive participation from palm farmers and date producers from across the UAE. The announcement was made during a press conference held today (Tuesday) at Expo Al Dhaid, where remarks were delivered by HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI; HE Saeed bin Fadel Al Ketbi, Director of Al Wusta TV Channel; Mohammed Musabeh Al Tunaiji, General Coordinator of Al Dhaid Date Festival, and Rashid Mohair Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Festival's Screening and Evaluation Committee. Also present were HE Dr. Muhammad Abdullah bin Huwaiden, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Al-Dhaid City; and HE Rashid Abdullah Mahyan, Chairman of Central Region Parents Council (CRPC) in Sharjah and strategic partner of the 'Bisharat Al-Qaydh' competition', in addition to several officials and representatives from local media outlets. During the press conference, the top three winners of the inaugural 'Bisharat Al-Qaydh' competition, an initiative launched by the Sharjah Chamber as part of its lead-up to the festival, were honored. Introduced to promote excellence in early date cultivation, the competition aims to reward pioneering farmers committed to cultivating premium early-season dates and to mark the symbolic start of the summer harvest season. It attracted significant participation from local farmers, demonstrating a growing awareness of the value of excellence and innovation in palm agriculture. Speaking at the press conference, HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi said that the Al Dhaid Date Festival has evolved into a prominent cultural and economic platform serving palm cultivators nationwide. He noted that the festival's continued success over nine consecutive years has established it as a comprehensive framework for supporting hundreds of farmers and encouraging the adoption of best practices to produce premium-quality dates while preserving the UAE's rich agricultural heritage. For his part, HE Saeed bin Fadel Al Ketbi pointed to the strategic depth of the partnership established between Al Wusta Channel and the Al Dhaid Date Festival. He affirmed that the channel is committed to delivering integrated media and promotional support, positioning the festival as a key cultural and economic event in Al Dhaid, and a dynamic vehicle for promoting local identity and preserving the region's agricultural heritage. Mohammed Musabeh Al Tunaiji stated that Al Dhaid Date Festival stands as a significant agricultural and trade event in Sharjah, promoting the emirate's broader cultural and economic landscape. He added that the festival serves as a recurring forum that celebrates the palm tree and exemplifies Sharjah's and the UAE's continued investment in agriculture, rural development, and heritage conservation. Meanwhile, Rashid Mohair Al Ketbi pointed out that the festival hosts a diverse selection of competitions, drawing significant interest from participating farmers. These include specialized date contests that reflect farmers' growing interest in new date varieties. He also noted the continuation of a dedicated children's competition, with the 'Kids' Khareef Dates Beauty Contest' gaining special attention since its introduction in the previous edition, aimed at engaging younger generations in this agricultural heritage. He also pinpointed the importance of the festival's competitions dedicated to children, particularly the 'Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty' Contest, which was debuted in last year's edition and gained special attention. The competition is designed to deepen the younger generation's engagement with the UAE's cultural heritage and encourage them to promote the preservation and cultivation of date palm trees. The festival hosts a series of competitive events aimed at promoting agricultural excellence, with attractive prizes allocated to encourage farmer participation. Categories include prominent date varieties like Khneizi, Khalas, and Shishi, in addition to elite divisions: the 'General Dhaid Elite Dates' and the 'Northern Emirates Dhaid Elite Dates'. The agenda further features specialized competitions for local lemons and red figs, alongside a homegrown date competition (only for women) and a contest for Al-Kharaif date variety, dedicated to children. The festival will commence on July 23 with the 'Local Lemon Beauty' and 'Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty' Contests, to be followed by the 'Khneizi Dates Beauty Contest' on July 24 and 'Al-Khalas Dates Beauty Contest' on Friday, July 25. On Saturday, July 26, the festival will host the 'Shishi Dates' competition, while the last day (Sunday, July 27) will feature both the 'General Dhaid Elite Dates' and the 'Northern Emirates Dhaid Elite Dates' competitions. The Organising Committee of the Al Dhaid Date Festival has set a few general conditions and specific terms for participation in the festival's competitions. These include using locally produced dates for the 2025 season that are only grown in the participants' own farms. Applicants must also provide specific documents proving ownership of agricultural land when they register. As part of the specific standards and criteria set for the dates' competitions, participants must present dates that are at an optimal ripeness stage. The dates should be free from insect infestations, dead insects, or any apparent defects, weigh 4kg, and be presented in high-quality baskets. Contestants cannot take part in more than two categories of dates' Individual Varieties in the festival's competitions, but they are entitled to participate in 'Elite Date' categories. Participants must formally pledge compliance, and all judging decisions are final. On-site inspections may be carried out, and entries, once submitted, cannot be reclaimed. The General Dhaid Elite Dates', open to all participants, requires the submission of five distinct varieties, each weighing 3 kilograms, but the 'Northern Emirates Dhaid Elite Dates' competitions require only four varieties, with 4 kilograms per entry. Elite entries must be entirely separate from those submitted in individual categories. As for the local lemon and red fig competitions, the produce must be of local origin, grown on the participant's farm or home garden, and submitted in quantities of 8 kilograms for lemons and 3 kilograms for figs. The Homegrown Dates Competition is limited to women aged 25 and above from the Northern Emirates. Participants must submit 4 kilograms of dates (Khneizi, Khalas, or Sheishi varieties) harvested exclusively from their home gardens. Verification of winning entries is conducted through on-site visits. The 'Ratb Al Kharaif Beauty' Contest is designated for children between 7 and 15 years old from Sharjah's Central Region. Each participant is required to submit no less than 3 kilograms of Kharayef dates. For further information, please contact: Ali Elgendy Misbar Communications ali@ Ahmad Aldwairi Misbar Communications
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Date muesli
Step Warm for an extra minute, keeping everything moving in the pan. Take off the heat and stir in a handful of chopped dates.
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Salted date caramel sauce
Step Add the following to a high-speed blender and mix until completely smooth: 75g pitted Medjool dates, 125ml semi-skimmed milk, a pinch of salt and ½ tsp vanilla extract. If you don't have a high-speed blender, you can use a food processor or other mixer but the result may not be as smooth.
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The £2.50 dried fruit that lowers your blood pressure and boosts gut health
Caramelly and chewy, dates are nature's candy – a toffee-sized fruit to satisfy sweet cravings in place of something that comes out of a wrapper. As a nutritionist, I'm a fan. Most in this country are sold dried, not fresh. Popular Medjool dates are larger, richer, softer and therefore pricier than Deglet Noor which have a lighter honey flavour. Either can be enjoyed just as they are, or else added to all manner of both sweet and savoury dishes. Culinary versatility is one of the beauties of dates. Think past date loaf and experiment with adding sweet notes to savoury salads, throwing a handful chopped into a bowl to balance out peppery rocket or sharp cheese. Or try soaking dates in a little hot water for a few minutes then blending into anything from a sweet-and-sour marinade to a sweet-and-acidic vinaigrette. Whizzed to a sticky paste in a food processor, dates also help bind reduced-sugar bakes such as brownies. At their simplest, though, dates can be slit open, pitted and spread with anything from melted chocolate to nut butter to soft cheese. Although more costly than dried fruit such as raisins, dates are so intensely sweet that a little goes a long way. They have a long shelf life, too, so you can enjoy one or two then store the rest in a jar ready to call on as an immediate, hassle-free and nutrient-dense snack. Why are dates nutritious? A small handful of dates (about 34g) counts as one of your five-a-day or 30 plant varieties a week and provides a range of nutrients: 90kcal 20g carbohydrate (naturally occurring sugars) High in fibre (2.6g) High in potassium (247mg) Source of iron (0.75mg) Source of copper (0.01mg) High in chloride (6.1mg) High in manganese (0.23mg) Source of vitamin B3 (niacin, 1.1mg) Dates also provide some magnesium and calcium. Many dried dates contain the allergen sulphur dioxide so check labels if necessary. The health benefits of dates 1. Dates support heart health As fibre-rich carbohydrates, dates help protect the heart: eating more fibre has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Fibre does all this in three ways: It keeps us feeling fuller for longer which can help maintain a healthy body weight, in turn benefitting blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol management It takes longer to digest, delaying the rate at which glucose and fats in our meals are absorbed into the bloodstream It provides food for the friendly bacteria in our guts, encouraging the production of short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs. These SCFAs are thought to have cardio-protective characteristics. 2. Dates are good for the gut As well as being beneficial to heart health, fibre and SCFAs are central to a happy gut, both nourishing the friendly bacteria in our gut microbiome and protecting the gut lining itself. Together these promote a flourishing, healthy gut which has been linked to improved immunity and overall well-being. Polyphenols – powerful compounds contained in all plants, including dates – also nourish our gut microbiome. To reap all these benefits, including keeping our digestive system regular, we should aim to eat 30g of fibre daily but the average UK intake is closer to 18g. Hitting 30g in a day's eating might look like: A handful of dates (2.6g fibre) A bowl of porridge topped with sliced banana and chopped nuts (8.5g) Hummus, granary bread and veggie sticks (12.5g) Vegetable and lentil ragù with wholewheat spaghetti (6.5.g) 3. Dates are micronutrient-rich A handful of dates provides a range of vitamins and minerals which count towards our daily micronutrient targets and help us feel at our best. They're high in potassium and chloride, which control fluid balance, and iron, which helps make the red blood cells that carry oxygen around our bodies. We also need the copper in dates to produce red and white blood cells. They're equally high in manganese, needed to activate enzymes in our body, including those required for digestion. Finally, they provide vitamin B3 (or niacin) which also promotes digestion by helping us release energy from food, as well as supporting the nervous system. 4. Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties As noted above, dates are rich in many polyphenols. These include beta-carotene, lycopene, flavonoids and anthocyanins. All have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics, meaning they help protect the cells in our bodies from damage, illness or toxins. Scientific interest in polyphenols is high and a growing number of studies indicate these polyphenols may have a role to play in either preventing or treating cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity. 5. They slow glucose absorption Sweetened only with fructose (natural fruit sugar), dates make a nutrient-dense, wholefood swap for a processed biscuit when we're craving something sweet. Their GI index – that is the measure of how quickly foods raise blood glucose – is low to medium because their high-fibre content slows digestion, preventing sugars from spiking. 'Dressing them up' by eating them alongside some protein and healthy fat (for example by mixing them with nuts or nut butter) will also blunt glucose absorption. Put together, these factors help you avoid the energy-and-mood roller-coaster of sugar spikes followed by slumps that you'd instead get from eating a sweet biscuit. All the same, it's important to remember that dates are still high in sugar, fruit sugar or not – so they're not to be eaten without any moderation. If consumed regularly in excess, dried fruits, like dates or apricots, can damage teeth, both because they're sugary and because they're sticky and tend to coat tooth enamel. Offset this by eating them either as part of a meal or, if snacking, pairing with another food (like that nut butter again). What does a portion of dates look like? Limit portions to a small handful. It's easy to over-consume dried fruit because it's small and snackable: you'd likely never eat more than one or two whole fresh apricots at once, for example, but you might get through a great many more dried ones without really considering it. And although we tend to normally only eat dates dried, not fresh, the same principle applies and can be useful to help us visualise appropriate portions. In doing so, we can keep sugar and energy intake in check. Using dates in baking Whilst we talk sugar, a final footnote on baking. There's a myth that baking with syrups such as date, maple or honey is more nutritious than baking with caster sugar. It's true that these liquid sweeteners contain less sugar (versus 100g caster sugar, honey contains 80g, date syrup 66g and maple syrup 65g) but do be aware that they're all still considered free sugars and your body will treat them all equally. Free sugars are any that are added to food and drink, plus the sugar in fruit juice, honey and syrups – and we should aim to limit them to prevent tooth decay and weight gain. In any case, blending dates whole at home retains the fibre and other nutrients whilst a shop-bought bottle of date syrup has had all these valuable nutrients stripped out during processing. So, if you want to try baking with date syrup, don't buy it, make your own easy version at home (see Tip 1 below). FAQs Are dates high in iron? Yes, they're a good plant-based source making them particularly useful for vegetarians and vegans who must ensure they get enough. Dried apricots are high in iron, too, so mixing the two fruits together in the muesli and salad below is a simple way to boost intake. Are dates good for arthritis? The polyphenols in dates may help manage arthritis but current scientific evidence isn't conclusive. The NHS recommends a healthy balanced diet to those suffering with arthritis, centred on a variety of fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, healthy fats plus meat, fish, eggs or plant-based protein, such as beans and legumes. Three recipe ideas
