12 Benefits of Dates, from Health to Weight Loss

Kapanlagi.com - Who doesn't know dates, a brown fruit with a soft texture that turns out to have many benefits. The benefits of dates have been proven, in terms of health, beauty, and also for weight loss.

The fruit that grows abundantly in the Middle East region is also widely consumed during breaking the fast. Curious about the benefits of dates? Reported from various sources, here are the benefits of dates that you must know.

1. Contains Antioxidants

Dates contain antioxidants (credit: Pixabay)

Antioxidants are substances that can protect the body from free radicals, and dates contain many antioxidants. When free radicals are blocked by antioxidants, the possibility of organ damage or cell mutation can be avoided.

There are three main types of antioxidants found in dates, namely flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids. All three are believed to protect the body from various diseases such as Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, cancer, and heart disease.

2. Helps Control Blood Sugar

One of the benefits of dates is that it can help control blood sugar (credit: Pixabay)

Many people know that dates can effectively control blood sugar levels because they have a low glycemic index. The glycemic index indicates how quickly the food consumed affects blood sugar levels in the body, and dates have a very low index.

Therefore, dates can help control blood sugar levels. The fiber content in dates and their antioxidants can also assist in maintaining controlled blood sugar levels.

3. Improving Bone Health

Date Palm Tree (credit: id.wikipedia.org)

Another benefit of dates is that it can help improve bone health. This is because dates contain a lot of minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. All of these minerals can help protect the bones from conditions like osteoporosis. And a study has shown that dates contain boron, which can help maintain bone health.

4. Strengthening Brain Function

Date Seller (credit: id.wikipedia.org)

When you consume dates regularly, you can reduce the activity of beta-amyloid proteins that can form plaques in the brain. Plaques are a soft layer consisting of a collection of microorganisms and can multiply on a surface. If plaques accumulate in the brain, they can disrupt communication between brain cells, which can lead to cell death. This is one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

5. Skin Beauty

Dates also have benefits for skin beauty (credit: Pixabay)

In addition to health benefits, it turns out that dates also have benefits for skin beauty, KLovers. Dates contain vitamin C which can prevent damage from free radicals, stimulate collagen production, and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Dates can also moisturize the skin on the face, as the content of vitamins A, C, and E allows dates to regenerate the skin, keeping it moist. You can consume dates directly as fruit or in juice form. You can also use dates as an ingredient for a face mask.

6. Hair Beauty

Benefits of Dates for Hair Beauty (credit: Pixabay)

Not only for the skin, it turns out that the benefits of dates can also be used for hair, KLovers. Dates contain vitamin B, which includes biotin and niacin, that can strengthen and maintain the condition of the hair, making it shiny and black.

You can make your own hair mask at home using dates and olive oil. If this activity is done regularly, you will get maximum results.

7. Satisfying

Dates are also filling (credit: Pixabay)

Due to its high fiber content, dates make a good food for someone who is on a diet program. The fiber in dates makes a person feel full just by eating them.

The satisfying benefits of dates come from its protein content, as the protein in dates is difficult to digest, resulting in a longer transition time in the large intestine. That's why dates can make a person feel full.

Dates can also prevent sudden blood glucose spikes and fat absorption. Dates can also increase metabolism in the body, thanks to the fiber in dates that is not digested by the intestines and is fermented by good bacteria in the large intestine, becoming short-chain fatty acids. These short-chain fatty acids are consumed by bacteria to increase metabolism in the body.

8. Losing Weight

The benefits of dates in losing weight (credit: Pixabay)

Not only filling, it turns out that another benefit of dates is that they can help in losing weight. How is that possible? It's because dates contain unsaturated fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation. And this inflammation occurs due to an unhealthy lifestyle and can lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, liver disease, and obesity.

In this case, dates can help with obesity caused by inflammation that occurs in the body due to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. To start, you can consume dates regularly to have a positive effect on the body.

9. Improving Digestion

Dates can aid digestion (credit: Pixabay)

To help with weight loss, dates can also improve digestion, KLovers. The anthocyanin, phenolic, and carotenoid content found in dates can eliminate toxins and improve metabolism and digestion in the body. And it can lead to weight loss.

10. Assisting the Delivery Process

Benefits of dates for pregnancy (credit: Pixabay)

In addition to being beneficial for health and beauty, it turns out that the benefits of dates can also assist in the delivery process for pregnant mothers. The Pubmeb Journal in the United States explains that regularly consuming dates in the third trimester of pregnancy can prevent the risk of various complications for both the mother and the baby during the delivery process.

It is also known that the vitamin K found in dates can help with bone growth in infants who are breastfed by mothers who regularly consume dates. Additionally, dates contain folic acid which is beneficial in preventing birth defects caused by attacks on the brain and spinal cord.

11. Accelerating Contractions

Dates can be consumed by pregnant women (credit: Pixabay)

Another benefit of dates during childbirth is that they accelerate contractions. This is because dates stimulate the production of oxytocin hormones in the body, which facilitates the delivery process.

In addition, the serotonin, calcium, and tannin levels help with contractions in the uterine muscles, allowing contractions to occur more quickly. Furthermore, the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in dates also produce prostaglandins that are needed for childbirth.

12. Postpartum Recovery

Benefits of dates (credit: Pixabay)

And the last benefit of dates is that they can help with postpartum recovery. This is because dates produce oxytocin hormone which is useful in stopping bleeding and restoring uterine function. That is why dates are good to consume both before and after giving birth.

Those are the 12 benefits of dates that you must know, not only to help with health recovery, beauty, and weight loss, but also dates can help with the childbirth process and help maintain our body's health.

(kpl/dhm/gen)