Superfood of the Week: Dates
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Dates are not the most visually appealing of foods, trust me, I know. They look like a larger, more shriveled version of the raisin. But as a nutritionist [in training] and a food lover, I am now allowed to be choosy based on appearance. Some of the best foods for us are not good looking, at all. So that is why I’m giving the ol’ date a chance, due to it’s amazing health benefits!
Gastrointestinal health & Weight management
To begin with, our friend the date is very high in dietary fiber, which helps to regulate your digestive system and keep you fuller longer. Along these same lines, dates are often categorized as “laxative foods” because they work to alleviate constipation and, well, you know the rest. Along with the fiber content, the nicotinic content in dates are beneficial for helping to alleviate the pain from intestinal disorders, as well as work to cure and prevent them! The continuous intake of dates help to maintain a healthy amount of pathological organisms [good bacteria] in your intestines. Due to the prevalence of fiber, dates made a great mid afternoon snack.
Vitamins
Instead of a pill, grab a date!
Along with dietary fiber, dates are also high in potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium! [According to Organicfacts.com]. These vitamins and minerals that are found in this superfood are key for strong muscle development, for recovery from illness, muscle tear/break and intoxication, in preventing abdominal cancer and intestinal disease as well as work to prevent weight gain, heart problems and even sexual weakness! [Dates have been found to increase sexual stamina in the human body!]
Dates are grown on Date Palms and ripen in four different stages. The picture above depicts a date in it’s early ripening stage.
Although you now know how healthy this fruit is, I can’t blame some of you for still shying away due to it’s appearance and flavor [they are very sweet and taste a bit like honey]. However, I have found a recipe that will tone down the natural sweetness of the fruit as well as hide the unappealing appearance. I can’t wait to try it out at my next dinner party!
Dates with Goat Cheese Wrapped in Prosciutto
Photo courtesy of Self Magazine
Ingriedients
- 1/3 cup herbed goat cheese
- 16 dates [make sure they are pitted]
- 16 basil leaves
- 4 slices prosciutto [wide and long, preferably], each cut into 4 long strips
- 16 toothpicks, soaked in water 10 minutes
Preparation
Nutritional Information:
187 calories [per 2 servings], 3 g.m. fat, 6 g. protein
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