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All About Dates | Know Your Khajoor (Phoenix dactylifera)

All About Dates | Know Your Khajoor or Khajur (Phoenix dactylifera)

Dates is also known as Khajur or Khajoor (Phoenix dactylifera)

Health benefits of dates, benefits of khajur

All About Health Benefits of Dates | Know Your Dates or Benefits of Khajoor (Phoenix dactylifera) – Dates or khajoor are often associated with dessert; their natural sweetness and rich flavor are really decadent.

However, there are some pretty impressive health benefits of dates too.

Dates are cultivated all over the world today especially across tropical regions. Khajoor are sweet and chewy, and are available as soft, semi-dry and dry varieties.

Dates produce heat in the body so they are highly recommended during winters.

What is the nutrition value & health benefits of Dates?

What is the nutritional value of dates?

Dates are low in fat and protein content but rich in sugars, mainly fructose and glucose.

Dates provide a high source of energy, as 100 g of flesh can contribute an average of 314 kcal. Ten minerals are reported in Dates, the major being selenium, copper, potassium, and magnesium.

Dates contain more polyphenols than most other fruits and vegetables. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds that can protect the body from inflammation.

Dates can satisfy a person’s sweet tooth while also providing essential nutrients, such as vitamin B-6 and iron.

You can replace your sugar, chocolate chips, or candies in baking recipes with dates to ensure you are eating natural sugars instead of refined sugars.

The calorie content of dates is similar to that to dried fruits like raisins and walnuts. Most of the calories come from carbohydrates that help provide energy to the body.

What is the Indian name for Dates?

Indian names for Dates are Khajur or Khajoor in Hindi. States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Rajasthan are the major date producing lands in India.

The varieties of dates majorly cultivated in India are Medjool, Ajwa, Safawi, Barhee, Khudri & Kimia.

What is the history & story behind dates?

Know more about the history and origins of dates or khajur.

Greek mythology connects the dates or date palm to the immortal Phoenix. In Natural History, Pliny the Elder describes the phoenix bird, who would build its next at the top of a date palm.

After 500 years, the bird would catch fire from the flames of the sun and would be reborn from its own ashes. Some legends say that the date palm would die and come back to life along with the famous bird.

In fact, the word date can be traced back to the Greek word daktylos, which means “finger” and “toe.”

Considered the oldest cultivated fruit in the world, there is fossil evidence indicates that dates go back at least 50 million years ago.

The ancient Hebrews made wine & vinegar from dates. They also used dates for making bread, and cakes. Date fruit stones were used to fatten livestock and the wood to make utensils.

Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East and the Indus Valley for thousands of years. They are believed to have originated around what is now Iraq.

The ancient Egyptians used the fruits to make date wine, and ate them at harvest. It is believed, the palm fronds used in Roman triumphal processions to symbolise victory were most likely those of date palms.

Throughout history dates have been recognised as an energising staple food and are sometimes referred to as the “bread of the desert” or “cake of the poor” or “fruit of the palm“.


All about dates or khajur (phoenix dactylifera)


What are the uses of Dates?

Know more about how Dates are used

Dates have been the staple food and chief source of wealth in the irrigable deserts of North Africa and the Middle East.

All parts of the date palm yield products of economic value. The date palm trunk furnishes timber; the midribs of the leaves supply material for crates and furniture; the leaflets, for basketry; the leaf bases, for fuel.

The fruit stalks of date palm are used for rope and fuel; the fibre, for cordage and packing material; and the seeds are sometimes ground and used as stock feed.

Syrup, alcohol, vinegar, and a strong liquor are derived from dates. Date sap is also used as a beverage, either fresh or fermented. When a palm is cut down, its tender terminal bud is eaten as a salad.

What is the taste of Dates?

Learn more about what Dates taste like?

The sugar content in dates is extremely high and that makes dates sweet. The sugar gets more and more intense as dates dry and moisture leaves the fruit making them sweeter.

However, eating dates in moderation is unlikely to raise a person’s blood sugar excessively, even if they have diabetes.

How long do Dates last?

Learn about how long do dates last.

Fresh dates may hold for up to two weeks if kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Dried dates can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months or the refrigerator for up to a year.

How many dates can a diabetic eat in a day?

Are dates healthy for diabetics?

Though dates  are one of the sweetest fruits, they are also a rich sources of carbohydrates and energy. Diabetics can eat 3-4 dates a day as long as they are maintaining a healthy routine.

Is there a substitute for fresh Dates?

Learn how to use a substitute for fresh Dates.

If you need a substitute for dates you can use dried figs or dried raisins. You can also pit your own dates. You can also use pomegranate molasses instead of dates paste.

How to eat dates?

Learn how to consume dates in your food & beverages.
  • Eat them raw. But due to high sugar content, moderate consumption is recommended.
  • Add 4–5 dates to your banana smoothie for a healthy morning breakfast.
  • Add chopped dates to your salads
  • Make a raita with dates.
  • Stuff dates with almonds, pecans, cream cheese, or pistachios for a snack.
  • Dates taste great in Moroccan stews or tagine dishes.
  • Blend dates with nuts, cranberries & coconut and roll them into energy balls.
  • Make a really nutritious tomato date soup, ideal for winters.

What are the health benefits of Dates?

Learn about health benefits of Khajur

Health Benefits of Dates or Medical Benefits of Khajoor

  • Health benefits of dates for improving bone health – Not getting enough vitamin D from sunlight in winters can deteriorate your bone health. You can surely prevent this by including dates in your diet. They are an excellent source of calcium that helps to keep bones and teeth strong.
  • Health benefits of khajoor for heart health – Dates are high in both potassium and fiber. They help to reduce bad cholesterol which indirectly helps to lessen the risk of heart diseases. Dates also contain isoflavones that are known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Health benefits of dates in providing energy – Dates can boost up your energy levels immediately when you feel lethargic or sluggish in those winter days. They also help in keeping your body warm in winters.
  • Health benefits of khajoor for anemia –If you happen to suffer with severe anaemia, which causes tiredness or fatigue, chest pain or shortness of breath, then consume dates and also get your blood purified naturally, with a home remedy.
  • Health benefits of dates in skin & hair health – Date palm oil is an important ingredient in many cosmetic products as well as soaps.
  • Health benefits of khajoor for digestion – Dates are a natural laxative fruit and rich in dietary fiber that help in curing constipation. It is healthy and regulates your bowel movements. You can soak dates overnight and consume them in the morning like a syrup.
  • Health benefits of dates for your nervous system – Dates are rich in vitamins and minerals which boosts the health and functionality of your nervous system. It also controls the heart rate and maintains blood pressure of your body.
  • Health benefits of khajoor for digestion –Eating antioxidant-rich foods like Dates can also help you deal with gastritis, a condition in which the stomach lining is inflamed
  • Health benefits of dates for treating night blindness – Dates contain Vitamin A which keeps your eyes healthy. It also prevents many eye diseases such as night blindness.
  • Health benefits of khajoor as antioxidants –Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds that can protect the body from inflammation. Dates contain more polyphenols than most other fruits and vegetables.
  • Health benefits of dates as an anti-aging agent – Dates are a rich source of antioxidants that effectively counters the production of free radicals in your skin. It prevents accumulation of melanin in your skin and wrinkles.
Health Benefits of Dates, Benefits of Khajur
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Dates Paste | Khajoor Ka Paste | Paste of Dates

Dates Paste | Khajoor Ka Paste | Paste of Dates - Date paste is the best natural sweetener because they are loaded with fibre and essential minerals, like calcium and iron. Here's how to make date paste, a healthy substitute for sugar.
Course Breakfast, Condiment, Paste
Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword Dates Paste, Khajoor Paste, Make Dates Paste, Make Paste of Dates, Natural Sweetener Alternatives, Paste of Dates
Prep Time 5 minutes
Blending Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 24 Tablespoons
Calories 104kcal
Author Sumit Malhotra

Ingredients

  • 500 g pitted organic dates medjool or any other variety
  • 180 ml Hot water for soaking the dates
  • 1/2 cup water for processing to paste
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl place pitted dates in a bowl
  • Add of 180ml hot or boiling water to the pitted dates, cover and soak overnight.
  • After soaking, add sea salt to the soaked dates.
  • Place the dates and 1/2 cup of water in a food processor and process dates until very smooth or paste like scraping down the bowl to make sure all of the dates are incorporated.
  • Store refridgerated in an air tight container and use in your favourite recipes.

Notes

  • Keep the date paste covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
  • If you’re using particularly dry dates, hot water is required to soften them.
  • To make a date spread recipe: I recommend adding a pinch of salt and some vanilla extract with either water or dairy-free milk to thin it to a spreadable consistency.

Tools & Equipment Used For This Recipe

The links below the image lead to product links on Amazon.in & Amazon.com respectively

Health benefits of dates, benefits of khajur

All About Health Benefits of Dates | Know Your Dates or Benefits of Khajoor (Phoenix dactylifera) – Dates or khajur are often associated with dessert; their natural sweetness and rich flavor are really decadent.

However, there are some pretty impressive health benefits of dates too.

Dates are cultivated all over the world today especially across tropical regions. They are sweet and chewy, and are available as soft, semi-dry and dry varieties.

Dates produce heat in the body so they are highly recommended during winters.

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