Sweeter Than Sugar and Good for You

There are so many concerns recently about the consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners. They have been linked to such a wide variety of health issues and are one of the hardest addictions to overcome.  Problems are also caused from what many people consider ’natural ingredients’ such as maple syrup, honey, corn syrup, agave nectar and stevia (an upcoming blog post will tell how not all stevia is created equal).

A natural alternative to these problems is dates!!

They are a whole food that is good for us. They are high in fiber along with several vitamins and minerals. They contain potassium, phosphorous, calcium, iron, manganese, copper and magnesium.

Eating one date a day helps prevent constipation, intestinal disorders, heart problems, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea and colon cancer.

Dates provide natural energy because the fiber content allows for a steady release of the valuable nutrients. Dates are even good for your eyesight and help prevent night blindness.
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Many people succumb to sugar cravings in the mid-afternoon. This is caused from a deficiency of magnesium. A solution to this problem is to eat a few dates and a couple stalks of celery or some leafy greens.  You can also carry chlorella tabs or a green powder with you along with your dates when you are going to be away from home. When you start to think about that candy bar or can of soda, drink a glass of water. If you still have the craving after 15 minutes, eat a date with a stalk of celery or greens. If you still have the craving, have another until the craving is gone. If dates are eaten with a cucumber they will help you lose excess weight.

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You can use date syrup in your favorite beverages or recipes.  It’s available commercially at “Organics Are For Everyone“

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You can make your own date syrup by combining 1/4 lb. pitted dates with 1 cup of water in your high-speed blender (my favorite is the Vita-Mix) and blend until smooth (this takes about 30 seconds). 

If you want a date paste consistency, combine 1/2 lb. pitted dates and 1 cup of water.  This will stay fresh in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.

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It is a common practice to break a fast by eating dates soaked in water.  This helps prevent overeating after a fast because of the high nutrient density of this fruit.

Dates are said to be the oldest cultivated fruit in the world. There are fossils showing date palm trees were here 50 million years ago.

There are more than 100 varieties of dates, around 12 of which are grown in the US. They are classified as soft, semidry or dry.

Soft dates such as the Medjool, Khadrawy, Halawy and Barhi have a sweet, creamy flesh because of their high moisture content.

Semi-dry dates such as Deglet Noor and Zahidi have less moisture, sweetness and chewiness.
The most popular date in the US is the Deglet Noor date, which is 90-95% of California’s date harvest. They are medium chewy and firm. They are also called “bread dates”. Deglet dates are about three times smaller than a Medjool Dates, which is important to know when they are used in a recipe.
 
When you add dates to any recipe that calls for sugar or other sweeteners, you are adding a nutrient-dense food. Therefore you are not only decreasing the unfavorable sugar, you are increasing the nutrient value of the food.

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After you are free from sugar cravings your taste buds will be so sharp, you’ll enjoy whole fresh fruits and they’ll taste  better than you ever remember in your life!  Fresh, whole organic fruit with lots of leafy greens is what your body and mind will crave and you’ll be happier and healthier than you ever dreamed possible!


Please share your favorite way to use dates in the comment section below, we’d all like to know!

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