To us, the inhabitants of the middle latitudes, dates seem to be nothing more than a sweetness. But for other nations, this is an important food product. The date palm began to be cultivated one of the first. It is known that already in Ancient Egypt they harvested these fruits. The medicinal properties of dates have long been valued. The nomadic peoples of the Arabian desert, these fruits replaced bread. After all, the calorie content of dried dates is quite high. Which one? We will talk about this in the article. Each food product is beneficial and harmful. Below we will consider this issue. We will also tell you what dishes can be prepared from these sweet, fibrous and very nutritious fruits.
What are dates?
These are the fruits of certain varieties of palm trees. They have an elongated cylindrical shape, in color - bright red or yellow, depending on the variety (total varieties, there are about 1500). Fresh ripe dates have a smooth skin and contain a lot of moisture, making the taste seem less sweet. To extend the shelf life of the product, the fruit is dried or dried. And in this form, dates can be stored for years. Only dried fruits come to us for sale. But they retain unique beneficial properties and delicious taste. The calorie content of dried dates varies depending on the variety. On average, this figure is 274 kcal per hundred grams of product. In addition to the nutritional properties of dates, it should be noted a high content of carbohydrates - 69.2 g. Proteins in tropical fruits 2.5 g, and fats - only 0.5 g. Dates do not contain cholesterol at all. This is another plus.
Product Origin
The calorie content of dried dates, indicated above, is very approximate, as, however, are data on proteins and carbohydrates. Mankind has been cultivating a palm tree for over seven thousand years, and during this time people were able to get completely different varieties. By the way, recently in Israel, scientists successfully sprouted a date stone found during excavations of a tomb two thousand years ago. This palm variety has disappeared more than five hundred years ago. It is believed that he possesses unique healing properties. The birthplace of date palms is the territory from the banks of the Nile to the Euphrates. But now the trees are cultivated in all countries where the climate is hot and dry. This is not only Egypt and other countries of the Arab world, but also the American state of California, Australia, South Africa. The leader in the supply of this product is Saudi Arabia.
Varieties
The calorie content of dried dates largely depends on the variety. For example, Deglet Nur, grown in Algeria, is very nutritious. One hundred grams of the product contains 415 kilocalories. Moreover, it is also very sweet. By their nutritional value, such fruits are quite comparable to a pork chop! For comparison: 100 g of strawberries contains 53 kilocalories - eight times less than in dates Deglet nur. But the most nutritious is the Mejul variety. The fruits are like little fingers. The calorie content of 1 dried date of this variety is 66 kcal.
The Chinese species - unabi, or youyuba - gives small oval red-brown fruits. They are consumed senile, because then a delicious aroma appears. Unabi is used in Asian cuisine for making jams, mousses and spices.
Canary dates began to be cultivated recently - from the end of the XIX century. Palm leaves are so sharp that they can be cut, but they have healing properties. Their juice is used for burns, skin diseases, mastopathy.
Classification of dates
Also, the fruits are divided into dry, medium and soft. A fully ripe date is fleshy, it has a golden brown smooth skin. Soft and medium grades in raw form quickly deteriorate, so they are dried or dried.
There is another classification. After all, nutritionists are interested not only in the calorie content of dried dates in 100 grams, but also in their sugar content. Soft and medium grades contain mainly glucose, fructose and dextrose. This is invert sugar. It can be used by people with diabetes. Unfortunately, dry varieties are mostly rich in sucrose (similar to the one found in tropical reeds). The sweetness of the fetus and its high nutritional value allow you to quickly get enough and drive away a feeling of hunger. If you want to reduce the number of calories in your diet, eat not dried, but dried fruits. Due to the moisture content, their nutritional value becomes lower. The calorie content of dried dates is about 300 kcal per hundred grams.
Product benefits
This is a real pharmacy in one product! Dates contain those minerals and amino acids that are absent in our domestic apples, pears and plums. Therefore, you need to indulge yourself from time to time with a wonderful tropical dried fruit. Dates are rich in vitamins (A, B1, B6, B2, C). They have niacin and pantothenic acid, which contribute to the digestibility of carbohydrates by the body. Pectin and selenium in dates reduce the risk of cancer. Fruits strengthen the immune system, nourish the blood, promote the development of beneficial microflora in the intestines. Frequent eating of dates leads to a person becoming stronger hair, nails, tooth enamel. They are useful for brain activity, so they are advised to use them in preparation for exams. Dates are indispensable as a birth aid. They strengthen the muscles of the uterus. If a pregnant woman includes them in her diet, childbirth will pass easily and without complications. Perfectly restored dried dates. The calorie content of this product earned him the fame of “desert bread”.
Harm of dates
Like any food product, this tropical fruit has its drawbacks. First of all, it is a sweetness. Saturation of dates with sucrose can jeopardize the health of the diabetic. Children should not get involved in sweet fruits, as this leads to the development of caries. Although, according to nutritionists, it's better for kids to eat dates than very dubious candies, chocolate bars and bars. You also need to use tropical fruits with caution in obese people. After all, dried dates, whose calorific value is comparable to the calorie content of meat cutlets, do not contribute to weight loss. In addition, they are difficult for the stomach.
Dates in gastronomy
Palm plays a huge role in the life of the peoples of the Arab world. Everything is used in it - from wood and leaves to fruit seeds. Of the latter, they make ... coffee. Jam, stuffing for culinary products is prepared from the fruits. There are date flour, honey, sugar, soda, wine, vinegar. Fruits are added to salads, stews and pilaf are made with them, knead in dough. When buying dates, make sure that the product is dried, but not stale. It should not have crystals of sugar and mold. It is better to take a packaged product. Reviews praise Le Palmier products. The calorie content of dates with seeds (dried) is lower. These fruits have a whitish flesh, they are not as sugary as others.