How to choose dates on the market without processing - useful

Benefit

Before you learn how to choose dates, you should study their beneficial properties. The product is high in calories - approximately 220 kcal per 100 g. It is recommended to be used for diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and stomach diseases. Dates are good for colds. They are also valued for their lack of cholesterol.

Fruits should not be consumed only if you have diabetes, as they have a high glycemic index. They are not contraindicated for other people, you just need to observe the measure. A couple of fruits per day are enough to obtain benefits.

Useful properties of dates

Dates are extremely rich in essential amino acids, vitamins B, C, E, K, PP, macronutrients (magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus) and micronutrients (iron, copper, selenium, fluorine), omega-3 and omega-6.

Thanks to such a rich composition, dates have many beneficial properties:

It is worth paying special attention to such useful properties as:

• eliminates heartburn due to the content of glutamic acid;
• have antioxidant and carcinogenic properties;
• strengthen the immune system;
• reduce the risk of heart attack;
• normalize the functioning of the nervous system, improve mental performance;
• They have an antiparasitic effect and are included in the diet in the treatment of amebiasis and giardiasis;
• They reduce the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer;
• Helps cleanse the digestive tract;
• Improves vision, relieves eye strain;
• Increase blood circulation, normalize high blood pressure;
• normalizes cholesterol in the blood;
• increase hemoglobin levels;
• strengthen hair and nails;
• make the skin firm and elastic;
• increasing potency;
• Strengthens the muscles of the uterus, facilitating childbirth;
• improving the psycho-emotional state of a woman after childbirth.

It is worth including dates in the diet of people who are overweight - a handful of dates can easily replace a full meal without harming your figure.

Contraindications

But, in addition to beneficial properties, there are also contraindications:

1. The fruits are rich in a lot of sugars. Healthy people should eat them in moderation so as not to cause diabetes.
2. Dates are a food with high energy value, so their excessive consumption is harmful to obese people.
3. If you eat a lot of date palm fruits, it can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, if there is a risk of such diseases, you need to use the product carefully.
4. Dates and citrus fruits should not be combined in the same dish. This may cause stomach upset.
5. Contraindications include individual intolerance.

Proper storage of fresh and dried dates

Wild dates grow in clusters like this
“Bread of the Desert” - that’s what the fruits of date palms were called in past centuries. They often helped out wanderers, traders, and warriors when all other food spoiled or ran out. By eating a handful of nutritious dates and drinking a few sips of water, one could survive in the desert for several days.

How long dates are stored depends on the conditions in which dried fruits are kept. For example:

5 years

dates can be stored in the freezer

• for fresh fruits, 2–3 months in the refrigerator is the norm;
• dried dates - can last a whole year;
• in the freezer you can extend the shelf life of dates up to 5 years without loss of taste and beneficial properties.​​

Storing Fresh Dates

Fresh dates

• If you bought dates in a cardboard box, you can put them in the refrigerator right in it. But if the packaging is different, then transfer the fruits to a paper bag;
• a shelf under the freezer and a temperature of 0ºC are ideal conditions for fresh dates;
• Do I need to wash fresh fruits? Yes, definitely, but immediately before use. You don’t know how dates are processed. Unscrupulous producers use chemicals to extend the shelf life of fruits;
• If during storage you notice a white coating or an unpleasant odor on the dates, don’t risk it, throw them away.

Storing Dried Dates

Dried dates

• Place the dried dates in a glass jar or plastic container with a tight lid. This way you will protect them from germs, insects, weathering and absorption of foreign odors;
• put the container in the refrigerator, temperature - 0ºC;
• Do not mix dates with other dried fruits. Each of them has its own humidity, and undesirable proximity can lead to damage to both;
• Do not wash dried fruits before storing! Otherwise, you will remove the protective oily layer, and the fruits will quickly rot;
• Every time you take out the quantity of dates you need, rinse them with hot water. This way you will 100% protect yourself from pathogens.

Lack of packaging, fresh air, heat, ultraviolet rays - all this spoils the dates - they become too hard or begin to rot. Under such conditions, the maximum shelf life of dates is 1 year.

How and where do dates grow?

In northern Africa, the fruit serves as a substitute for bread. Date palms have fern-like leaves and the fruits grow in large clusters. Typically, ripe berries are brown-red in color, but they can be yellow, blue-gray, or brown.

The pulp is fibrous, sweet. When ripe, the bunches are cut and dried in the sun. This is how we get the dried fruit known to everyone. They are brought to Russia from Israel, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Morocco, but Saudi Arabia is considered the leader.

Composition and calorie content

The calories in dried dates should not be compared to the same amount of fresh fruit. 100 grams of fresh dates contain 142 kilocalories, and the energy value of the dried product is much more than 277 kcal.

A dry product will always have more calories.

Dried fruit is dehydrated, so it is a concentration of both energy (calories) and nutrients.

The two most popular varieties of dates, Deglet Noor and Medjool, differ slightly in their nutritional content. Both varieties are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

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• Potassium: affects blood pressure and regulates heart function, is involved in protein synthesis, supports the nervous system and muscles;
• Magnesium: is necessary not only for the functioning of the heart and nerves, but also for basic energy transformations in our body;
• Phosphorus: responsible for the skeleton and nervous system;
• Zinc: strengthens the body's resistance to infections, maintains healthy hair and nails;
• Iron: directly affects the ability of blood to carry oxygen, also has a beneficial effect on the immune and nervous systems;
• B vitamins: are critical for the nervous system and metabolism.

Nutritional value of fresh dates (per 100 g) (for popular varieties Deglet Nur and Medjool):

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Is it possible to give dried dates to children?

Date tree fruits can be a healthy and sweet snack for your baby between meals. Using them you can prepare healthy baked goods and desserts without adding sugar.

Recommendations for selection

Here are some simple tips to help you choose quality dates:

1. It is necessary to pay attention to the color of the fruit. They cannot be light or greenish. Quality products have a uniform dark color.
2. It is important to check the integrity of the packaging. It must be tightly closed without damage. In this case, the fruits last much longer, and the product will be fresh.
3. The overall appearance of the product is important. Dates should not be hard, it is important that they do not shine.
4. How to choose the right dates? The skin should not be cracked if there has been natural drying. And this disadvantage appears when drying in an oven to speed up the process. They are fine to eat, but the taste is not the same as a properly prepared product.
5. You must ensure that the product is fresh. It should not have a fermented smell or wrinkled appearance. Such signs indicate storage violations.
6. The fruits should not stick together. If sugar crystals are present, the dates are treated with syrup for additional sweetening.
7. How to choose good dates? Fruits should not be fatty. They do not have stickiness or slipperiness, they are pleasant to the touch and non-greasy.
8. It is advisable to choose fruits with seeds. They are subject to little processing and are therefore considered healthy.

How to choose the right dates for the greatest benefit?

The following characteristics can be used to identify ripe, minimally processed dates:

• the color of the dates should be a uniform dark brown;
• they should be dull, and the fruits should be whole, not hard;
• Naturally dried dates without cracks in the skin; if they have been oven-dried, the skin should be flaky, they may be very dark in color, have a roasted taste, and be sticky when chewed
• dried fruits during fermentation are poorly dried dates that have lain for quite a long time;
• Dates that have sugar crystals stuck on them indicate that they have been treated with syrup;
• Dates coated with fat will have a shiny surface and the fat can be easily felt with your fingers;
• Never buy dates with traces of mold on the peel.

Pitted dates are said to be less processed and still contain more nutrients than pitted dates. The same theory applies to all other dried fruits with seeds.

Storage

You need to know not only how to choose dates, but also how to store them. They require a cool room, so it is better to place them in the refrigerator. In this case, the container must be closed tightly to prevent foreign odors from penetrating.

If you need to store dates for a short time, they are left at room temperature. The main thing is that they are not exposed to the sun's rays.

Do you need to wash dates?

Before eating dates, you need to wash them thoroughly, because dust and dirt still settle on them during transportation. In particular, it is necessary to wash fruits to remove chemicals and the sticky layer of sugar, which is an ideal breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

You need to know how to properly wash dates, because they are very absorbent, which can significantly ruin their appearance. appearance and taste.

Important: do not wash dates in hot water - when boiling, the dense skin of the fruit cracks and the pulp is digested. These dates are not suitable for consumption.

1. First of all, you need to sort the dates you buy and remove any spoiled fruit.
2. Rinse the dates in a colander under cool running water. It is better to wash dates in small batches, especially if they are shiny.
3. After washing, rinse the dates with ice water.
4. Dried dates are best dried on a paper towel and covered with another layer of towel. The longer the dates dry, the better.

Once the dates have dried, they can be pitted.

Pressed dates

Room temperature is suitable for them, since they are processed under special pasteurization conditions. To prevent the product from drying out, it must be wrapped in paper or a bag. Then it needs to be placed in a dark, cool place where there is no light. The shelf life is usually on the packaging. It is believed that they can last a long time, so it is advisable to consume them within a year.

Harm and contraindications

In case of moderate and severe diabetes, you will have to give up dates, but in case of mild disease, they will be a good sugar substitute. Dried fruits provide energy and stimulate energy metabolism in cells. They can satisfy hunger, and their sugar levels do not rise quickly. If you have diabetes, you can eat no more than 5 pieces per day.

Dates are difficult and slow to digest, another reason to consume them in moderation. Uncontrolled consumption causes bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes allergies.

Pregnant women should eat them with caution. Not recommended in the early stages, dates stimulate the activity of the uterus.

Children can begin to be given pieces of the fruit starting at 2 years old.

What is it processed with?

To determine which dates to choose, you should learn about their origin and production method. The best product is considered to be one that has ripened naturally. In this case, it dries out on the palm tree. To speed up the procedure, heat treatment is performed in chambers and ovens.

Products can be soaked in sugar or glucose syrup. Such a product will not be harmful, but there is little benefit from it. With syrup, dried fruit becomes sweet and high in calories. Sulfur dioxide is rarely used. How to choose dates without processing? This is usually stated on the packaging.

Dates for weight loss: is it possible or not and how much?

Dried dates, like all dried fruits and nuts, are high in calories. On a weight loss diet, you should not avoid any type of food and take care of a sufficient supply of energy every day, which is selected individually for the patient, taking into account his anthropometric characteristics, age and nutritional goals.

You can eat dates while on a weight loss diet. But provided they are consumed in controlled quantities. For example, as an addition to 3-4 pieces of muesli or a natural sugar substitute in healthy homemade baked goods.

The question of how many dates you should eat during a diet can be answered as follows: Dates are a rich source of potassium, dietary fiber and simple carbohydrates. They are successfully used for home baking as an element that gives an interesting taste and aroma, an addition to meat and an independent snack. People on a weight loss diet also do not need to give up eating these delicious fruits, but they should pay attention to their quantity.

Dates as a means of care

Dates have many valuable components for external use. They are known in the world for their excellent effect on the skin; the extract remarkably rejuvenates it at the cellular level.

Date pits are used to make face masks. To evaluate their properties, you need to grind a few and mix with olive oil until smooth. After this, the product is applied to the skin of the face, and then it needs to be washed off. The results are noticeable almost immediately. If you perform the procedures regularly, you can achieve clean, smooth skin.

Is it possible to eat dates for constipation as a laxative?

To answer the question of whether date tree fruits are weakened or strengthened, you need to consider their composition in detail. An important role is played by the fact in what form the fruits are consumed: dried or fresh. Dried dates are a treasure trove of fiber, which helps speed up intestinal motility.

Therefore, their use is advisable for constipation. Fruits can be eaten straight from the package, made into compote, or added to various dishes.

If you have problems with bowel movements, it is best to consume the product in dried form, which contains more (albeit slightly) dietary fiber than fresh fruit. Dried dates are known for their laxative properties. Therefore, they should be consumed by people suffering from constipation. To get the laxative effect of dates, you need to soak them in water overnight and eat them in the morning.

Conversely, fresh fruits contain large amounts of potassium, which is essential for diarrhea. The body easily digests fruits. This way you can eliminate a delicate problem.

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• You can make a delicious and healthy dessert from fresh dates.

Healthy recipes

Date decoction is used for prolonged cough. To prepare it, you will need 6-7 fruits, which must be poured with milk (1 glass), boiled for 10 minutes. After cooling, the drink can be consumed and the fruits can be eaten. It's better to do this at night.

For constipation, the following composition is useful: chop 10 fruits, heat butter (0.5 tbsp), add black pepper, and then mix everything. Everything is consumed on an empty stomach.

There is a recipe for getting rid of anemia and fatigue: 10 dates, ginger (0.5 tbsp), cardamom, saffron. In a glass container, mix everything and shake it. It needs to be put in the shade for 14 days, and can be consumed in the morning. People with insomnia and neuroses eat dates with milk.

Thus, dates are valuable products. In order for them to bring maximum benefit to the body, you should choose them correctly. Therefore, the above recommendations will definitely come in handy for those who care about their health.

How much and how to eat

Many experts say that to be healthy, an adult should eat no more than 3 dried dates every day. For a teenager, 2 pieces are enough, but a preschooler is allowed only 1 sweet fruit.

This amount is quite enough to saturate the blood with all the necessary components. If, nevertheless, you could not deny yourself the pleasure of eating more, then stop at least at 300 grams. Anything eaten in excess will completely unbalance your stomach.

The fact is that the product takes a long time to digest. Therefore, only medications will help bring the digestive tract out of crisis.

Important! Infants from the age of eight months can make compotes from dates: for 200 g of dried fruits you will need 1 liter of water. Nursing mothers need to adhere to a special diet.

Some housewives believe that dates must be peeled, not only pitted, but also peeled before consumption. But experts categorically do not recommend doing this. Dried dates should be eaten whole or ground, but always with the skin on. It is a source of a whole range of useful substances and coarse fibers.

Homemade date wine

1. Remove pits from dates.

2. Pour boiling water over the pulp and leave for 60 minutes.

3. Pour the broth into a separate container. Pass the steamed dates through a meat grinder.

4. Mix the resulting liquid with a decoction at room temperature.

5. Add the first portion of sugar (200 grams), citric acid, leaven (raisins). Mix well.

6. Transfer the container to a dark room with a temperature of 18-25°C. Tie the neck with gauze. After 2-3 days, foam, hissing, and a slight sour smell should appear on the surface. This means that fermentation has begun.

7. Leave the wort for 7-9 days (from the moment of mixing the ingredients) until the pulp (cake) floats to the top. Stir once a day with a clean hand. During fermentation, a leaven smell is felt, this is normal, we will remove it at the 14th stage.

8. Strain the wine material through several layers of gauze, squeeze out the solid part well. No more squeezes needed.

9. Add a second portion of sugar (400 grams) to the liquid wort, stir, then pour into the fermentation container (fill to a maximum of 2/3 of the volume). To remove carbon dioxide, install a water seal on the neck (a rubber medical glove with a small hole in the finger). Leave in a dark place with a temperature of 18-25°C.

10. After 3 days, add the last portion of sugar (200 grams). To do this, pour 0.5 wort into a separate container, dilute sugar in it and pour it back, not forgetting to install a water seal.

Water seal designs for wine, mash and beer

11. Active fermentation lasts 35-60 days. Then the water seal stops releasing gas (the glove deflates), sediment appears at the bottom, and the young date wine becomes noticeably lighter.

If fermentation has not stopped after 55 days from the moment the water seal was installed, the wine must be drained from the sediment and left to ferment under the water seal at the same temperature, otherwise bitterness may appear.

12. Carefully drain the fermented wine from the sediment through a straw into another container. To taste. If desired, sweeten with sugar or fix with vodka (alcohol) in an amount of 2-15% of the volume. Mix well.

13. It is advisable to fill the container with drained wine to the neck so that there is no contact with the air inside. Close hermetically (if there is any doubt that fermentation is completely finished, place it under a water seal) and transfer to a dark place for aging at a temperature of 5-16°C. A basement is ideal, or a refrigerator in a pinch.

14. Withstand for at least 3-4 months. Gradually, sediment will appear at the bottom. At least once every 2-3 weeks it needs to be removed by pouring homemade date wine through a straw into another container. Thanks to transfusion, the leaven smell will disappear and the drink will become lighter. Cooking is complete when no more sediment appears.

15. Pour the finished wine into bottles for storage, seal tightly with corks. Shelf life 2-3 years. It turns out about 6 liters. Strength – 10-12%.