Date
A
date fruit is the product of a date palm, a tree native to Northern Africa and
the Middle East, although it is also cultivated in other parts of the world. In
addition to being eaten fresh, the date fruit is dried and eaten whole as a
snack or included in an assortment of desserts. Many regional Middle Eastern
cuisines incorporate dates, as do Mediterranean cuisines like those of Italy
and Greece. Dried dates are usually readily available in most markets, and
fresh dates can be found in specialty markets in season.
Dates are an important traditional crop in Iraq, Arabia, and north Africa west to Morocco. Dates are also mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible and 20 times in the Qur'an. In Islamic culture, dates and yogurt or milk are traditionally the first foods consumed for Iftar after the sun has set during Ramadan. Dates (especially Medjool andDeglet Noor) are also cultivated in America in southern California, Arizona and southern Florida in the United Statesand in Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.
Dates are an important traditional crop in Iraq, Arabia, and north Africa west to Morocco. Dates are also mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible and 20 times in the Qur'an. In Islamic culture, dates and yogurt or milk are traditionally the first foods consumed for Iftar after the sun has set during Ramadan. Dates (especially Medjool andDeglet Noor) are also cultivated in America in southern California, Arizona and southern Florida in the United Statesand in Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.
Date palms can take 4 to 8 years after planting before they will bear
fruit, and produce viable yields for commercial harvest between 7 to 10 years.
Mature date palms can produce 68 to 176 kilograms (150to 300lb) of dates per harvest season, although they do not all
ripen at the same time so several harvests are required. In order to get fruit
of marketable quality, the bunches of dates must be thinned and bagged or
covered before ripening so that the remaining fruits grow larger and are
protected from weather and pests such as birds
Health Benefits of Date
Dates are valuable as medicine for their
tonic effect. It is easily digested; they are very useful for supplying energy
and repairing waste. Milk in which clean and fresh dates have been boiled is a
very nourishing and restorative drink to children and adults alike, especially
during convalescence. The nicotinic content in dates is an excellent remedy for
intestinal disturbances. Liberal use of dates keeps in check the growth of
pathological organisms and helps to establish a colony of friendly bacteria in
the intestines.
The date is a laxative food. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of constipation as the roughage provided by it stimulates sluggish bowels. They should be immersed in water at night and taken after making them into fine syrup the next morning to secure laxative effect.
Dates are also an excellent remedy for alcoholic intoxication. In such cases, drinking water in which fresh dates have been rubbed or soaked will bring quick relief. Besides, dates are an effective remedy for weak heart. Dates soaked overnight in water and crushed in the same water in the morning after removing the seeds should be taken at least twice a week in this condition. It will strengthen the heart.
Sexual weakness can also benefits from dates. A handful of dates soaked in fresh goat’s milk overnight should be ground in the same milk in the morning. A pinch of cardamom powder and honey should be mixed in this preparation. This becomes a very useful tonic for improving sex stamina and sterility due to functional disorders.
Experiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery on one hand and reduces the bleeding after delivery on the other. Dieticians consider dates as the best food for women in confinement and those who are breast-feeding. This is because dates contain elements that assist in alleviating depression in mothers and enriching the breast-milk with all the elements needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease.
The date is a laxative food. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of constipation as the roughage provided by it stimulates sluggish bowels. They should be immersed in water at night and taken after making them into fine syrup the next morning to secure laxative effect.
Dates are also an excellent remedy for alcoholic intoxication. In such cases, drinking water in which fresh dates have been rubbed or soaked will bring quick relief. Besides, dates are an effective remedy for weak heart. Dates soaked overnight in water and crushed in the same water in the morning after removing the seeds should be taken at least twice a week in this condition. It will strengthen the heart.
Sexual weakness can also benefits from dates. A handful of dates soaked in fresh goat’s milk overnight should be ground in the same milk in the morning. A pinch of cardamom powder and honey should be mixed in this preparation. This becomes a very useful tonic for improving sex stamina and sterility due to functional disorders.
Experiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery on one hand and reduces the bleeding after delivery on the other. Dieticians consider dates as the best food for women in confinement and those who are breast-feeding. This is because dates contain elements that assist in alleviating depression in mothers and enriching the breast-milk with all the elements needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease.
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