The Glorious Date

After visiting the Oasis yesterday and marveling with Eleanor over the dates growing in the trees (you also see them on every tree around town, lining all the streets), I wanted to learn a little more about dates and confirm some of what I've heard from people here about them. They are a pretty amazing fruit when you think that they grow as a food in desert oases when almost nothing else does.

1. Dates are of high nutritional value. They are full of calcium, folic acid, potassium, protein, fiber, vitamin b6 and many other vitamins, as well as sugar which makes they taste like candy to me.

2. Dates are incredibly filling. It's amazing how one or two small dates can satiate your hunger. They are apparently used abundantly in the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk especially to open their fast with a date. They are seen to ward off obesity as they are greatly filling and ward off hunger, HOWEVER, these little dates have huge caloric content so they could have the opposite affect if one is not careful ;).

3. Dates are known for great health benefits to include: prevent cancer (Bedouin Arabs show an extremely low incidence rate of cancer), lower obesity, great calcium contributes to strong bones, cures constipation, etc.

4. Dates are attributed to easing child birth (!) as the ripe fruit contains a substance that urges uterine spasms and increases contractions especially in the time of delivery. The article I read talked about the benefits to eat during pregnancy but I've heard from local women that one should not eat them during pregnancy. They are also ideal for breast-feeding mothers.

I will miss eating fresh dates here but I know when we get home I will be able to find dates to buy and this makes me happy. I also think I'll bring a bunch with us home with us as well. All Eleanor has been saying the last couple days is "dates go in my belly" as she points them out to us. :)

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