During Ramadan, eating dates after maghrib (evening) call to prayer is thought to signal the start of the Iftar. Many Muslims eat them as part of their pre-dawn Suhour meal.
Did you know?
- A quarter cup of dates contains 14% of a person’s daily fibre requirement. Fiber makes a person feel fuller for a longer period of time.
- Dates could indeed satisfy a sweet tooth even while providing important nutrients like vitamin B-6 and iron.
The popularity of dates can be attributed to both historical, religious, and scientific reasons.
- Dates are gentle on the fasting stomach, easy to digest, and thus do not tax the stomach.
- After a full day of fasting, the body requires energy, and dates are high in sugar, which provides it with that boost. Other foods take time to digest and may not help alleviate the fatigue caused by fasting so quickly.
- Dates are rich in fiber and help avoid digestive problems, which are very likely otherwise.
- Because they are alkaline, they aid in balancing the acids in the tummy after a full day of fasting.
- Dates are also high in a variety of minerals and vitamins. Dates contain high vitamin A, B6, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Given the all-day fast, these aid in re-energizing the body.
- Eating dates first also reduces hunger pangs, allowing you to control your iftar eating. This indirectly aids in weight control as well.
- Eating dates first thing in the morning provides your body with a much-needed energy boost. Furthermore, eating these in the morning aids in the elimination of intestinal worms.
- Dates also aid in the cleansing of vital organs and the improvement of heart and liver health. The antioxidants present imparts a natural luster to your skin and hair.
Allow yourself to indulge in dates; they have numerous benefits and are highly beneficial during Ramadan. You can eat dates in any form and reap the benefits.