The Benefits of Dates +
The Benefits of Dates
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, red dates are indicated for a variety of actions / ailments, including:
Calming the spirit
Entering the spleen and stomach channels
Shortness of breath
Tonifying qi
Augmenting blood
Spleen - Qi deficiency
Fatigue
Poor appetite
Restlessness
Diarrhea
Irritability
Other fun facts about dates:
There are at least 30 different kinds of dates around the world
They fall into one of three categories: soft, dry, and semi-dry
Dates are a good source of vitamins A1, C, B1, B2, B3, and B5
Dates contain calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus
Dates also contain many nutrients associated with improved bone health, including selenium, magnesium, copper, and manganese
Because they’re high in fiber, dates slow down digestion to help prevent blood sugar spikes
Dates make an excellent alternative to sugar for many recipes and snacks - or just enjoy them alone
Although high in sugar, dates also contain fiber, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, iron and B6.
They are also a source of:
-flavonoids: reduce inflammation
-carotenoids: good for the eyes, heart and skin.
-phenolic acid: anti-inflammatory and may help lower the risk of heart disease.
Plus the medicinal and nutritional benefits of dates have been shown to provide possible protection against the inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain!
Why eat processed commercial candy when you can make your own nutrient dense sweets?
I urge you to reach for this ancient fruit instead: Dates!
Here is a crowd pleasing recipe that is super easy to make. Fun to make with your kids!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Dates
Ingredients:
Medjool Dates
Natural Peanut Butter
Hone Roast Peanuts
Chocolate Chips (I like the Enjoy brand!)
Coconut Oil
Directions:
Cut Medjool dates in half, remove pit.
Fill with natural peanut butter.
Finely chop honey roasted peanuts.
Dip date peanut butter side down into chopped nuts.
Melt 1 cup of Enjoy chocolate chips with a teaspoon of coconut oil in microwave for 25 seconds, twice. Stir until smooth.
Use toothpick to skewer dates and dip into melted chocolate and spoon chocolate over dates to cover completely.
Sprinkle with more chopped peanuts.
Place on parchment paper on tray and place in freezer 15 mins.
Remove from freezer and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
(Not for those suffering from a peanut allergy. Sorry.)
Let me know how you and your family likes them!
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