How eating three dates everyday for one week is good for your body

Don't just eat these delectable fruits during Iftar, because they're full of goodness

If you like a little sweetness in your diet that's not unhealthy, something that will give you energy and perhaps a little skip in your step, then you are likely someone who likes a good date or even several.

Healthy for the body and mind and an iftar and sehri favourite during Ramzan, dates are considered to be a healthy indulgence. The fruit of the date palm grown in many tropical regions of the world and is a delectable snack for any time of day.

Moreover, if you eat three of these soft, squishy fruit everyday for one week, you may consider making dates a more regular occurrence, reported Food Prevent. Here's how.

Reduced risk of colon cancer

Along with insuring that food moves through the digestive system at a healthy rate, dates also make sure the gut itself is healthy and free from harmful bacteria. When the digestive system and gut are working well then so is the colon, resulting in a reduced risk of colon cancer.

A study conducted by the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences found that those who consumed dates had enhanced colon health because dates increased the growth of good bacteria, inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells.

Long lasting energy

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Dates contain the natural sugars, glucose, fructose and sucrose that will give you a quick burst of energy when you need it. Unlike energy bars or drinks, dates contain other healthy components like fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamins and antioxidants that will keep those levels up.

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Improved digestive health

If you want to keep things in your digestive system moving along nice and regularly, dates are just the thing to do that. In just a one cup serving or dates, you will get 12 grams of fiber. That’s 48 percent of your recommended daily intake.

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The right amounts of fiber can benefit your digestive health by preventing constipation and promoting regular bowel movements. Dates are the right kind of fiber to do the job. In fact, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that people who consumed seven dates per day for 21 days showed improvements in stool frequency and increase in bowel movements compared to when they did not eat dates.

You could be smarter

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Dates contain Vitamin B6 that has been shown to improve performance of brain by helping the body make serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin in turn regulates mood and norepinephrine helps your body cope with stress. Conversely, research has shown that low levels of Vitamin B6 is linked to depression.

When your brain is clear from stress, and in a good mood, then it is sharp and ready to learn and retain information.

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