Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) gave a special attention for Dates as part of the believer’s diet especially during the Holy month Ramadan. Allah Almighty mentioned Palm trees many times in the Quraan, and made it the food of the dwellers of Paradise, So what are the secrets of this great nutriment? Is it possible to think of using dates as remedy for some diseases? What do scientists of today say about dates?

Dates are one of the most nourishing fruits and It’s sometimes called “Bread of Desert”, More than two third of dates’ weight is natural sugar. This fruit was highly esteemed by the ancient civilizations more than 5000 years ago; ancient Egyptians considered dates as a symbol of fertility, while the Romans and the Greeks used it to ornament their stately triumph pageants Today, dates are widely-grown in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Spain, Italy and the United States. There are more than 600 varieties of dates.

In a number of Qur'anic verses, the humble date is honoured as one of the blessings of Paradise.  When this fruit is examined, it can be seen to have a great many benefits. The date is one of the oldest known species of plant and it’s the only food of preference not only for its delicious taste but also for its nutritious properties. New benefits imparted by the date are being discovered every day and has come to be used as a medicine as well as a food. These benefits of the date fruit are noted in Surah Maryam.

For Expectant mothers:

The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. Maryam A.S. said, "Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!" A voice called out to her from under her, "Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes…" (Qur'an, 19:23-26)
There is considerable wisdom in the way that Allah recommends Maryam A.S to eat this fruit. The date is an excellent choice of food for the pregnant women and for those who have just given birth. This is a widely accepted scientific fact. The date has one of the highest sugar levels, 60-65%, of all fruits. Doctors recommend that pregnant women be given foods containing fruit sugar on the day they give birth. The aim behind this is to energise and revitalise the mother's weakened body and at the same time to stimulate the milk hormones and increase the levels of mother's milk essential to the new-born baby.

In addition, loss of blood during birth leads to a fall in body sugar levels. Dates are important from the point of view of enabling sugar to enter the body and prevent blood pressure from dropping. Their high calorific value strengthens people weakened by illness or suffering from extreme fatigue.

The medical identification of the benefits of the date only became possible in recent times. Yet it was set out fourteen centuries ago in the Qur'an that Allah revealed to Maryam A.S that she should eat dates.

For Diabetics:

Dates also contain a form of sugar that gives the body high levels of mobility and heat energy and which can be easily broken down in the body. Furthermore, this sugar is not glucose, which rapidly raises the level of blood sugar but the fruit sugar fructose. A rapid rise in blood sugar levels in diabetics in particular has a damaging effect on a great many organs and systems, especially the eyes, kidneys, heart and circulatory system and nervous system. High blood sugar is one of the main causes of disorders as serious as loss of sight, heart attacks and kidney insufficiency.

Rich in vitamins and its other benefits

Dates contains many vitamins and minerals. They are very rich in fibre, fat and proteins. They also contain sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine, as well as vitamins A, beta-carotene, B1, B2, B3 and B6. Further Dates have high iron levels; a human being can meet his or her iron requirements by eating just 15 dates a day and will thus
be protected from disorders arising from iron deficiency.

Dates have high amount of potassium’s which are important in regulating the water balance in the body. Moreover, by helping oxygen to reach the brain, potassium enables one to think clearly. In addition, it provides the appropriate features for body fluids and stimulates the kidneys to expel toxic bodily wastes. It helps bring down high blood pressure and the formation of healthy skin.

The calcium and phosphate in dates are important elements for skeletal growth and balancing the body's bone structure. The high levels of phosphorus and calcium in dates protect the body against bone weakness and help reduce such disorders.

Scientists have recently discovered the way in which dates reduce stress and tension.

The vitamin B1 in dates facilitates the health of the nervous system, assists the transformation of the carbohydrates in the body into energy and the use of protein and fats to meet the body's needs whereas Vitamin B2 assists in the burning of protein, carbohydrates and fats for the provision of bodily energy and cell renewal.

Eating dates during Ramadan:

It is said that one should break our fast by eating dates. Ever wondered Why?? Well, as mentioned above dates are rich in all kinds of vitamins and minerals which are required for our body. Hence, when we eat a date fruit for breaking our fast we get all the energy that is required in our body which we would have otherwise taken normally when we are not fasting. In simple words it provides instant energy. Also, fatigue is one of the complaints during fasting (Why you should consume potassium rich foods during fasting days). As our body is well stocked up on food in the fatty tissues and the liver has a moderate supply of glucose to compensate for fasting. Unfortunately, it will not be released into the bloodstream if there is a deficiency of potassium in the blood. Hence, eating Dates before and after fast helps overcoming the same.

Nutriment and medicine for children

Dates contain natural sugar which is easily absorbed and digested.  Thus, it is safe and comforting for children's stomach and intestine. And
date juice is useful especially if we mix it with milk – it becomes a very nourishing and restorative drink for children and adults. Dates and honey paste, taken three times a day, is used for the treatment of diarrhoea and
dysentery in children,

This paste also comforts and hardens the gums during teething and it  facilitates the process.

Treatment for obesity

the wide variety of nutritious elements in dates makes it hunger  resistive. The cause behind obesity is a persisting feeling
of hunger and an  appetite for food which drives a person to consume larger amounts of fats  and sugar when he eats his meal.

So, treatment by eating a few dates when feeling hungry helps reduce  hunger and be filled. These dates provide the body with the
necessary sugar  and stimulate the intestine, which reduce hunger greatly,  and eventually,  reduce food consumption. The Prophet's saying shows
this: A household that  has dates doesn't feel hunger. [Narrated by Muslim].

Remedy for liver and other inflammations

Dates remedy the liver and purge it from toxins. Breaking the fast  with dates is one of the most magnificent of natural
remedies for the  maintenance and purging the liver from accumulated toxins. Also, drinking  dates' juice the treatment of sore throat, various
types of fever,  rhinorrhis and common cold.

Having high medicinal and nutritious value, dates are expected to be  the best food for the future. Dates contain as high a percentage as 88  percent of carbohydrate (starch), (2.5-5 percent) of fat,
(2.3-5.6 percent)  of Protein and (6.4-11.5 percent) of vitamins and dietary fibre. The flesh contains (0.2-5 percent) of oil, whereas the seed's
weight is (7.7 -9.7 percent) oil. The weight of the seed is (6.6 – 14.2 percent) of the date's weight.

Dates contain Vitamins A, B1 and B2, and fluorinewhich prevent teeth decay. Other minerals found in various proportions in dates
include boron, calcium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, sodium and zinc.

Additionally, the seeds contain aluminium, cadmium,  chloride, lead and sulphur in various proportions. Selenium, element believed to help prevent  cancer and important in immune function, is also found in
dates.

If you are feeling weak, don't hesitate to take seven dates (70 gm) in  the morning as the Prophet (pbuh) recommended. You will actually be taking
70 milligrams of calcium, which is very useful for the bones, joints and  nerves; 35 milligrams of phosphorus, which is nutritious for the brain; and
7 milligrams of iron, which strengthens the body in general and the heart in  particular.

It's also suitable for reducing weight as it contains only 0.25 gm of  fat. This prophetic meal also regulates and stimulates the
bowels with the  10 gm of dietary fibre it contains.

Dates are very rich with sugary energy and so the body is supplied with the most important nutrients which are sugar that is irreplaceable as a nutrient for the brain cells and nerves.

·        In cough, and respiratory disorders – Make a paste of dates, raisins, pepper, saumph seeds, honey and ghee and lick a tsp of this preparation twice a day to expectorate phlegm and calm respiratory spasms.

·        In dryness of mouth – At the end of long durations of illnesses, the mouth becomes dry, sore making swallowing and talking difficult. In such cases, make a paste of dates and raisins and coat the mouth with it. Hold the same paste in the mouth for a few minutes and eat it with honey and ghee.

·        In hiccups – Powder the seeds of dates, mix it with pepper powder and lick it with honey to arrest hiccups.

·        In excessive bleeding – Dates are cooling and bestow blood and are therefore ideal in bleeding conditions. Paste the fruit with honey and eat twice a day.

·        In constipation – Soak dates in hot milk for a few hours and then take the preparation at bed time to free bowel movements. Dates soaked in water make for excellent diuretics.

·        As a nerve tonic – Dates and raisins pasted with honey are excellent in nervous disorders and can be taken as a general rejuvenator.

Ammarah
Radio Islam
+27118547022
ammarah@radioislam.co.za
www.radioislam.co.za