Consuming one date a day helps maintain the proper functioning of the human body. Dates are popular energy boosters and hunger pacifiers, and possess several other health benefits. This article reveals various date fruit benefits...

Dates, the staple food of the Middle East countries is a sweet fruit. Date palms or Phoenix dactylifera (scientific name) produce clusters of oval, dark reddish-brown drupes, called dates below their fronds. Around 600-1700 clusters are present in a single cluster. The skin of the dried fruit is wrinkled and covered with a sticky, waxy film. Dates are eaten fresh or dried, whole or incorporated in various Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Served mainly as desserts, these date fruits are generally chopped into tiny slices and scattered across cakes and puddings to ameliorate their flavor. Some people mix date paste with yogurt, milk, bread or butter to enhance their flavor. Dates are also de-seeded and stuffed with several sweet fillings like apricot, etc. Besides the versatility of date preparation and consumption, these dry fruits also feature various nutritional values and date fruit benefits are well-known across the globe. Dates are opulent in vitamins and minerals, are low in calories (a single date fruit has 23 calories) and are cholesterol-free. Moreover, they are loaded with natural fibers and according to a modern medicine survey, they are useful in keeping abdominal cancer at bay.

Date Fruit Health Benefits

Dates provide several essential nutrients such as calcium, fiber, amino acids, sulfur, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, potassium and fats to the body. They are wonderful sources of dietary fiber and are rich in vitamins A1, B1, B2, B3 and B5. The different benefits of date fruits are as listed below:

Assists Digestion: Dates consist of 20 different kinds of amino acids which facilitate the digestive process. This is why dates are easily digestible and furnish the body with required energy for physical activities in about half an hour. Moreover, consuming dates on fasting days before breaking the fast helps avoid overeating after the fast. The factor responsible for human hunger is shortage of sugar in the blood. Consumption of dates, not only pacifies the feeling of hunger with its sugar content, but also all of its nutritional value is absorbed by the body. This prevents people from overeating after a day of fasting.

Maintains Healthy Nervous System: Dates are rich in potassium content, which are essential for a healthy nervous system. Research reveals that higher potassium intake of about 400 mg can reduce the risk of strokes by 40%. Moreover, dates are low in sodium content, thereby preventing the blood pressure levels from rising.

Treats Anemia: Dates have a high content of iron in them, which makes them great home remedies for reducing iron deficiency. Anemia patients are advised to eat several dates on a daily basis to raise their level of iron in the blood.

Prevents Night Blindness Problems: The American Cancer Society states that consumption of one date a day helps maintain healthy eyes for one's lifetime. Dates are effective in keeping night blindness problems at bay. The society recommends intake of 20-35 grams of dietary fiber daily via date consumption.

Strengthens Tooth Enamel: Dates contain fluorine, which is an essential mineral to slow down the process of early tooth decay. Fluorine is also known to keep plaque at bay by strengthening the tooth enamel. However, many people are of the misconception that tooth enamel can magically reverse tooth decay. This is not true. Tooth enamel consists of hydroxyapatites, which when brought in contact with fluorine forms hydroxyfluoroapatites, which is resistant to decay. This clearly means that fluorine helps prevent further tooth decay, but cannot reverse the decay process.

Alleviates Constipation: Dates also possess laxative properties, and are suitable for people suffering from constipation. In order to get the benefits of laxative properties of dates, one should soak dates overnight in water. The soaked dates should then be ingested in the morning along with the water to gain the actual advantages. The roughage provided by dates increases bowel movement, thereby solving constipation issues.

Sexual Weakness: The problem of sexual weakness can be countered by dates, as they are beneficial in increasing the body's sexual stamina. One needs to soak handful of dates in goat's milk overnight. Next morning, grind the dates in the same milk and add a mixture of honey and cardamom powder. This yields a tonic capable of increasing sexual endurance.

Energy Booster: Dates are power packed with 29 grams of natural sugars (glucose, sucrose and fructose), 3 grams of dietary fiber and 31 grams of carbohydrates. Therefore, the tiny date fruit can be appropriately described as an energy boosting dry fruit.

Nutrient Pack during Pregnancy: Pregnancy is a time when a woman experiences extreme bloating, constipation and other intestinal problems. Dates is an excellent remedy for such intestinal disturbances. Moreover, being rich in iron, dates prevent anemia in mother and child. It is also believed to impart good memory and intelligence to the developing fetus. Dates is also seen to improve strengthen the uterine muscles and facilitates childbirth.

Weight Gain: Skinny people desperately trying to gain weight can try eating dates on a regular basis. Dates are high in calories and will help in putting on weight. Eat about five to six dates every day to notice a significant change in your body weight.

Besides the above mentioned date fruit benefits, dates are also known to cure intestinal disorders. Their nicotinic content helps keep a check on pathological organism growth. Moreover, dates help strengthen the uterus muscles, enabling it to dilate in a smooth manner during delivery. Dates also enrich the mother's milk by providing it with nutrients beneficial for the baby's health. In a nutshell, date fruit is an ideal food source responsible for furnishing essential nutrients, helps food digestion and is an energy provider.

Vitamins in Fruits

Fruits are enriched with many important vitamins, indispensable for a number of vital activities within the human body. Learn more about vitamins found in fruits and their significance in human life...


                    
Fruits are a source of many essential vitamins and nutrients, besides being loved for their delightful taste. They contain many important vitamins required for carrying out biochemical reactions crucial for human growth and development. Let's find out some fruits exuberant with vitamins, which play a significant role in life-sustaining processes.

Vitamins Containing Fruits

Vitamin A
Orange, watermelon, blackberry, peach, kiwi and apple are some of the fruits rich in vitamin A. This vitamin plays a crucial role in cell reproduction and formation of hormones. It is also essential for the stimulation of immune system and improvement of vision and hair growth. It also promotes proper growth and development of bones and teeth. Deficiency of this important vitamin can trigger diseases like, night blindness, dryness of skin, weak bone and teeth.

Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is found in banana, pear, lemon, raspberry, orange, mango, grapefruit and pineapple. However, most of the fruits are not rich in thiamine. It is an important vitamin required in carbohydrate metabolism or conversion of carbohydrate into energy. It is also important for ensuring normal functioning of heart, nervous system and muscles. Deficiency of vitamin B1 causes a disease known as beriberi, the symptoms of which includes, tiredness, numbness of hands and feet, muscle pain, loss of appetite and vomiting. This disease can sometimes affect the cardiovascular and nervous system.

Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2 or riboflavin plays a significant role in the production of red blood cells, growth and development of body and reproduction. It can be found in kiwi, though most fruits are not substantial sources of vitamin B2. Riboflavin is also required in carbohydrate metabolism.

Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 is found in banana, peach, watermelon, kiwi and cantaloupe, and is essential for the smooth operation of digestive and nervous systems. It is also important for a healthy skin and normal growth. Sufficient intake of vitamin B3 prevents the occurrence of the disease 'pellagra', which causes gastrointestinal disorders, dermatitis, mental confusion, insomnia and even dementia. Vitamin B3, known as niacin is also required in releasing energy from food, and for the proper functioning of over 50 enzymes.

Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5, known as pantothenic acid is essential for food metabolism (releasing energy from food), and is found in orange and banana. It is also required in production of cholesterol, which facilitates the manufacture of vitamin D and steroid hormones. It ensures the proper use of other vitamins by human body and a healthy digestive system.

Vitamin B6
Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 plays a very crucial role in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein. It helps in the production of antibodies, and thereby plays an important role in proper functioning of the immune system. It is also required for the production of red blood cells and smooth operation of the nervous system. Vitamin B6 is mainly found in banana, and watermelon. Its deficiency may result in nausea, irritability, insomnia, dermatitis, asthma and allergies.

Vitamin B9
Vitamin B9 includes both folic acid and folate. Folic acid is required for cell growth and proper development of embryo and hence its sufficient intake is very important during pregnancy. Folate is important for production of red blood cells, DNA and constituent parts of the nervous system. Strawberry, blackberry, kiwi, orange and banana are significant sources of vitamin B9.

Vitamin C
This vitamin is abundantly found in apple, banana, pear, orange, lemon, plum, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, grapes, mango and watermelon. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an antioxidant, i.e., it prevents the oxidization of free radicals, and thereby protects the tissues and cells from damaging. It is important for the formation of collagen, cartilage, blood vessels and muscles. It also facilitates the absorption of iron and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Poor intake of vitamin C can cause scurvy, symptoms of which includes spongy bleeding gums, loss of weight, irritability and wounds that cannot be cured easily.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant that protects body tissues and cells from possible damages triggered by the free radicals. It also assists in the formation of red blood cells, blood circulation and protection of cell membrane. Vitamin E is also essential for the proper utilization of vitamin K.

Fruits contain vitamins required for vital biochemical reactions. The deficiency of these vitamins could lead to occurrence of various diseases. They reduces the risk of fatal diseases by defending the body against harmful free radicals. Besides, fruits are also rich in minerals and fibers, and therefore, including sufficient amounts of them in your diet would immensely help you in leading a long and healthy life.


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Importance of Fruit as Food

Importance of fruits in human diet is well recognized.  Man cannot live on cereals. Fruit and vegetables are essential for balance diet and good health. Nutrionist advocate 60- 85 gm of fruits and 360 g vegetable per capita per day in addition to cereals, pulse, egg etc. Fruits and vegetable are good source of vitamins and minerals without which human body cannot maintain proper health and develop resistance to disease. They also contain pectin, cellulose which stimulates intestinical activities and energy giving substances like oils, fats, and proteins. Many fruits have medical purpose.
A. As a Source of Vitamins:
1. Vitamin A:
It is a fat soluble and essential for growth and reproduction deficiency cause cessation of growth, night blindness, drying of tea glansa, roughness and crouton of skin in children formation o stones in kidney and bladder and pimping. Carotene which is a precurescer of vitamin A is found in different fruits e.g.  Mango, papaya, fruit, dates, banana.
2. Vitamin B:
Deficiency causes berry berry disease, loss of appetite, loss in weight, fall in body temperature, sore throat etc. It is found in fruit like cashew nut, almond, banana, apple, bale, litchi, papaya and pomegranate.
3. Vitamin C:
It is water soluble and essential for general good health. Deficiency cause unhealthy gums, tooth decay, bleeding of gums, swelling of limbs, scurvy disease delay in wound healing, enlargement of heart and damage to   heart muscles. It is available in fruits like anola, guava, citrus fruits, ber, strawberry, pineapple, etc.
B. As a Source of Minerals:
At least 10 different mineral elements are required for proper growth and development of human body. Out of these, ca, fe, and phosphorus are required on large scale ca is badly lacking in Indian diet.
1. Calcium:
 Needed for development of bones, absence causes rickets, pigeon chest, and retarded growth.
2. Iron:
It is an essential of BBC and best known O2 carrier.
3. Phosphorus:
Required for cell multiplication and oxidation of CHO, liberating energy.
Sources:
Almond, cashew nut, guava, jamun, fig, kronda, mango.
C: As Source of Energy:
Carbohydrate and fats provide energy, while proteins besides providing energy are also responsible for building body tissues. Most of the fruits are good source of CHO.
Sources: Banana (36 %), grapes (20%), custard apple (25%), apples, ber, cashewn4t, to meet the annual calorific requirements one would need to be cultivate cashew. To meet or 0.50 acres of image or 0.09 acres of banana.
D: Fruits have Medicinal Value:



The fruit like Anola, pomegranate, kokum, jamun, bihada etc. have great medicinal value.
























Writer Mark Twain once said, "When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what angels eat." Whether watermelon is heavenly is up for debate, but no question remains as to the nutritional value -- it is high in vitamin C and serves as a source of vitamin A. Consuming watermelon may also have some unexpected side effects as well, some positive, some negative.






Allergies

Including watermelon in your diet may trigger allergic reactions. Evidence available in the 2009 edition of "International Archives of Allergy and Immunology" reveals that the allergens in this fruit consist of malate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase and profiling, all of which are enzymes. You may experience an allergy to watermelon if you have allergic sensitivities to latex, celery, cucumber or carrot -- the Allergen Bureau reports that these allergies are related. Watermelon allergy symptoms may range from mild to severe, including hives, facial swelling, diarrhea or anaphylaxis.


Blood Pressure

Eat a serving of watermelon, and you may see benefits to your blood pressure. Research in the January 2011 issue of "American Journal of Hypertension" correlates watermelon with improved blood flow through the aorta, the largest artery in the heart that carries blood from this organ to the rest of your body. This decreases blood pressure due to the citrulline in watermelon that converts to arginine -- researchers note that arginine decreases blood pressure in the brachial artery. Do not consume watermelon as a method of hypertension treatment without consulting your health care provider.

Erectile Dysfunction

The citrulline that contributes to lower blood pressure also relaxes your blood vessels according to researchers from Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center. As citrulline becomes arginine, it increases nitric oxide -- this action mimics drugs that treat erectile dysfunction. Researchers theorize that eating watermelon may not only help treat medically-triggered erectile dysfunction, but also prevent its occurrence. Consider eating the rind of the watermelon -- it contains more citrulline than the flesh; many people use the watermelon rind to make pickles and relish. Research is needed to confirm these findings, so speak to your physician for medically approved options to treat this condition.

Cancer

Watermelon is a good source of lycopene, containing 6,889 micrograms per 1-cup serving of diced fruit. This compound gives watermelon its color. No recommended daily intake minimum exists, although MayoClinic.com notes an acceptable consumption ranges from 2 to 30 mg. Lycopene may act as an antioxidant, which can stop free radical damage that may trigger cells to mutate in a cancerous manner. While studies offer inconclusive evidence, the lycopene in watermelon may slow the progression of cancer or prevent it.



Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/465295-watermelon-side-effects/#ixzz2RpfqN6yz



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