Are dates fattening?
Fruits always have a bad reputation for losing weight , but … if they are even more dry, this happens to dates, but you will be able to verify that not everything is what it seems, and that dates are very healthy and you can consume them even when diet.
The dates are the fruit of palm trees, there are many varieties and are usually eaten dried, ie through different mechanisms water is withdrawn, this fact makes all its nutrients and compounds are concentrated. Dates have a multitude of nutrients and properties that we will talk about below, a moderate amount is very beneficial for health.
Dates have the reputation of being an explosive calorie bomb, and they are so because they provide a high caloric value (289 kcal per 100 grams). But it does not provide fat , and they are also very satiating , their high fiber content improves occasional constipation, and as this study shows , they are suitable for diabetics since although they provide us with natural sugars, the increase in blood glucose It is not very fast, it has a medium glycemic index (50), so it can be consumed by people with diabetes in just enough measure .
You can see here the calories in fruits and a complete list of foods and their caloric level .
There are many foods that you can use when wanting to lose weight , even foods that provide many calories; one of these foods is dates because it has an advantage, that it does not provide fat.
If you want to know the glycemic index of foods you can check it here .
Calories in dates
The dates, although they have a high caloric value as we have indicated previously, the date has other properties that make it a food with properties to lose weight if it is consumed in its measure.
As you already know, by not having water, the caloric intake increases its concentration, which is why simple sugars are also concentrated. As we have mentioned before, they have 289 calories per 100 grams of product.
Although it is a caloric food, it does not provide us with fat, and it does not significantly raise blood glucose levels; It is also highly satiating and has a multitude of properties that make it an interesting food even when you are dieting to lose weight.
The properties of the date
Its high fiber content improves intestinal transit, improving occasional constipation and facilitating intestinal movements, making digestions faster, thus avoiding the accumulation of toxins in the body produced by constipation, and also the fiber content makes it possible to absorb the sugars to a lesser extent.
It is a fruit with a high content of antioxidants , so it is very interesting for health as it provides us with vitamins and minerals.
It mainly provides vitamins of group B, vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, manganese and selenium that prevent the oxidation of fats and improve their combustion, which is why they are interesting for losing weight. Its high iodine content stimulates the metabolism of the thyroid gland, accelerating metabolism and burning more calories.
- If you still don’t know how basal metabolism works , you can check it out here. We also offer you a diet to speed up your metabolism and lose weight quickly, see the supermetabolism diet here .
In addition, the date is energizing , gives us energy quickly and is also revitalizing due to its high content of vitamin B6 and alkalizing.
They contain high levels of potassium that promotes diuresis and eliminates fluid retention, which contributes to the abdominal cavity undoing, reducing the volume of the belly, feeling more deflated.
- If you want to check the foods rich in potassium you can do it here .
We also offer you the best natural drains to eliminate fluid retention.
Due to its high potassium content, which we have talked about previously to lose weight, we must also mention that potassium intervenes in the correct functioning of the heart and blood pressure.
Its concentration in magnesium makes it have anti-inflammatory properties , and according to a study its daily consumption (recommended serving of 25 grams) reduces the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and even Alzheimer’s because its antioxidant power acts against free radicals and we prevents premature cell aging caused by these diseases.
Dates to lose weight?
As you have seen in its properties, the date can help you lose weight if you consume it in its proper measure (serving of 25 grams per day) since its caloric intake is approximately 70 calories and can help you control your appetite because it is highly satiating .
Its high fiber content helps you better digestion, reduces constipation, causing the added sugars to be absorbed to a lesser degree and also accelerates the metabolism of fat combustion due to its high iodine content and is diuretic due to its potassium content, which which contributes to less fluid retention .
How to take dates and in what quantity?
In order to take advantage of all the properties that we have talked about, it is advisable to incorporate a portion of dates of about 25 grams into the diet, which would correspond to about 3 or 4 dates, approximately 70 calories.
It is preferable to eat them during the day, since they provide us with simple sugars that we must burn with physical activity. You can consume them in a salad, or in stews but they can also be used as an alternative to eating a sweet or as an aperitif.
In those moments when you would eat any processed product, it can be an alternative, in addition, as it is satiating, it can be used before compulsive eating attacks , or moments of anxiety to eat something sweet.
It is a good food for a mid-morning snack so as not to arrive hungry for lunch, or before doing physical exercise as it gives us energy.
How to preserve dates so they last longer?
The date over time dries more and more and loses its juiciness, for this it is important that you keep them correctly. One of the best ways to do it is by putting them in an airtight container, preferably glass, and keeping them refrigerated ; This will prevent them from drying out.
It is important not to buy large quantities so as not to keep them for more than two months.
Another fact to take into account is that there are procedures that alter the caloric intake of dates because some sugar is added to dry them.
You should check on the label that they are natural, sun-dried or naturally without additives.
As you have seen, dates have a bad reputation that they do not deserve since we think that because of their sweet taste they make them fatter, but it really is not entirely true.
We must consume them in their proper measure, but they are very healthy and provide many health benefits.
