WHY DATES ARE SUCH A GOOD NATURAL SWEETENER

So many of us now are trying to make healthier choices, especially when it comes to our diets. We are realising that processed foods not only don’t help our quest for health but can actually do us harm. In a previous email I wrote about processed sugar and how it affects us so negatively. (please email me if you haven’t received this, happy to send it to you)  But, if you’re like me, a sweet treat is necessary every now and then and is, indeed, a great way to cheer ourselves up. The challenge is how to do this in a way that is not going to be detrimental to our wellbeing. 

There are many natural sweeteners that also provide nutritional benefits, such as coconut sugar and pure maple syrup, but by far my favourite are dates.

Most supermarkets sell good quality dates such as medjool, just make sure they have not been dowsed in sugar syrup! Dates are classified as low on the glycemic index, which is good for people who need to watch their blood glucose and want to avoid those blood sugar highs and lows. A single date can pack nearly 2 grams of fibre, mostly insoluble, which is almost 8 % of our recommended daily intake. This is significant as fibre also helps your body slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, again helping to keep blood glucose steady. Fibre is also great for good digestion and healthy bowel movements, helping to prevent the onset of diseases such as IBS and cancer.

There are many other great reasons for making these sweet, bite size wrinkly little fruits our sweetener of choice. They contain good amounts of protein, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron and vitamins B6, C and D. They also provide significant amounts of antioxidants (carotenoids, flavanols and phenolic acid) which are powerful anti-inflammatories, proven in many studies for their roles in fighting disease.

Studies have also shown that dates are good for our brain health as well. By lowering inflammatory markers such as interleukin, associated with degenerative brain diseases such as dementia. They help to reduce plaque formation and have been shown to have a positive effect on memory, learning abilities and anxiety related disorders.

Dates, as with all natural sweeteners, eaten in moderation, can provide a nutritious and healthy answer when our bodies cry out for that sweet treat.