"Dates: Nature's Perfect Remedy for Energy, Digestion, and Health"

Long ago..

Date trees have been acclimatized in the Nile Valley since the days of the Crusaders, and the city of Thebes and the oases areas were ideal ground for the growth of date trees, which were called in hieroglyphics (Funu). As for the date known today, called (Ummat), it was known to the ancient Egyptians by the hieroglyphics (Amt), which is close in pronunciation to Egyptian Arabic today. The Pharaohs used dates fresh and mixed with honey, and made ajwa from it, and extracted a type of honey from it - currently known to the people of Iraq as molasses - and dates were mentioned in the Hearst Papyrus among the therapeutic recipes for bladder diseases, dysuria, constipation, and stomach and intestinal infections, while the Arabs used palm pollen with honey to treat cases of infertility in women and sexual weakness in men, and as a drink to treat thin and weak people.

Ibn Sina said:

(Dates are good for the gums, and increase urination. If drunk with tannic vinegar, it prevents uterine leakage and hemorrhoidal bleeding.)

Dates types:

There are approximately fifty types of dates, the best of which are those with thin skins, lots of flesh, sweet taste, and small pits. It is known that dates go through several stages, which are:

The first is the date palm , then the khulal. They are the first to appear on the date, and it is said that they are beneficial for sexual vitality. Then the date palm, then the unripe date, which is less beneficial than the date palm. After that, the rutab date, and finally  the tamarind date ... Generally, edible dates are divided into three main types as follows:

(A) Soft, moist types .. in which the fruits contain a high percentage of water. This type cannot remain edible for a long time because it ferments quickly. Examples of this type are the red Zaghloul dates, the Samani dates, the Siwi dates, the yellow dates, the Hayani dates, the Bint Asha dates, etc.

(b) Semi-dry types.. They contain a medium percentage of water, and can remain for a long time suitable for consumption. The most important known types are: Khadrawi, Halawi, and Dafan, while in Egypt they are: Siwi, Alalajawi, and Omari. In Iraq they are: Al-Sayer, Khadrawi, Umm Al-Dafan, and Halawi. In Tunisia they are: Dahla, Noor... etc.

(c) Dry types.. contain a low percentage of water, and can be kept for long periods of time suitable for consumption without spoilage or fermentation.. such as the Abrimi, Sakouti, Barakawi, Jarjoura, Jandila, Bartamuda dates.. etc.

Nutritional benefits

Dates, in all their types and conditions, have high nutritional and health benefits that surpass many other fruits and foods, to the point that they are considered an ideal food.

Dates are highly nutritious and sufficient for human needs. They contain approximately 80% of easily metabolized and quickly digestible sugars and starches, which can be absorbed within an hour of consumption. Nutrition experts agree that one kilogram of dates has the same caloric value as one kilogram of meat.

For instance, every 100 grams of dried dates contain about:

• 20% water
• 2.2% protein
• 0.6% fat
• 75% sugars
• 2.4% fiber
• 180 IU of vitamin A
• A portion of vitamin D
• 0.08 mg of vitamin B1
• 20 mg of vitamin B2
• 1 mg of sodium
• 79 mg of potassium
• 65 mg of calcium
• 65 mg of magnesium
• 1.5 mg of manganese
• 5 mg of iron
• 72 mg of phosphorus
• 65 mg of sulfur
• 21 mg of copper
• 83 mg of chlorine

These nutritional contents highlight the importance of dates, whether fresh or dried, as a food rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for body growth and vitality.

Comparing the amino acids (proteins) in dates to those found in other fruits and vegetables reveals that dates contain significantly higher amounts of essential amino acids. These include tryptophan, isoleucine, and valine, among others, which are crucial for the body's needs.

Therapeutic properties

Due to its rich nutritional content, including a variety of vitamins and minerals, dates provide substantial protection against numerous diseases, particularly those affecting the digestive system and anemia. They also aid in treating respiratory and urinary tract diseases. Recent findings indicate that dates have a stimulating effect on kidney function. Additionally, unripe dates strengthen the stomach, alleviate chronic diarrhea, reduce excessive uterine secretions in women, minimize hemorrhoidal bleeding, combat gum issues, and offer many other therapeutic benefits.

Scientists have discovered that dates contain a hormone called pitocin, which has properties that regulate uterine contractions in pregnant women, preparing them for childbirth. This hormone acts as a regulator, stimulating uterine muscle contractions. It can strengthen weak contractions while tempering overly strong ones, ensuring that uterine contractions are appropriate for the mother's needs during labor. Additionally, it helps calm the nervous system, facilitating a smoother and less painful delivery. This could explain why dates were chosen as the ideal food for the Virgin Mary during childbirth. The divine command for her to shake the palm tree to provide fresh dates may have been intended to ease her labor and delivery.

Interestingly, the health and medicinal benefits of dates extend beyond their fruit. Scientific research has revealed that date seeds can also be highly beneficial. Aside from being used as fuel to replace coal, their ash can be utilized for cleaning and relieving toothaches. Researchers from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Cairo University have conducted studies to extract a natural contraceptive material from date seeds. Their efforts have been successful, and the substance is currently undergoing clinical trials to confirm its efficacy before being produced for widespread use.

Meanwhile, several pharmaceutical companies have begun roasting and grinding date seeds to incorporate them into medical formulations, particularly for manufacturing tooth-cleaning powders.4o

It is prescribed to treat cases of

Poor growth, anemia, tuberculosis, chest diseases, digestive system disorders, resistant to cancer and aging, beneficial for pregnant women and helps them in easy childbirth, during the recovery period from diseases and after operations.

Internal uses:

For cases of constipation, anemia, and dysuria... eat fresh dates of all types and forms, or drink a dry date infusion - khushaf - at a rate of one cup in the morning on an empty stomach and another in the evening before bed.

For women who have just given birth, are recovering from illness, or have undergone surgery... drink 1-3 cups of dates soaked in warm milk daily.

- For severe diarrhea... eat unripe dates three times a day.

- For respiratory tract infections...  eat fresh dates or dried dates. You can also drink a drink made from soaking dry dates - khushaf - on an empty stomach in the morning.

Healthline: Benefits of Dates