Wellness Wednesday: April 7
DATES
Dates might have a strange, wrinkly appearance, but once you give them a try, you’ll be hooked! They have a sweet, caramel-y taste and soft, chewy texture, making them the perfect way to satisfy your sweet-tooth craving while taking advantage of extra nutrients. For today’s Wellness Wednesday, we’ll be highlighting dates!
Dates are derived from the phoenix dactylifera plant, or the date palm plant, which is a flowering species originating from the palm family grown in tropical environments. The fruit of the plant, the dried date, are considered a stone fruit and feature a fleshy exterior surrounding a thin, hard pit. Dates are native to Morocco, but they’re now grown in multiple tropical regions around the world, including warmer parts of the United States.
Dates offer a large amount of calcium in addition to providing nearly a fifth of the recommended daily value of copper in just two medjool dates. Dates are also rich in potassium, vitamin B, iron, magnesium, and are very high in fiber, packing in 3 grams per serving.
The high fiber content of dates can help protect against heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol, clearing your arteries of excess plaque, and providing antioxidants to your body, including carotenoid and phenolic acid, which fight against cell damage caused by free radicals.
Dates are also an excellent natural energy source. Because of their high carb content in a smaller, concentrated serving size, dates can offer a quick energy boost without the caffeine.
Dates can be consumed in a variety of ways: blended into smoothies, chopped and added to salads and flatbreads, or pureed and used as a sugar alternative in your baking recipes! Dates make for an excellent sugar alternative because of their naturally occurring sugars.
Though dates might seem daunting because of their dried appearance, they make for a delicious and sweet ingredient addition. You can enjoy the sweet taste of dates and nutritional benefits they supply in our Strawberry Banana protein shake, Peanut Butter & Jelly protein shake, Salted Caramel smoothie, Artichoke & Date flatbread, Sweet & Savory açaí bowl, or try adding it to your favorite smoothie, shake, or even avocado toast!
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