Dates are small, oval fruits of the date palm that are grown in tropical climates. Due to the distance they must travel to reach the tables, dates are often sold dried, which concentrates their sweetness and gives them a pleasant texture. Honestly, dates can be very similar to jelly beans, except that they are much healthier.
The nutritional benefits of dates are many. Just one 3.5 ounce serving has approximately 20% of your daily potassium requirement along with 7 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein and several types of antioxidants. Dates also contain a good amount of copper, manganese, vitamin B6, magnesium and iron.
Fresh dates can be bright red or bright yellow (or something in between), but dried dates usually have a golden brown hue. The most widely consumed varieties are Medjool and Deglet Noor, but there are actually more than 3,000 varieties worldwide!
Whichever variety you choose and whether they are dry or fresh, dates offer some really excellent health benefits. Try eating just 2 of them every day for a week and see what happens to your body. We’ve compiled some of the most exciting possibilities, but honestly, the #5 is almost enough on its own!