Dates - Don't Let Their Size Fool You

I've just recently returned from a month's vacation in Egypt, otherwise referred to as 'The Mother of Civilization', or my favorite, 'The Bread Basket of the World'. Okay, Egypt may no longer be supplying other great European and Middle Eastern empires with wheat to maintain their political and military dominance, but they do offer an amazing variety of delicious foods and drinks. I loved all the wonderfully healthy falafels, split fava bean mashes, lentil salads sprinkled with pomegranate and refreshing mint teas - I took a pass on the grilled pigeon.

Without a doubt, my favorite foods was the incredibly fresh dates. This native North African fruit was served ripe with almost every meal and I've never tasted dates so moist or sweet. One of my favorite Egyptian experiences was stopping at a highway stall to buy fresh picked dates from some of the thousands of date palm tress that line the desert roads. Grown high on top of these trees, fresh dates are a glorious vibrant red and taste and feel much like biting into an apple.

Besides being tasty and beautiful, this whole food has a host of health benefits. Dates are a fantastic source dietary fiber, which helps improve bowel function for people with mobility impairments and has shown to lower cholesterol. Dates are one of the best natural sources of Potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral we all need to maintain a healthy nervous system and proper muscular contraction of the body and heart. This fruit can also help fight osteoporosis as it supplies a good dose of Magnesium, an essential mineral for healthy bones. Another richly supplied mineral found in dates is Iron. This mineral is essential to red blood cell production and therefore beneficial for people who have anemia.

And don't let their size fool you. Dates contain large quantities of carbohydrates and B-vitamins, both of which provide us with much needed energy throughout the day.

In Canada, dried dates are readily available in grocery stores and fresh dates can be found in specialty markets in season. Enjoy them as a snack, appetizer, dessert or blend them in your morning smoothie!

Enjoy!

Caution: Due to the high carbohydrate content, dates are not considered a healthy choice for people with diabetes.