As soon as the winds turn cold, our body’s needs change. Especially if you live in India, chances are you have heard the folklore of winter foods that generate heat within your system. Such foods include jaggery, eggs, coffee, and much more. But one superfood that everyone should include in their winter diet is dates. They are perfectly suited for winters since they are packed with nutrients like essential vitamins, minerals, fibre, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, copper and magnesium. The fibre content alone is reason enough to include dates into your diet. Dates have both soluble and insoluble fibres, making your digestive system function smoothly. Dates are attributed many health benefits in an overall comprehensive manner. Let’s take a look at these health benefits.
1.Bone Health
Our bones determine so much about our overall health. Only with a strong structure can we hope for strength for the rest of our systems. With age, there are a lot of problems that start creeping in, like arthritis and inflammation in joints. Especially in winters when there is lesser sunlight, our body misses out on a supply of Vitamin D, which is essential for bones. Having dates regularly can replenish your system with Vitamin D and other minerals that keep bone-related issues at bay.
2.Relief for Arthritis Patients
Speaking of bone issues, arthritis patients find winters especially difficult. As the temperature drops, people with arthritis feel a more intensified pain in their bones. Since dates are rich in magnesium, they also have great anti-inflammatory properties. Dates are great for people with arthritis in winters and good for anybody with joint pains and aches.
3.Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Another thing that happens in winters is that the risk of heart attack increases. This is because the body's temperature drops, and the heart has to do extra work to keep the circulation up and running properly. Having dates reduces bad cholesterol, which forms one of the barriers for the heart to work properly. Having them in the morning or evening will give your body more heat and more stamina.
4.Good Addition to Desserts
People with health goals know the first rule is to cut down on processed sugar. Avoiding sugar can be especially difficult in winters, a season of festivals! Diwali, Dussehra, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year all fall in winter. A good thing to do is use dates to sweeten your desserts.
5.Generate Body Heat
As the temperature drops, so does our body’s ability to keep itself warm. Dates have the ability to supply our bodies with some natural body heat. It allows us to keep ourselves warm and can be consumed easily in the form of sweetener in drinks and desserts or even raw as a snack.
6.Energy Booster
Winters are a season when comfort feels a little too comforting. It gets harder to get out of bed and leave the warmth of the blanket. Even after we make it out of bed, keeping the lethargy aside and being energetic is tough. Dates are a good snack to consume if you want to increase your energy level and zip through your days with the highest productivity possible!
