Date's the way to go: Five health benefits of the sweet fruit!

New Delhi: They are small, they are dark brown, they are sweet and really delicious. If you're still wondering, we're talking about dates.

According to history, date palm is known to have come from what is now Iraq, however Egyptians were known to have made wine with dates a lot earlier as well.

Split into 30 categories, dates are an integral part of Middle Eastern cuisine. Some of the popular kinds are the Zaghloul, found exclusively in Egypt. The Sukkary from Saudi Arabia is one of the most expensive kinds of dates. And then there's the Khadrawy, a soft and dark date that's quite popular among the Arabs.

Dates are a good source of various vitamins and minerals, energy, sugar, and fiber. They also contain calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc and thus offer a huge load of health benefits.

Check out five health benefits of the yummy fruit below:

1. Improves bone health:

A rich source of selenium, manganese, copper and magnesium, dates help in maintaining bone health and also keeps conditions like osteoporosis at bay.

2. Good for skin:

Dates contain vitamin C and D, which improve the skin's elasticity and keep the skin smooth. Furthermore, incorporating dates in your diet will help you get rid of any skin problems. They prevent early ageing and the accumulation of melanin in your body.

3. Promotes digestion:

Simply soak a few dates overnight and eat them the next morning. The insoluble and soluble fiber in dates will help clean out the gastrointestinal system, allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency. It also helps with constipation.

4. Strengthens nervous system:

Dates help keep your nervous system in order. Vitamins boost the health and functionality of the human nervous system, while potassium also works to increase the speed and alertness of the brain. Potassium, which is a vital element of cells and body fluids, also control the heart rate and blood pressure level of the body, thus preventing coronary heart disease and heart stroke.

5. Ensure a healthy pregnancy:

Being rich in iron, dates prevent anaemia in would-be-mothers, as well as the foetus. They also help the uterus muscles by allowing them to enlarge in a smooth manner. Dates also provide adequate nutrition to the mother’s milk and also prevent haemorrhage soon after childbirth.

However, it should also be noted that dates are high in sugar content – coming in at a whopping 66.5 grams per 100 gram serving of the fruit. It is recommended to consume them in a moderate manner.