Five reasons why you should eat dates

• Dates have antioxidant properties and are a good source of vitamin A, known to boost vision. Consuming fruits rich in Vitamin A is also known to help protect the occurrence of lung and oral cavity cancers. • Dates are an excellent source of iron, containing 0.90mg in every 100 grams. Iron is necessary for the production of red blood cells. A deficiency in iron can lead to anaemia.

• Dates are a natural source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining muscle contraction including the vital heart muscle. This mineral is also vital for maintaining a healthy nervous system and balancing the body’s metabolism.

• When you suffer from constipation then consider eating dates as they are richly packed with dietary fibre, both soluble and insoluble. Both fibres serve crucial functions.

For instance, insoluble fibre increases the rate at which food moves through the digestive system while the soluble fibre decreases elevated blood glucose levels.

• Dates contain minerals like calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Calcium is important for developing and maintaining a healthy bone structure. Manganese is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals in the body while copper aids in the production of red blood cells.