Before becoming plant based, my only association with this sweet fruit was holiday baking. I used to make date balls, rolled in shredded coconut, as a Christmas treat. I’ve learned, however, that dates deserve year around attention.
Dates grow in huge clusters just underneath the date palm’s fronds. These trees can be found in warm regions like California and Florida, but they are particularly prolific in the Middle East, where dates have long been a staple food. There are many varieties of dates.
This fruit is amazing for the digestive system. Dates bind onto, destroy and sweep away parasites, mold, yeast, fungus, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses and other poisonous pathogens in the gut. They help to kill Candida while restoring peristaltic function in the intestines.
Dates deliver vital glucose to the liver and their high potassium and fruit sugar content refuels the brain and muscles after exercise. Rich in bioactive minerals, 70 of them, dates support the adrenal glands, helping the body handle life’s stresses. They are also one of the most heart healthy foods available, due to their amino acids.
Dates sustain and fortify muscles and nerves, and stop lactic acid from taking over the body when it’s under stress. They expel excessive dampness from organs such as the liver and spleen and they are full of anti-cancer properties. (Information from Life Changing Foods by Anthony William. Order your copy below.)
My favorite thing about dates is their versatility. They make a perfect grab and go snack. Partner them with apple slices and celery sticks and this healthy snack is great to take along on a walk or hike, as this combo energizes the body while supporting the adrenals.
Pulsed in a food processor, dates form the basis for pie crusts, apricot bars, and granola. They can be added to sauces, soups and smoothies. As a special treat, blend them with a small amount of water and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon for a wonderful dipping sauce for apples.
Recipe for apricot date bars HERE.
I have come to appreciate this simple but powerful little fruit. I keep a bag or two of dates on hand for a quick snack, tea time or to add to recipes. Their sweetness helps to satisfy cravings when first eliminating sugar from the diet. They have been essential for Greg, for that reason.
Anthony includes an Emotional Support section for each of the 50 foods in his book, along with a Spiritual Lesson. I like what he writes about dates:
“Eating dates can put up a shield around you, providing protection from people who feel jealousy toward you. And while you sleep, they help to release your own stored up toxic emotions – such as fearfulness, shame, demoralization, and the sense of being judged, wronged, or bullied. Ultimately, dates strengthen your sense of purpose so you can be at your most productive and enthusiastic.”
More excellent reasons to include dates daily, in a healthy diet!
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