Best Time to Eat Dates: When to Have Khajoor for Energy, Digestion and Gut Health

Dates or khajoor are the best sources of carbohydrates and fibre, offering a natural energy boost and digestive support. While there is no particular time that you must eat them, experts do believe they

can be extremely helpful for you in certain situations.

What is the nutritional component of dates?

According to experts, dates have a high level of key micronutrients, but you need to be mindful of how many you eat. Eating too much can contribute to excess calorie intake. The average portion size of dates is just 100 grams, or the equivalent of about four Medjool dates. So, you should not consume the whole package to get the health benefits. Dates help your gastrointestinal tract while lowering your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but in smaller amounts.

When should you eat dates for energy?

Dates are the best choice for a quick energy boost as they are packed with carbs – around 10 to 18 grams per date, most of which comes from natural sugars. Sugars break down more quickly than other carbohydrates, providing your body with rapid fuel. And so, dates are best eaten right before you start your exercise or workout as they fuel working muscles and supply potassium for proper muscle function. When paired with protein, they also promote quick recovery and replenish muscle glycogen.

When should you eat dates for digestion?

Dates help fight inflammation and thereby support healthy digestion due to high amounts of fibre - just three pitted Medjool dates provide 4.8 grams. Fibre regulates bowel movements and promotes healthy and beneficial gut bacteria. Experts recommend snacking on three dates between meals to help maintain a steady digestive rhythm throughout the day.

Do dates raise blood sugar levels?

While natural fruit sugars are said to be more beneficial than added sugars since they come packaged with fibre and other nutrients, both are metabolized the same way and can contribute to weight gain or elevated blood sugar when consumed in excess. And so, to provide balance of blood sugar, make sure to pair the dates you eat daily with protein, which slows the digestion of simple sugars. A few of the best snack-friendly preparations include adding dates to Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, or stuffing them with peanut or almond butter.Also read: Do NOT Start Your Day with Dates, Can Cause This Dreaded Disease

Other health benefits of eating dates daily

Protection against cognitive decline

There are a few compounds in dates that help protect your brain by giving therapeutic potential against cognitive decline. Dates are a major part of the Mediterranean diet, which helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease – a common type of dementia.

Provide antioxidants

Dates are loaded with antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and have anti-fungal properties. The antioxidants include carotenoids, polyphenols like phenolic acids, isoflavones, lignans, and flavonoids, sterols, and tannins.

Protect your heart

The high polyphenolic content of dates benefits your heart as they increase the high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, which is good for your cardiovascular health.