When was the last time you had a date night? No, not that kind of date – the kind that you eat. And as it turns out, dates are not only delicious and versatile (you can eat them on their own or as part of a recipe), but also offer a host of health benefits as an evening snack or in a daytime meal.
From a healthy dose of dietary fiber to being a source of antioxidants that can help protect against disease, here are some naturally sweet reasons to reach for dates the next time you have a snack craving.
They’re Packed With Vitamins and Nutrients
When you bite into a date, you’re getting a lot of vitamins and minerals along with the tastiness. For example, according to Healthline, dates contain 20-percent of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of potassium, 15-percent RDI for manganese, 14-percent RDI of magnesium, and 12-percent RDI for vitamin B6.
The source also says dates are a source of iron and copper, along with fiber and protein. While the fruits are often higher in calories than other types of fruit – with the majority of those calories as carbs – this is offset by all the goodness dates contain, notes the source.