Interested in trying our FREE 7-day healthy diet plan? Dates are a fruit that come dates wrapped in bacon tapas the date palm tree, which is native to the Middle East, although they are also now grown in the Mediterranean, Asia, the USA and Mexico. Dates grow in large clusters which hang from the top of these palm trees.

As they ripen, their skins turn brown and wrinkle as more and more moisture leaves the fruit. This is when they are usually harvested by hand, either by someone climbing up the palm or using a mechanical lift. When picked, they resemble a large shrivelled raisin. Despite their appearance they still contain some moisture. Whole dates have a stone in the middle that should be removed before eating, or you can buy pitted dates. Dried and fresh dates are available year round, but the fresh type are best between November and January. There are lots of different varieties of the fruit, but the medjool date is one of the best known, as it has a sweeter and stickier taste and texture than others.

A serving of 30g of dates counts as one of your five-a-day. Discover more in our five-a-day infographic. Top 5 health benefits of dates1. A small 2015 study found that date consumption may reduce colon cancer thanks to its high fibre and polyphenol content, the latter also having useful anti-microbial benefits. They are also thought to be helpful in reducing the length of labour. Some people may be allergic to dates and, in addition to this, compounds called sulphites may, for some sensitive individuals, cause allergic symptoms.

A mild reaction may include symptoms such as an itching mouth or tongue, sneezing or a runny nose. If you experience these symptoms after eating dates, speak to your GP. If a more serious anaphylactic reaction occurs, call for an ambulance immediately. Visit the NHS website to read more about allergies. This article was last reviewed on 6 October 2021 by Kerry Torrens.

Nicola Shubrook is a nutritional therapist and works with both private clients and the corporate sector. Over the past 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. Date Calculator App for iOSSee how long remains before a deadline or exactly when those 30 days are up.

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