Benefits of Dates

The benefits and utilities of dates are shown as some doctors mentioned the benefits of Iftar on Dates and said: (starting Iftar with dates has a lot of healthy and nutritional benefits, some of these benefits are:

Dates are easy to digest so they don’t exhaust the fasting person stomach.

Dates decrease the great hunger feeling of the fasting person and so he doesn’t rush into excessive food eating which causes digestion disorders.

Dates prepare the stomach to receive the food after being inactive through out the day with activating the release of digestive secretions and juices.

Dates are very rich with sugary energy and so the body is supplied with the most important nutrients which is sugar that is irreplaceable as a nutrient for the brain cells and nerves.

Dates Protect the fasting person from having constipation as a result of changing meals times or as a result of having low fiber amounts in meals.

The alkaline salts in dates adjust the acidity of blood which result from excessiveness eating of meat and carbohydrates which causes a lot of hereditary diseases as diabetes, gout, renal stones, gall bladder inflammations, high blood pressure and hemorrhoids).

The Messenger (SAW) said:
“The best Suhoor for the believer is dates.”
[Abu Dawood, Al-Baihaqee and Ibn Hibbaan]

Rasool`Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to incite the breaking of the fast with dates and if he did not find any, he would then break it with water.

Anas Ibn Maalik (Radi`Allahu anhu)said:

“The prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to break his fast with fresh dates before he prayed. If he did not find fresh dates then he would use dried dates. If he did not find that also he drank a few sips of water.
[Ahmad and Abu Dawood]

The research of dates benefits, prepared by nutrition department of hospitals administration in the health ministry in Kuwait.