How to choose dates: useful tips

Dates have been known to mankind for 6 thousand years. Since ancient times, people consume palm fruits with pleasure, and the passage of time only helps in this. Today on sale you can find dates coated with sugar glaze or chocolate, evaporated, dried, dried, canned. This diversity encourages many people to look for information that will help you choose the right dates.

Where do the dates come from?

The best quality fruits can only be obtained from the territory of growth. Dates from importing countries are brought to store shelves and markets. Among them, the most popular are Algeria, Iran, Tunisia, Israel, Egypt, South Africa.

The benefits of dates

1. Dates have the ability to remove sputum from the respiratory tract, so they are often used for colds. For a long time, treats were given to children to combat cough, children like this option.
2. Fruits boost the immune system, make up for the lack of nutrients during the spread of viral infections. In this case, it is enough to prepare a decoction of dates and use it in 100 ml. three times a day.
3. Dates are used to increase tone and vitality. They are useful for people who have recently undergone a major operation or illness. Dates help you recover faster.
4. The fruits of the date palm have a fairly high calorie content. But this aspect does not prevent people from introducing dates into diets. Natural saccharides support the mood and help not to break the weight loss technique.
5. Dates are often used to combat inflammatory processes in the body. Thanks to bactericidal and antipyretic properties, you can quickly fight colds, tonsillitis, flu and other infections.
6. The product is endowed with a laxative property, so it is often introduced into the diet of people suffering from constipation. Dates, when ingested, begin mass cleaning of feces and toxic substances.
7. A decoction based on fruits perfectly removes excess water and has a choleretic effect. Against this background, liver function improves, swelling disappears, blood pressure decreases.
8. The main valuable qualities are due to the accumulation of potassium and iron. The first element supports the heart muscle and cleanses blood vessels of cholesterol. The second - prevents anemia in adults and children.
9. Dates control blood pressure, more precisely, reduce it. It is useful to eat them at sharp jumps. Also, fruits improve mental activity, so they need to be eaten by people working with their heads.
10. Interestingly, dates are allowed for people with diabetes. The composition contains natural saccharides that do not affect insulin levels. But, of course, the reception should be strictly limited to small portions.

How to choose dates

1. Appearance. The surface of high-quality dates is matte, and the shade is dark brown. If you notice a shine, this may indicate a coating with colorless syrup. Such a move is made in order to hide some defects in appearance and make the product mouth-watering. In the process of transportation and sale, such dates are covered with dust and can be dangerous to humans. To make sure that there is no glaze, touch the fruit. Your finger should not stick to the surface.
2. Integrity. Refuse to buy cracked dates. They are endowed with harmful microorganisms that penetrate the damaged skin. Make sure that there are no round holes in the surface. Otherwise, such dates will be raw inside. They may also contain bugs or insect larvae.
3. Bone. If possible, buy fruit with a seed, since with this choice the risk of overdrying is minimized. Whole-form dates are more juicy and healthy. They rarely cause parasites and mold resulting from improper storage or transportation.
4. Density. Many people wonder which date is better - soft or hard? The density of high-quality fruits is average, when pressed, the surface is quickly restored. The softer fruits are overripe, and the hard ones are unripe.
5. The aroma. Smell the selected product. You should not smell the smell of chemicals or gasoline. Otherwise, this means that the fruits were processed with harmful substances. These impurities can be detrimental to health. Good dates have a neutral smell.

The use and storage of dates

1. Many people do not attach importance to the fact that all dried fruits must be washed before consumption. A rather large number of harmful bacteria accumulate on the surface of such products.
2. Another thing is if you were to pick fresh fruits from the trees. Dates are subjected to industrial processing. The fruits are picked with dirty hands, dried in the open air among dust. Dates sometimes trample and collect with shovels.
3. Even high-quality products must be rinsed with boiling water for sterilization. Finished dates are covered with vegetable sugars, to which absolutely everything sticks. If you suspect that the fruit has been treated with chemicals, it is best to soak the product in hot water.
4. Take the habit of cutting the fruit into 2 parts and taking out the bone. Make sure that there are no worms in the product, after which you can start the meal. In most cases, dates are affected by a moth.
5. In this case, you should buy a little more product in order to feast on them. It is recommended to store dried fruit in a refrigerator in a food container with an airtight lid. Dates are able to absorb foreign odors well. The product is stored in the freezer for up to 5 years.

When choosing, pay particular attention to appearance. The shell should be intact and matte. Do not abuse the product so as not to encounter a series of troubles. Be sure to heat the fruits before eating.

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