Dates are considered as an ideal food consisting of essential nutrients and also provide health benefits. In Islamic countries dates and yoghurt or milk is the traditional meal to break fasting during Ramadan.

Dates are natural energy boosters providing dietary fiber and dietary potassium. 80% of dates consist of sugar – glucose, fructose and sucrose-, and the remaining is made up of minerals and proteins and vitamins.

The nutritional benefits can be obtained from both dried and fresh ones. But the medicinal properties are more in the dried ones. Recent studies reveal that dates are effective medicines to prevent intestinal cancer.

Dates also help to regulate digestion. The amino acids present in dates helps to regulate gastric juices thereby helping in smooth digestion. The fluorine content in dates prevents enamel decay and formation of plaques on teeth.

Dates are an excellent remedy to treat intestinal disorders. The nicotine content in dates prevents the growth of intestinal parasites and maintains healthy bacterium.

Digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea etc. can be treated using dates. Dried dates after proper cleansing are soaked in water and are made to a fine paste with the same water. This is a very good laxative food even for infants. The dietary potassium present in dates is responsible to check diarrhea.

Dried dates are used to treat colds and sore throat. They are soaked in water for a night and are made to a fine paste or a decoction is prepared. This can give relief from fever and bronchial catarrh also.

The water in which dates are soaked is used in alcoholic intoxication as well. Dates provide iron and calcium necessary during prenatal and postnatal stages of pregnancy and helps in the healthy development of the baby. Dates are an excellent natural medicine for asthma as well.

A handful of dates is soaked in goat milk whole night and is made to a fine paste the next morning along with honey and cardamom. Regular intake of this medicine will give relief to asthma patients. The same medicine is also used to rectify sexual disorders as well.

Dates soaked in goat milk are grinded with neem leaves, gooseberry and turmeric to control diabetes. Dates are boiled in milk to prepare a refreshing and nutritious drink which is an effective tonic to treat anemia. A handful of dates included in our daily diet can give us resistance to fight against cancer and nerve disorders.