Invasion of the dates !

We will be bringing dates back with us! That is a promise, people ! ! Yes, yes, kids, I know we still have boxes that your Father has been bringing home over the years. As I strafed the newspaper for interesting snippets about Ramadan I came across an article which made me think twice about those gorgeous sticky brown things.

The Prophet Muhammad recommended breaking the fast at iftar with dates. I guess he knew a thing or two. During the summer season dates abound in fruit markets. Date shops display them arranged in pyramids inside glass boxes like gems and sell them at considerably high prices.

For Westerners, dates and the palm tree symbolize Arabia. Ancient Arabs thrived and survived on the palm tree, which surprisingly prospers in arid land and yields the nutritious date.

Arabians found use for every section of the palm tree. They employ the fronds to weave baskets and ropes and to thatch roofs. Palm trunks are used as pillars to support houses and tents. The liquid of boiled luqqaah (the sheath of flower clusters) is given to quell upset stomachs. Date pits yield cooking oil. The center of the palm trunk, jummar or heart of palm, makes a delicious salad ingredient.

Let's look at the fruit again, the date only ripens at the peak of desert heat (August) which yields a superior quality fruit. Dates are eaten at different stages. The first stage is the deep red and bright yellow crunchy balah. The best in the red balah is the long zahou Al-Madinah and the shorter barhi in the yellow ones. As they mellow, one half becomes soft and brown. They are called munassaf, meaning half and half. When they turn completely soft and brown, they become rutthab. Freezing can maintain the latter stage for months, making it available all year long. Some types are better than others for freezing. To last a whole year to the next season, they need to be dried to become tamr. Different types of dates are dried to different levels. Date syrup is sometimes added to keep them soft and to preserve them.

Now, are you still with me?! Lets take a look at just how good they are for you.
Dates have very little fat and no cholesterol. Yes, no fat ! ! !

Magnesium in the fruit lowers blood pressure; relaxes the muscles, nerves and arteries; helps make bone mass; protects against cancer (lung); and controls hypertension and heartbeat along with its copper content.

Calcium in dates is another muscle, artery, and nerve relaxant; builds bones; prevents osteoporosis; and helps regulate blood pressure.

Potassium from the fruit strengthens the heart muscles; enhances appetite; prevents muscle spasms; lowers blood pressure; improves bone structure; and reduces cancer risk.

Boron in dates builds bone; relieves arthritis; enhances sexual desire; and treats brain cancer.

Phosphorus in them protects teeth and bones and stimulates the reproductive and sexual organs in both males and females.

Selenium in the fruit prevents infections; prevents antibiotic resistance; works against cancer; strengthens immunity; reduces joint inflammation; improves mood disorders; normalizes thyroid activity and enhances fertility.

Sodium, chloride, and potassium contents in the fruit help balance stomach acid.

Iron along with vitamin B2 and copper in dates builds red blood cells; transports oxygen in the blood and muscles; improves vision; provides energy; is important for child bearing years and pregnancies and eases delivery.

Fluorine in the fruit protects against tooth decay, making dates a good substitute for sweets for children.

Vitamin C in dates is high enough to protect against scurvy; strengthen blood vessel walls; help gum disease and bleeding and bolster and aid in liver detoxification.

Vitamin A's availability in the date improves eye and skin dryness, night vision and sexual drive.

Vitamins B1 and B2 respectively treat nervous system disorders and anemia.

Pectin in dates, like apples and pears, lowers cholesterol to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Fiber is high in dates. It improves digestion and bowel movement and decreases colon cancer risk.

Can you beat all of that?!

Traditional medicine in Arabia prescribes dates for many conditions ranging from digestive and respiratory disorders and bone building to pregnancy, childbirth, flagging sexual drive, low-sperm count, fertility, and insect bites.

During pregnancy, they bolster energy; supplement mother with important nutrients; prepare for delivery and lactation; regulate contractions and prevent haemorrhage.

Different regions of the Arabian Peninsula have different recipes to ease childbirth. Some suggest eating several dates with cinnamon tea; others use clove, cumin, or anise tea with dates. After delivery, dates are given to prevent postpartum bleeding and void the placenta. To invigorate the new mother, they give her dates, black seeds, Nigella sativa, and fenugreek, or they prepare for her wheat gruel with dates, butter, pepper, and aromatic seeds, plus an egg in the morning.

Date cures may have been influenced by the Holy Quran when God addresses Mary, or Mariam, Mother of Jesus during her labour pains: "And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee: It will drop fresh dates upon thee".

Until the invasion of modern diets, the date was the main nutrition in the Arabian Peninsula. Most desserts such as henaini, saeedha and maamoul, are made from dates, even rice and vegetable recipes include dates. They can be added to pastries, cakes, pies, and chocolate bonbons. Date syrup is used in desserts. Dates with nuts make a nice snack. Plain or nut-stuffed dates are savoured with the cardamom flavoured Arabic coffee.

Dates are particularly popular during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Breaking the fast with one, three or up to seven dates is highly recommended by Prophet Muhammad to energize after a long day of abstinence from food. Nutrients replenish and antioxidants detoxify. He suggested: "Whoever takes every morning seven dates of ajwa, he will neither be harmed by poison nor sorcery on that day". Ajwa, the Prophet's favourite date, is the short black highly-prized date, grown in Al-Madinah.

The average date contains 20 calories. Eating too many can be detrimental to health and counteracts weight control.

I can see a new super-hero ! Datedude ! ! !

So, now you know what y"all getting for Christmas !