In addition to dates, palm juice is also believed to provide many health benefits for the body. So, what are the contents of date palm juice and its health benefits? Check out the explanation below.
Dates juice’s nutritional content
Dates juice is a syrup or liquid produced from dates soaked in hot water, mashed, and filtered.
The nutritional content of dates juice is no different from the content of whole dates.
Dates juice is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which are beneficial for the health of the body.
The following is the nutrient content in date juice in every 20 grams.
1. Calories: 59 grams (g).
2. Fat: 0.1 g.
3. Sodium: 0.4 milligrams (mg).
4. Potassium: 138 mg.
5. Carbs: 16 g.
6. Fiber: 1.7 g.
7. Sugar: 13 g.
8. Proteins: 0.5 g.
9. Calcium: 10 mg.
Date juice contains a high type of natural sugar, so many people think date juice may not be good for diabetes patients.
However, this fruit juice provides many nutritious nutrients. As long as it is not consumed too much, palm juice is safe for diabetics.
Dates juice has a higher mineral and vitamin content than fresh dates.
Even so, this fruit juice can be three times higher in calories than the fruit because it contains more sugar.
Therefore, you still need to limit the amount of date juice consumption.
The benefits of palm juice for health
Thanks to its nutritional content, consumption of date juice can support digestive health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
1. Smooth digestion
Date juice is high in fiber, one tablespoon (15 g) alone has 1.7 g of fiber.
Fiber can benefit digestive health by preventing constipation. Adequate fiber intake helps you have regular bowel movements.
In addition, research from The British journal of nutrition (2015) explains that consumption of dates helps the movement of intestinal muscles, reduces fecal ammonia levels, and helps the growth of intestinal microbiota.
These benefits as a whole keep the digestive system working properly in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
2. Control blood sugar
Because it contains high fiber, date juice has the potential to control sugar levels in your blood.
The reason is, fiber can delay stomach emptying and slow down the absorption of food breakdown results, including glucose, the sugar that is released into the blood.
More precisely, fiber reduces glucose absorption after consuming a high intake of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index. That way, blood sugar levels do not immediately jump.
However, as explained, date juice is high in sugar so that blood sugar can still rise after consuming it.
3. Reducing the risk of disease
Both dates and date juice provide a variety of antioxidants that can reduce the risk of several diseases.
Antioxidants protect body cells from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause cell damage, leading to disease.
One of the main antioxidant compounds in date juice is polyphenols.
According to research in Nutrition research (2016) the polyphenol content in date palm syrup has the potential to help reduce inflammation and the risk of blood vessel disorders in the heart.
Focus
4. Against bacterial infections
The content of polyphenols in palm juice syrup also has benefits as an antibacterial.
This was noted in the research Frontiers in microbiology (2016), this study showed that the antibacterial properties of date palm juice can inhibit the growth of a number of bacteria.
These bacteria such as Escherichia coli (causes acute diarrhea) and Staphylococcus aureus (causes digestive disorders).
However, further research is still needed to confirm these benefits in humans.
5. Become a healthier natural sweetener
Date juice is a source of fructose, which is a type of natural sugar found in fruit. The juice is very sweet and has a subtle caramel-like taste.
Date palm syrup can be a healthier substitute for white sugar because it is rich in fiber and antioxidants.
It’s important to note that, even though it contains fiber and antioxidants, date juice is still quite high in calories.
Consume date syrup in moderation so you can still get the benefits it has to offer.
6. Prevent Alzheimer’s
Consumption of dates has properties to help improve brain function.
A laboratory study from the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal (2020) found date seeds to be beneficial for reducing inflammatory markers, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), in the brain.
High levels of IL-6 lead to an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Additionally, other studies, including animal studies, have shown dates to be beneficial for reducing the activity of the protein beta-amyloid. This protein can form plaques in the brain.
Plaque that builds up in the brain can interfere with communication between brain cells, which can eventually lead to brain cell death and Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Prevent hypertension
Hypertension can increase the risk of heart disease.
The way to reduce high blood pressure is to live a healthy diet accompanied by consumption of foods high in potassium.
Potassium works by relaxing the walls of blood vessels thereby lowering blood pressure.
One tablespoon of date juice is rich in potassium content, which is 138 grams.
Therefore, palm juice has properties for people with hypertension or high blood pressure.