Dates palm

Date palm tree belongs to Arecaceae family (Angiosperms, monocotyledon) consisting of about 200 genera and more than 2,500 species. Dates grow on date palm trees, which can make them difficult to harvest. Some palm trees grow 23 m or more. Date palms are grown in the Canary Islands, northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, India, Mexico, and the U.S. state of California.

The fruit is an ancient cultivated food that has importance in the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and other tropical to subtropical areas.

Date palm fruits are berry containing a single seed enclosed by fibrous parchment like endocarp, fleshy mesocarp and the fruit skin (pericarp). Depending on the variety, fresh dates are fairly small in size and range in color from bright red to bright yellow.

The fruit is very bitter if eaten before it is ripe. The fruits can be dried in the sun and preserve them for a long time. The dried fruit is more than 50 percent sugar by weight and contains about 2 percent each of protein, fat, and mineral matter. Dates is rich in vitamin B complex, such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic (B5), pyridoxine (B6), and folate (B9) in addition to a significant amount of fiber.

The fiber in dates may be beneficial for blood sugar control. Fiber slows digestion and may help prevent blood sugar levels from spiking too high after eating.

Dates have a high tannin content and can be used as a cleansing solution. Dates may be used to treat colds, fever, and sore throats.
Dates palm