Fresh Dates Vs Dried Dates: Which Is Healthier?

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Dates are commonly sold at the local markets or even at the grocery store. There are fresh dates as well as its dry counterpart. So in this fresh dates vs dried dates debate, did you ever wondered which one is healthy or nutritious for you and whether that particular kind fits into your daily diet or not? But before we go into the facts, let us brush up on some history about this wonderful fruit.

Dates are the edible sweet fruit which grows on date palms. Believed to have its origins in Iraq 4,000 years ago (although fossil records show that it has been around for 50 million years), dates are widely cultivated in various parts of the world now. Dates are rich source of carbohydrates and each date contains 20-70 calories. They are extremely sweet and a healthy source of energy. Bodybuilders swear by its potential benefits in providing quick and long lasting energy. In the middle east where it is consumed daily, the cases of heart diseases are extremely rare.

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Though there are claims that it helps in the fight against cancer, those claims are yet to be proven. Whereas most fruits get the bulk of their weight from water, up 70 percent of a date's weight comes from sugar. So which is superior in this fight of fresh dates vs dried dates? Read on to find out.

Lifespan: Dry dates have lesser moisture and hence stay fresh for a longer period of time. Meanwhile, fresh dates have a lesser shelf-life of up to 8-10 months. Dry dates remain fresh to use up to 5 years if properly refrigerated. In the lifespan segment of dried dates vs fresh dates, dried dates comes out on the top.

Calories: Hundred grams of dried dates contain about 280 calories. At the same time, 100 grams of fresh dates contain approximately 145 calories. Depending upon your requirements, you can have the fresh dates to lose weight or depend on the extra calories from the dry dates to gain weight if you are particularly skinny. In this battle of fresh dates vs dries dates, there cannot be a single winner as it varies from person to person.

Nutrients: Dried dates and the fresh ones have almost the same amount of nutrients, which is very high. It contains iron which keeps your blood healthy, vitamin A for the eyes, potassium for your heart and magnesium which helps against diabetes, blood pressure and depression. Though they are wonderful to indulge in, they contain high levels of fructose and too much fructose is bad for you. There isn't much of a difference between the nutrients of fresh dates and dried dates.

Energy: Dates are jam-packed with carbohydrates, which include sucrose, fructose and glucose. It helps in gaining quick energy. That's the reason athletes, body builders and swimmers binge on dates for that extra energy before a event. Here the difference between fresh dates and dried dates is insignificant, since both of them provide ample energy.

Fibre content: Dates have high fibre content in them. This provides help in cases of constipation and thus relieves the stomach. Dry dates have a much higher fibre content, compared to fresh dates. Dates are also beneficial against heart diseases.

Conclusion:
Dates are extremely beneficial fruits that should be included in our diet. If you are trying to lose weight, indulge in fresh dates and exercise regularly. The various carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins keep you filled for a longer period of time. The fat is negligible and hence, it is great for weight reduction.

On the other hand, if you are trying to gain weight, your best bet would be dry dates, which are high in calories but at the same time very healthy.
So choose what works best for you and indulge in this deliciously healthy fruit!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.