Do the beneficial phytonutrients in dates make up for their high sugar content?
Are Dates Good For You?
4.2/5 - (146 votes)
Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
Dates are whole foods, but, by weight, are 80% pure sugar. Just to put that in perspective, Froot Loops are only 40% sugar. Half the sugar content of dates—and has fruit-shaped marshmallows—so it’s got to be healthy. Straight frosting? Only 60% sugar. Jelly beans? Only 70% sugar. Dates: 80%.
Yes, dates have fiber; they have phytonutrients. But the concern about consuming high-sugar foods is that they can raise our blood sugar, raise our triglycerides, oxidatively stress our bodies, and make us fat. So, last year, Israeli scientists took a bunch of people, stuffed them full of dates for a month, and measured what happened.
Are dates bad for us? Do the sugar and fiber kind of cancel each other out? Or are dates good for us?
Dates are fantastic. No adverse effects on blood sugar or weight, and beneficial improvements in triglycerides and antioxidant stress levels. Check out the title of this review: “Possible…best food…?” Concluding that “dates may be considered as an almost ideal food.”
As an aside, one date scored significantly better than the others. They’re both good, but one’s better. Medjool, or the smaller, sweeter Halawi dates? Without a doubt, Halawi is better.
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- W. Rock, M. Rosenblat, H. Borochov-Neori, N. Volkova, S. Judeinstein, M. Elias, and M. Aviram. Effects of date (Phoenix dactylifera L., Medjool or Hallawi Variety) consumption by healthy subjects on serum glucose and lipid levels and on serum oxidative status: a pilot study. J. Agric. Food. Chem., 57(17):8010{8017, 2009.
- W. Al-Shahib and R. J. Marshall. The fruit of the date palm: its possible use as the best food for the future? Int J Food Sci Nutr, 54(4):247{259, 2003.
Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
Dates are whole foods, but, by weight, are 80% pure sugar. Just to put that in perspective, Froot Loops are only 40% sugar. Half the sugar content of dates—and has fruit-shaped marshmallows—so it’s got to be healthy. Straight frosting? Only 60% sugar. Jelly beans? Only 70% sugar. Dates: 80%.
Yes, dates have fiber; they have phytonutrients. But the concern about consuming high-sugar foods is that they can raise our blood sugar, raise our triglycerides, oxidatively stress our bodies, and make us fat. So, last year, Israeli scientists took a bunch of people, stuffed them full of dates for a month, and measured what happened.
Are dates bad for us? Do the sugar and fiber kind of cancel each other out? Or are dates good for us?
Dates are fantastic. No adverse effects on blood sugar or weight, and beneficial improvements in triglycerides and antioxidant stress levels. Check out the title of this review: “Possible…best food…?” Concluding that “dates may be considered as an almost ideal food.”
As an aside, one date scored significantly better than the others. They’re both good, but one’s better. Medjool, or the smaller, sweeter Halawi dates? Without a doubt, Halawi is better.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
- W. Rock, M. Rosenblat, H. Borochov-Neori, N. Volkova, S. Judeinstein, M. Elias, and M. Aviram. Effects of date (Phoenix dactylifera L., Medjool or Hallawi Variety) consumption by healthy subjects on serum glucose and lipid levels and on serum oxidative status: a pilot study. J. Agric. Food. Chem., 57(17):8010{8017, 2009.
- W. Al-Shahib and R. J. Marshall. The fruit of the date palm: its possible use as the best food for the future? Int J Food Sci Nutr, 54(4):247{259, 2003.
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Are Dates Good For You?
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Content URLDoctor's Note
Check out these videos for more on dates and other fibrous fruits:
Do Fruit & Nut Bars Cause Weight Gain?
Dried Apples, Dates, Figs, or Prunes for Cholesterol?
How to Reach the Antioxidant “RDA”
And check out my other videos on dried fruit.
For more context, also see my associated blog posts: Best Dried Fruit For Cholesterol and Soy milk: shake it up!
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