How About A Date?

When one talks of a sweet date, the younger generation is apt to think of their first romantic date. However, the date that this writer is elaborating on is the date fruit which is as sweet as sugar but much less harmful, health-wise. This dark brown fruit is not only delicious but also highly nutritious. Believed to have originated somewhere around Egypt, dates are now cultivated in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia. This fruit, now becoming popular worldwide for its health benefits, has been consumed by locals in Middle East for over 6,000 years. Its health benefits are slowly making this fruit a healthy replacement for sugar, which is believed to be harmful to one's health, in desserts, smoothies, baked goods, etc. Ashok Malkani examines the health benefits of the fruit, its replacement as a sweetener as well as the different types of dates available in the market.

- Ashok Malkani

Sugar has a bittersweet reputation when it comes to health. Problems occur when you consume too much-added sugar that is, sugar that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavour or extend shelf life. High-sugar diets have been associated with an increased risk of many diseases, including heart disease, the number one cause of death worldwide. Consumption of added sugars is believed to cause a variety of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is said to even result in cognitive decline and even some cancers.

But for most, sugar is considered as one of life's great pleasures. People's love for sweetness is visceral. This love, which is nurtured from childhood, is promoted further by food companies who lure consumers to their products by adding sugar to almost everything they make: yogurt, ketchup, fruit snacks, breakfast cereals, and even supposed health foods like granola bars.

But slowly people are realizing that they can satiate the craving for their sweet tooth with other products which are not harmful to their health. A couple of natural sweeteners are date paste and maple syrup.

Dates as Sweeteners

Date paste, which can be made by blending dates with water to make a sticky caramel-like paste, is used in baking. Date paste works well as a sweetener and binder in baked goods like cookies and energy bites. You can make date paste by blending 2 cups of pitted Medjool dates with 1 1/4 cups of filtered water (you may need slightly more depending on how soft your dates are).