Dates, often hailed as “nature’s candy,” offer more than just a sweet, satisfying taste—they’re also loaded with essential nutrients and antioxidants that can benefit your health in numerous ways. Revered for centuries for both their flavor and medicinal properties, dates make an excellent addition to your diet. From promoting better digestion to potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases, here are nine compelling reasons to include more dates in your daily meals:
1. Relieves Constipation
2. Rich in Antioxidants
Dates are packed with powerful antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. With the highest polyphenol concentration among dried fruits, they offer protection against chronic conditions.
3. Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals
Dates are a rich source of essential nutrients, including vitamin B6, iron, potassium, and magnesium. These nutrients support vital bodily functions such as nerve health, energy production, and bone strength.
4. Strengthens Bones
Loaded with bone-friendly minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, dates can help improve bone density. Vitamin K in dates also aids in calcium absorption, promoting stronger bones and teeth.
5. Supports Brain Health
Research suggests dates may help protect brain health by reducing inflammation and preventing the buildup of plaques associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Their antioxidants also play a role in maintaining cognitive function.
6. Boosts Hair Health
Rich in iron, dates promote better blood circulation to the scalp, encouraging faster hair growth and strengthening hair follicles. This can lead to reduced hair loss and overall healthier hair.
7. May Lower Cancer Risk
The high fiber and polyphenol content in dates may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Regular consumption of dates has been linked to better gut health, which plays a role in lowering cancer risk.
8. Helps Control Blood Sugar
Despite their natural sweetness, dates have a low glycemic index, making them a good choice for managing blood sugar levels. Their fiber content also helps slow sugar absorption, making them a suitable snack for individuals with diabetes.
9. Promotes Heart Health
Dates have been associated with improved heart health, thanks to their ability to positively influence cholesterol levels and reduce oxidative stress. Their fiber and antioxidant content contribute to better cardiovascular health.
Incorporating dates into your diet is an easy way to enjoy both their sweet taste and significant health benefits. Whether eaten alone or added to recipes, dates provide an array of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that can enhance your overall well-being. Embrace their natural sweetness while reaping the rewards of better digestive, heart, and brain health.
“I Was Trying to Look Good for My Husband,” Helen Mirren, 78, Stuns Public With Bikini Photoshoot, Proving Age Is Just a Number
Dame Helen Mirren, 78, has been an emblem of grace and style on the red carpet since the late 1970s. She’s amazed the audience many times with her daring outfits and looks, but this time, she’s caught everyone’s attention in a whole new way. Many people were stunned when they saw a photo of the actress in her bikini on vacation in Italy.
She admits that this photo will ’haunt’ her for the rest of her life.
In 2008, Helen Mirren, at that time 63 years old, stunned the public with her bikini photoshoot. The photo quickly went viral. The Oscar-winning actress became something of a post-mid-life beauty symbol. Reflecting on the photo, Mirren expressed, “I think this thing will haunt me for the rest of my life,” as she was surprised to see this photo in all the major tabloids.
The actress also revealed she was just trying to look good for her husband, Taylor Hackford, “So we were there, swimming a little bit, lying in the sun, and Taylor said, ’Stand up, I want to take a picture of you.’ So I stood up and sucked my tummy in because my husband was taking my photo. I tried to suck my cheeks in. I tried to look good.”
This unexpected fame opened up some business opportunities for her.
Simon Mirren, Helen’s nephew, said that his aunt received a lot of business prospects but showed no interest in capitalizing on this photo. Simon recalled, “I begged her to turn us all into millionaires by marketing bikinis after everyone went wild over her fit bikini body but she said absolutely no. She won’t brand herself like that.”
It’s not the first time an actress has challenged age stereotypes.
The actress unveiled her “radical” hairstyle while promoting her role as Hespera, the villain in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The actress acknowledged that after growing her hair, she kind of liked it and didn’t feel like cutting it.
During a recent TV appearance, Mirren challenged the fact that older women are discouraged from having long hair because it tends to thin with age. The actress refuted this notion, stating that there is a general belief that one should not have long hair after a certain age.
The Oscar-winning actress hasn’t had long hair since her twenties. She liked the way it looked and decided to keep it. “I thought, do you know what, it’s pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with it for a little while. It will come off eventually…but I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s quite radical,” the actress said.
Mirren also expressed her pride in representing women over 60, stating that creativity, passion, and energy do not stop unless one decides to stop them. “So it’s just self-motivated, really, and never give up. And find enjoyment, if it’s possible in your life,” she shared.
Dame Helen Mirren has also been vocal about defying beauty standards for older women, citing that her generation has been subject to ageism for too long. She also voiced her frustration with beauty products being marketed with 15-year-old models in a 2019 interview.
The actress has her own views on beauty too, and it’s refreshing to hear someone in the public eye acknowledge that the idea can be exclusionary and make people feel insecure about themselves. “They’ll think, ’Well, I’m not very beautiful. It’s all very well for all these beautiful women, but I don’t feel beautiful,’” she explained.
For Mirren, it’s important for everyone to feel confident and fabulous, regardless of their looks. “Being powerful is so much more interesting than being beautiful,” the actress has always thought.
On a different note, Mirren revealed that she performed her own stunts on the set of Shazam! Fury of the Gods. “I was incredibly brave and didn’t say anything or complain because I wanted to be a real ’stunty’ person,” the actress proudly shared.
It’s great to see actors who are dedicated to their craft and willing to take risks for their performances.
Demi Moore, 61, also fights stereotypes that older women shouldn’t wear bikinis in her latest video, but the public is divided.
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