Arabian date paste (100% natural) 1kg - Tayiba

Date paste, a natural product mainly from Saudi Arabia, is highly prized for its many nutritional and medicinal virtues. Dates are renowned for being rich in minerals, vitamins and fibre, making them useful in many areas of health. In this article, we're going to discover the benefits of this precious and delicious product for our bodies and how to incorporate it into our daily diet.

Focus on dates: a nutrient-rich fruit

Dates have been an integral part of the diets of people in the Middle East for thousands of years, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where they have always been grown traditionally on family farms to preserve their quality. This very sweet fruit is considered an important source of energy and contains a wide range of essential nutrients, including

• Vitamins: a, B1, B2, B3 and B5
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc
• Dietary fibre
• A natural alternative to sugar

The sweetening power of dates comes mainly from the simple carbohydrates they contain (fructose, glucose and sucrose), which are easily absorbed by the body without causing blood sugar spikes. So it's a natural alternative to industrial sugars, allowing us to reduce our intake of refined sugar while enjoying the health benefits of dates.

Date paste: a versatile product with many benefits

100% natural date paste is made from pitted dates finely ground to give a smooth, tasty texture. This product contains no preservatives or additives, so dates can be used in a variety of ways to get the most out of their taste and properties:

• As a culinary ingredient in sweet and savoury dishes or pastries
• Sauce and condiment to season salads, meats and fish
• Sweet spread on bread, rusks or fruit and vegetables (celery, apples, etc.)
• A natural energiser for sportspeople thanks to its fast carbohydrates
• Food supplement for people suffering from anaemia due to a lack of iron or calcium
• Recognised therapeutic benefits

As well as being rich in nutrition and tasty, date paste also has many health benefits. In fact, eating dates is recognised for its therapeutic properties in a number of areas:

Strengthening the immune system thanks to the presence of antioxidants such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which protect the body's cells against damage caused by free radicals.

Promote digestion and intestinal transit, partly due to their high dietary fibre content, but also thanks to certain compounds they contain that may stimulate the production of bile, making it easier to pass faeces.

Regulate blood sugar levels and prevent cardiovascular disease by contributing to the proper functioning of glucose and lipid metabolism, thanks in particular to their high mineral (potassium and magnesium) and B-group vitamin content.

Improve bone health and prevent osteoporosis by providing calcium and phosphorus, two key minerals in the formation and maintenance of bone mass.

Help restore restful sleep by promoting the secretion of melatonin - the 'sleep hormone' - and acting on the central nervous system to reduce stress and anxiety.

How can date paste be incorporated into our diet?

To make the most of the benefits of date paste, we need to gradually add it to our diet, taking certain precautions into account:

Choose date paste that is 100% natural and contains no added sugar, to avoid industrial products that are often too sweet and/or contain unsavoury additives. Choose organic brands or small local producers.

Don't exceed a daily consumption of two tablespoons, because even if dates are healthy, they are still high in calories and it's important to moderate their carbohydrate intake to avoid long-term weight problems.

Diversify the uses of date paste to vary the pleasures and take full advantage of its therapeutic virtues: incorporate it into recipes for both savoury dishes (tagines, stuffed chicken) and sweet dishes (date cakes, energy balls), or simply eat it as is to satisfy cravings while filling up on energy.

Must-haves associated with date paste

Finally, let's not forget that the best combinations with date paste are often those that highlight its nutritional properties:

Nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts) and oilseeds (sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds) to increase the intake of vegetable proteins and good fats while adding a crunchy touch.

Wholegrain cereals (oatmeal, bulgur, quinoa) which, thanks to their high fibre content, help to regulate the release of sugar from dates into the bloodstream, thus avoiding blood sugar spikes.

Dark chocolate, rich in antioxidants and minerals, enhances the sweetness of the date paste to create a delicious combination that appeals to young and old alike.

However, be careful not to overdo these combinations, as they can quickly increase the snack's calorie density.