Secret Benefits of Dates for Health
Every time the holy month of Ramadan arrives, we encounter a lot of various foods and drinks that are often consumed during fasting, both as a menu for sahur, or breaking the fast. One of the menus that we often encounter is dates. The date palm is one of the most frequently mentioned fruits in the Qur'an. At least twenty times the name of this fruit is mentioned, where fifteen verses mention it along with other plants, as God's gift to His people.
Almost every Muslim during the fasting month eats this blackish brown fruit with very hard seeds as a menu for breaking the fast because it has many benefits. Among the benefits and efficacy of dates viewed from a medical perspective which at the same time reinforces the news of the Al-Qur'an and As-Sunnah Ash-Shahihah regarding the efficacy and primacy of dates are as follows:
- Tamr (Dried dates) have a function to strengthen intestinal cells and help smooth the urinary tract because they contain fibers whose job is to control the rate of bowel movement and strengthen the uterus, especially during childbirth.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"And shake the base of the palm tree towards you, surely the tree will abort ripe dates on you, so eat, drink and be happy. If you see a human being, then say, 'Verily I have vowed to fast for the Most Gracious Lord, so I will not speak to any human being today” [Surah Maryam: 25-26].
The nutritional content in ripe dates is very rich in calcium and iron elements so it is highly recommended for women who are pregnant and who are about to give birth. Even Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala ordered Maryam Al-Adzra (virgin) to eat it during childbirth (after giving birth).
- Rutab (Wet dates) function to prevent bleeding in women during childbirth and speed up the process of returning the uterus to its original position before the next pregnancy. This is because fresh dates contain hormones that resemble hormones oxytocin which can help with the birth process.
- Facilitate the birth process and help save the mother and baby.
- Dates, fine tamr nor ruhab can calm nerve cells through its effect on the thyroid gland. Therefore, it is highly recommended to give some dates in the morning to children and the elderly, so that their mental condition will be better.
- Boiled dates can expedite the urinary tract
- Ajwah dates can be used as ruqyah tools and prevent jinn from disturbing them.
- Dates are highly recommended as a dish to break the fast because they contain sufficient levels of sugar and are needed by the body after fasting. As has been established in the field of medicine that sugar and water are the substances that are first needed by people who are fasting after withholding from eating and drinking. People who immediately eat food and drink when breaking their fast can still feel the phenomenon of weakness and physical disturbances due to lack of sugar and water.
- Dates can prevent stroke.
- Dates are rich in mineral salts that neutralize acids, such as calcium and potassium. Dates are the best food to neutralize acids in the stomach because they leave residues that can neutralize acids after being chewed and digested which arise from consuming proteins such as fish and eggs.
- Dates contain good vitamin A where it can maintain moisture and foresight of the eyes, strengthen vision, bone growth, fat metabolism, immunity against infection, skin health and soothe nerve cells.
- Dates are fruit, food, medicine, drink as well as confectionery.
By: Sri Patmawati, AMK (071002238)