5. Dates Are High in Disease-Fighting Antioxidants
Dates are full of antioxidants, which are good for your health in many ways, like lowering your risk of getting sick. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause harmful reactions in your body and lead to disease. Dates seem to have the most antioxidants compared to other types of fruit like figs and dried plums.
Here’s a look at the three most potent antioxidants found in dates:
- Flavonoids: Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and have been studied for their potential to lower the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and some types of cancer.
- Carotenoids: Carotenoids are good for the heart and may also lower the risk of eye problems like macular degeneration.
- Phenolic acid: Phenolic acid has anti-inflammatory properties and may help lower the risk of cancer and heart disease.