Latest news with #dates
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Date muesli
Step Warm for an extra minute, keeping everything moving in the pan. Take off the heat and stir in a handful of chopped dates.
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Salted date caramel sauce
Step Add the following to a high-speed blender and mix until completely smooth: 75g pitted Medjool dates, 125ml semi-skimmed milk, a pinch of salt and ½ tsp vanilla extract. If you don't have a high-speed blender, you can use a food processor or other mixer but the result may not be as smooth.
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The £2.50 dried fruit that lowers your blood pressure and boosts gut health
Caramelly and chewy, dates are nature's candy – a toffee-sized fruit to satisfy sweet cravings in place of something that comes out of a wrapper. As a nutritionist, I'm a fan. Most in this country are sold dried, not fresh. Popular Medjool dates are larger, richer, softer and therefore pricier than Deglet Noor which have a lighter honey flavour. Either can be enjoyed just as they are, or else added to all manner of both sweet and savoury dishes. Culinary versatility is one of the beauties of dates. Think past date loaf and experiment with adding sweet notes to savoury salads, throwing a handful chopped into a bowl to balance out peppery rocket or sharp cheese. Or try soaking dates in a little hot water for a few minutes then blending into anything from a sweet-and-sour marinade to a sweet-and-acidic vinaigrette. Whizzed to a sticky paste in a food processor, dates also help bind reduced-sugar bakes such as brownies. At their simplest, though, dates can be slit open, pitted and spread with anything from melted chocolate to nut butter to soft cheese. Although more costly than dried fruit such as raisins, dates are so intensely sweet that a little goes a long way. They have a long shelf life, too, so you can enjoy one or two then store the rest in a jar ready to call on as an immediate, hassle-free and nutrient-dense snack. Why are dates nutritious? A small handful of dates (about 34g) counts as one of your five-a-day or 30 plant varieties a week and provides a range of nutrients: 90kcal 20g carbohydrate (naturally occurring sugars) High in fibre (2.6g) High in potassium (247mg) Source of iron (0.75mg) Source of copper (0.01mg) High in chloride (6.1mg) High in manganese (0.23mg) Source of vitamin B3 (niacin, 1.1mg) Dates also provide some magnesium and calcium. Many dried dates contain the allergen sulphur dioxide so check labels if necessary. The health benefits of dates 1. Dates support heart health As fibre-rich carbohydrates, dates help protect the heart: eating more fibre has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Fibre does all this in three ways: It keeps us feeling fuller for longer which can help maintain a healthy body weight, in turn benefitting blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol management It takes longer to digest, delaying the rate at which glucose and fats in our meals are absorbed into the bloodstream It provides food for the friendly bacteria in our guts, encouraging the production of short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs. These SCFAs are thought to have cardio-protective characteristics. 2. Dates are good for the gut As well as being beneficial to heart health, fibre and SCFAs are central to a happy gut, both nourishing the friendly bacteria in our gut microbiome and protecting the gut lining itself. Together these promote a flourishing, healthy gut which has been linked to improved immunity and overall well-being. Polyphenols – powerful compounds contained in all plants, including dates – also nourish our gut microbiome. To reap all these benefits, including keeping our digestive system regular, we should aim to eat 30g of fibre daily but the average UK intake is closer to 18g. Hitting 30g in a day's eating might look like: A handful of dates (2.6g fibre) A bowl of porridge topped with sliced banana and chopped nuts (8.5g) Hummus, granary bread and veggie sticks (12.5g) Vegetable and lentil ragù with wholewheat spaghetti (6.5.g) 3. Dates are micronutrient-rich A handful of dates provides a range of vitamins and minerals which count towards our daily micronutrient targets and help us feel at our best. They're high in potassium and chloride, which control fluid balance, and iron, which helps make the red blood cells that carry oxygen around our bodies. We also need the copper in dates to produce red and white blood cells. They're equally high in manganese, needed to activate enzymes in our body, including those required for digestion. Finally, they provide vitamin B3 (or niacin) which also promotes digestion by helping us release energy from food, as well as supporting the nervous system. 4. Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties As noted above, dates are rich in many polyphenols. These include beta-carotene, lycopene, flavonoids and anthocyanins. All have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics, meaning they help protect the cells in our bodies from damage, illness or toxins. Scientific interest in polyphenols is high and a growing number of studies indicate these polyphenols may have a role to play in either preventing or treating cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity. 5. They slow glucose absorption Sweetened only with fructose (natural fruit sugar), dates make a nutrient-dense, wholefood swap for a processed biscuit when we're craving something sweet. Their GI index – that is the measure of how quickly foods raise blood glucose – is low to medium because their high-fibre content slows digestion, preventing sugars from spiking. 'Dressing them up' by eating them alongside some protein and healthy fat (for example by mixing them with nuts or nut butter) will also blunt glucose absorption. Put together, these factors help you avoid the energy-and-mood roller-coaster of sugar spikes followed by slumps that you'd instead get from eating a sweet biscuit. All the same, it's important to remember that dates are still high in sugar, fruit sugar or not – so they're not to be eaten without any moderation. If consumed regularly in excess, dried fruits, like dates or apricots, can damage teeth, both because they're sugary and because they're sticky and tend to coat tooth enamel. Offset this by eating them either as part of a meal or, if snacking, pairing with another food (like that nut butter again). What does a portion of dates look like? Limit portions to a small handful. It's easy to over-consume dried fruit because it's small and snackable: you'd likely never eat more than one or two whole fresh apricots at once, for example, but you might get through a great many more dried ones without really considering it. And although we tend to normally only eat dates dried, not fresh, the same principle applies and can be useful to help us visualise appropriate portions. In doing so, we can keep sugar and energy intake in check. Using dates in baking Whilst we talk sugar, a final footnote on baking. There's a myth that baking with syrups such as date, maple or honey is more nutritious than baking with caster sugar. It's true that these liquid sweeteners contain less sugar (versus 100g caster sugar, honey contains 80g, date syrup 66g and maple syrup 65g) but do be aware that they're all still considered free sugars and your body will treat them all equally. Free sugars are any that are added to food and drink, plus the sugar in fruit juice, honey and syrups – and we should aim to limit them to prevent tooth decay and weight gain. In any case, blending dates whole at home retains the fibre and other nutrients whilst a shop-bought bottle of date syrup has had all these valuable nutrients stripped out during processing. So, if you want to try baking with date syrup, don't buy it, make your own easy version at home (see Tip 1 below). FAQs Are dates high in iron? Yes, they're a good plant-based source making them particularly useful for vegetarians and vegans who must ensure they get enough. Dried apricots are high in iron, too, so mixing the two fruits together in the muesli and salad below is a simple way to boost intake. Are dates good for arthritis? The polyphenols in dates may help manage arthritis but current scientific evidence isn't conclusive. The NHS recommends a healthy balanced diet to those suffering with arthritis, centred on a variety of fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, healthy fats plus meat, fish, eggs or plant-based protein, such as beans and legumes. Three recipe ideas
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tunisian 'revolution oasis' palm grove thrives on self-rule
Since the inhabitants of Jemna in southern Tunisia wrested control of their 100-year-old palm grove from the state during the 2011 Revolution, residents say their lives have radically improved. The desert town -- where the palms produce some of the North African country's finest dates -- ejected businessmen tied to the old regime when the uprising toppled longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Jemna, population around 8,000, has since become a unique grassroots experiment in Tunisian agricultural self-management -- a non-profit project run by a local community to reinvest all benefits locally. Residents founded the Association to Protect the Jemna Oasis (ASOJ) which runs the grove where 57-year-old Abdelbasset Abed works full-time, along with some 50 other people. During harvest season, the 12,000 date palms provide work for 160 people -- 10 times more than before. Two-thirds of these are seasonal workers. "The situation is a lot better than before," said Abed as he cleared away dry branches at the foot of a towering date palm. "I have a stable job." - Visible results - The results are visible beyond the grove itself, with production generating nearly 14 million dinars (roughly $4.5 million) over the past 15 years. A covered market, a sports field, computer labs in schools, scholarships and funds for other groups... the association has created more opportunities in a highly indebted Tunisia where little to no government funding reaches NGOs. "They even help students with financial aid," Abed said of the ASOJ. UTAIM, another local association that works with children who have disabilities, has had a constant source of income after ASOJ donated 50 palm trees to it. "They gave us a stable source of revenue," UTAIM director Halima Ben Othman told AFP. The local cemetery has also been revamped using income generated by the town's surrounding palm trees. It now has a separation wall and a seating area for people visiting the graves of those buried there. "Even the dead benefit," smiled Tahar Ettahri, the head of ASOJ. Such gains did not come easily, however, and now locals are saying they have to fight to preserve their economic self-rule. Two days before Ben Ali fled the country in early 2011, locals occupied the palm grove that had been leased cheaply to two well-connected businessmen. - Peaceful sit-in - "The young people of Jemna decided to reclaim their ancestors' land," which Ettahri said had a history of being plundered since French colonial rule. When the regional governor sent armoured vehicles and deployed security forces in an attempt to reclaim the grove, residents staged a three-month peaceful sit-in. Meanwhile, they had to keep producing the dates. So local trade unionists, activists, and ordinary citizens formed a coalition, and a community fundraiser gathered some 34,000 dinars (about $10,000) from more than 800 contributors to fund the project at its onset. "We came together with the goal of improving the well-being of our community," Ettahri said. "We came from different ideological backgrounds, but our shared interest in Jemna united us. Maybe that's why we succeeded." In his book "Jemna, the Revolution Oasis", sociologist Mohamed Kerrou called it a unique legacy of the ideals that sparked the Arab Spring. Ettahri said this stemmed from a sharp sense of social justice and a propensity for the common good. The town has a public space -- the "Jemna Agora" -- where people are handed a microphone and speak freely to discuss a problem or to propose projects for locals to put to a vote. - Sorting plant - Despite being a success, with revenues of 1.8 million dinars (about $592,000) by the fourth year of self-management, Jemna has had to battle post-revolution governments in order to preserve its model. Now, 15 years later, Ettahri said residents were still waiting to "settle the issue legally with the state". The former unionist and teacher said this was not a fight against the authorities -- the residents asked to lease the grove, and were ready to pay 15 years in back rent. To comply with a decree from President Kais Saied establishing "citizen's enterprises", which cited Jemna as an example, the ASOJ has formed a "community company". It has 334 members -- far more than the required 50-member minimum -- and all of them insist on voluntary status, another unique aspect among such enterprises, Ettahri said. "It's a lot of members, but the idea is to sociologically represent everyone," Ettahri said. The group now aims to launch a plant to sort and package dates locally, providing year-round employment for 100 women. Ettahri, 72, is a grandfather of seven and has taken a step back from day-to-day date production. He still heads the ASOJ, but more as a lookout to warn of potential problems ahead. fka/bou/srm/fec
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tunisian 'revolution oasis' palm grove thrives on self-rule
Since the inhabitants of Jemna in southern Tunisia wrested control of their 100-year-old palm grove from the state during the 2011 Revolution, residents say their lives have radically improved. The desert town -- where the palms produce some of the North African country's finest dates -- ejected businessmen tied to the old regime when the uprising toppled longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Jemna, population around 8,000, has since become a unique grassroots experiment in Tunisian agricultural self-management -- a non-profit project run by a local community to reinvest all benefits locally. Residents founded the Association to Protect the Jemna Oasis (ASOJ) which runs the grove where 57-year-old Abdelbasset Abed works full-time, along with some 50 other people. During harvest season, the 12,000 date palms provide work for 160 people -- 10 times more than before. Two-thirds of these are seasonal workers. "The situation is a lot better than before," said Abed as he cleared away dry branches at the foot of a towering date palm. "I have a stable job." - Visible results - The results are visible beyond the grove itself, with production generating nearly 14 million dinars (roughly $4.5 million) over the past 15 years. A covered market, a sports field, computer labs in schools, scholarships and funds for other groups... the association has created more opportunities in a highly indebted Tunisia where little to no government funding reaches NGOs. "They even help students with financial aid," Abed said of the ASOJ. UTAIM, another local association that works with children who have disabilities, has had a constant source of income after ASOJ donated 50 palm trees to it. "They gave us a stable source of revenue," UTAIM director Halima Ben Othman told AFP. The local cemetery has also been revamped using income generated by the town's surrounding palm trees. It now has a separation wall and a seating area for people visiting the graves of those buried there. "Even the dead benefit," smiled Tahar Ettahri, the head of ASOJ. Such gains did not come easily, however, and now locals are saying they have to fight to preserve their economic self-rule. Two days before Ben Ali fled the country in early 2011, locals occupied the palm grove that had been leased cheaply to two well-connected businessmen. - Peaceful sit-in - "The young people of Jemna decided to reclaim their ancestors' land," which Ettahri said had a history of being plundered since French colonial rule. When the regional governor sent armoured vehicles and deployed security forces in an attempt to reclaim the grove, residents staged a three-month peaceful sit-in. Meanwhile, they had to keep producing the dates. So local trade unionists, activists, and ordinary citizens formed a coalition, and a community fundraiser gathered some 34,000 dinars (about $10,000) from more than 800 contributors to fund the project at its onset. "We came together with the goal of improving the well-being of our community," Ettahri said. "We came from different ideological backgrounds, but our shared interest in Jemna united us. Maybe that's why we succeeded." In his book "Jemna, the Revolution Oasis", sociologist Mohamed Kerrou called it a unique legacy of the ideals that sparked the Arab Spring. Ettahri said this stemmed from a sharp sense of social justice and a propensity for the common good. The town has a public space -- the "Jemna Agora" -- where people are handed a microphone and speak freely to discuss a problem or to propose projects for locals to put to a vote. - Sorting plant - Despite being a success, with revenues of 1.8 million dinars (about $592,000) by the fourth year of self-management, Jemna has had to battle post-revolution governments in order to preserve its model. Now, 15 years later, Ettahri said residents were still waiting to "settle the issue legally with the state". The former unionist and teacher said this was not a fight against the authorities -- the residents asked to lease the grove, and were ready to pay 15 years in back rent. To comply with a decree from President Kais Saied establishing "citizen's enterprises", which cited Jemna as an example, the ASOJ has formed a "community company". It has 334 members -- far more than the required 50-member minimum -- and all of them insist on voluntary status, another unique aspect among such enterprises, Ettahri said. "It's a lot of members, but the idea is to sociologically represent everyone," Ettahri said. The group now aims to launch a plant to sort and package dates locally, providing year-round employment for 100 women. Ettahri, 72, is a grandfather of seven and has taken a step back from day-to-day date production. He still heads the ASOJ, but more as a lookout to warn of potential problems ahead. fka/bou/srm/fec
