Significance of eating dates during Ramadan

Significance of eating dates during Ramadan
x
Highlights

The traditions and customs related to Ramadan perhaps is just not a followed orthodoxy, in fact most of the traditions and customs do have a logical explanation or a scientific exposition attached to it . Breaking the fast with dates is one of the most important among them. It is said that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used the dates to break his fast and Muslims follow it all over the world till the date as a ‘sunnah’.

The traditions and customs related to Ramadan perhaps is just not a followed orthodoxy, in fact most of the traditions and customs do have a logical explanation or a scientific exposition attached to it . Breaking the fast with dates is one of the most important among them. It is said that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used the dates to break his fast and Muslims follow it all over the world till the date as a ‘sunnah’.

The dates are the way that Muslims begin the daily celebration of Iftar, the evening meal at which they break the fast. Eating one to three dates and drinking two glasses of water is considered the healthy way to break the fast. All over the Muslim world, street vendors and markets stock lots of dates so that people can make sure that they have enough dates to break their fast each day.

This particular religious custom also has certain health benefits. Experts claim that eating a date after fasting all day helps the body start the digestive process and it gives the body the energy it needs to deal with foods that are more complex.

Dates are also very high in fiber, and fiber fills one up faster than other foods, and this may help prevent over eating. The health benefits of dates are innumerable. It is said that ripe dates contain about 80% natural sugar . Sugar travels to the liver faster than anything else, and the sugars are converted to energy faster than other nutrients. Dates contain sugars that come from a complex carbohydrate which is considered to be healthy and suggested by nutritionists .

It has also been proved that dates are high in vitamins A, B6, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and natural sodium. It also contain small amounts of protein, good fats, and additional minerals including copper, sulphur and fluoric acid.

The tradition of having dates can be traced back to 7th century and it is said to be inherited from the local bedovins of the Middle east but the vitality of these traditions lie behind the health benefits attached to it .
Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENTS