NHS GP and television star Dr Amir Khan has let slip his secret to maintaining good health: a particular fruit he consumes at least three times daily.
In a video from July 2024, Dr Khan hailed the benefits of dates, explaining why they’re a staple in his diet for over a year now.
Dr Khan shared his insights, saying: “Dates don’t negatively impact your long-term blood sugars even if you’re diabetic.
“Studies show that dates don’t have an impact on average blood sugar levels of fasting sugars, and actually some research shows that dates can lower your average blood sugars and even lower your cholesterol.”
He attributed the cholesterol-lowering effects of dates to their high fibre content and noted another perk of this nutrient: its excellence for gut health.
With nearly seven grams of fibre per 100 gram serving, dates are great at preventing constipation and promoting regular bowel movements, according to Dr Khan.
The GP highlighted the importance of fibre in regulating blood sugar, as it slows digestion and may help prevent spikes in blood sugar levels, reports Surrey Live.
Dr Khan said: “Another good thing about dates is that they are loaded with one of my favourite things.
“Plant antioxidants and polyphenols, which can help reduce cell damage done by harmful free radicals that have been linked to things like autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, and even some cancers.”
Dr Amir underscored potential brain health benefits linked to the antioxidants in dates, which could possibly alleviate inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
He said: “So if you’re looking for an alternative sweet treat to refined sugar, you can’t go wrong with dates. And if you want the best dates in the world, I would go with Palestinian dates.”
Nicola Shubrook, a registered nutritionist at BBC Good Food, highlighted that dates and date syrup boast a low Glycaemic Index and feature less fructose when weighed against most other sweeteners.
Not to be overlooked, dates come jam-packed with bone-strengthening minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium as well as vitamin K.
