Dried Dates, Phoenix dactylifera

A search for dates gives you millions of dates, but the dried date, Phoenix dactylifera is a valuable addition to the diet. The secret is only just coming out. How does the date compare on ORAC scores relative to other foods? So little is published on this fruit.

A “Systematic Screening of Total Antioxidants in Dietary Plants” (Halvorsen et al, 2002) (FRAP-based data) found that amongst the fruits, dates scored quite well. Their analyses of fruits found that pomegranate contained very high concentrations of antioxidants (11.33 mmol/100 g). Dates fell in with other fruits with high antioxidant content such as grape

Why the ORAC assay is advantageous over many other methods? The mechanism of ORAC is based upon the sound chemical principle and the uniqueness of ORAC lies in the AUC quantitation technique. Indeed, many other methods have been developed for antioxidant activity, such as TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity)1, TOSC (Total Oxyradical Scavenging Capacity)2, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power)3, and DPPH method4. However, the fatal drawback of these methods is either no oxygen radical involved or lack of complete quantitation technique.  Therefore, only ORAC provides antioxidant activity mechanistically and physiologically. (http://brunswicklabs.com/orac_advan.shtml )

, orange, plum, pineapple, lemon, kiwi, clementine and grapefruit, which contained between 0.83 and 1.43 mmol antioxidants per 100 g. The fruits pear, plantain and various varieties of melon contained only between 0.04 and 0.18 mmol/100 g. Dates were as good as most members of the citrus family (Rutaceae) that had high amounts of antioxidants, such as the orange, lemon, clementine, grapefruit and lime contained (1.14, 1.02, 0.90, 0.83 and 0.73 mmol/100 g, respectively).

Dates are similar in score to fresh plums at 1.0 mmol/100g. Just as with the dried fruits analyzed, where prunes contained most antioxidants at 3.24 mmol/100 g, dried dates may also have a higher score, but as they often have more moisture, probably not as high as the prune.

Phoenix dactylifera L.

This palm, well known since ancient times, was regarded by the Egyptians as being a fertility symbol, it was represented on coins and monuments by the Carthaginians and used as an ornament in triumph pageants by the Greeks and Romans. In the Christian tradition, its leaves have symbolised peace and reminded of Jesus' entry to Jerusalem.

Area of origin and cultural areas - The date palm, native to North Africa has been extensively cultivated here as well as in Arabia and as far as the Persian Gulf, where it features as the characteristic vegetation of oases. Moreover it is grown over the Canary Islands, in the northern Mediterranean and in the south of the United States.

Cultivation - It is a plant sensitive to the cold, it thrives on any kinds of soil, provided that they are fertile and well drained; in mild climate regions, it is grown outdoors where it must be exposed to the sun; it is grown chiefly as an ornamental plant on account of its slender habit and foliage. In order for its fruits to come to a complete maturity, rather high temperatures (40°C) and copious water amounts, these being sometimes provided by means of irrigation in production palms, are required.

It propagates by suckers or seeding in spring.