It is fascinating to know about a wonderful plant that grows in the desert called date palm. Date palm can live up to 150 years and consists of the following parts.
- The roots. No tap root.
- Straight rough single trunk.
- The leaves
- The cluster.
- The fruit.
Date palm trees flourish mostly in the deserts where there is little rain fall. Date palm trees are salt tolerated and grows in an alkaline soil where other plants will not survive.
Why did I refer to it as a wonder plant
The date palm can grow up to 23 meters tall and every part of it, yields economic valued products. Starting from the trunk that furnishes timber. The midribs of the leaves supplies material for crates and furniture, the leaflet is for basketry, the leaf bases can serve as fuel, the fruit stalks is for ropes and fuel. The seed can be used for stock,feed, syrup alcohol and strong liquor. The sap is also used as a beverage.
Date fruit contain several nutrients and give various health benefits to our body. It reduces cholesterol and and helps to improve our bone. It is also rich in vitamin (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, E and K.) It also contains carbohydrates, protein, fats and water for fresh date fruit. It is a great source of energy and vitality as it contains all the classes of food needed by the body system for growth, development and healings. Date is a good breakfast for all families both young and old. An adult can survive with just 15 dates fruits per day. With it, our body gets all the necessary minerals and vitamins for it existence. The high energy in it can be attributed to that of the sugar content. After gym or vigorous work, date can help in regaining one's energy immediately. Islamic people who observe fasting, break their fast by eating dates along side with water. This prevent over eating after the fast. It is called a wonder plant because of it's health benefits such as
- Offer brain protection
- Help to ease natural labour.
- Support digestive health.
- Bone health.
- Blood sugar control.
- Rich in disease fighting antioxidant.
Dates can be eaten raw or dried and grounded. It can be mixed in dough while baking. Also in our tea or mixed with any dried food. It drinks is yummy.
The vitamin, minerals, fiber and antioxidant contents of dates makes them nutritional types of food to include in our diet. Dates are very important that Even When the palm is cut down, the tender terminal bud is eaten as salad. Nothing in a date palm is a waste and this makes it a very special plant.
Thanks for reading my first post on this community.