What are the therapeutic benefits of red dates? Is it true that they can help replenish blood and maintain health?

Eat three dates a day, and you’ll never feel old. Red dates have been described in similar ways, conveying their therapeutic benefits for beauty, blood, and health.

Red Date Production

Red dates are in season from July to August each year. During this time, the fruits begin to turn from yellow-green to a hint of red, and are harvested and dried to produce dried red dates. Fresh red dates are rich in vitamin C, but they don’t store well.

After harvesting, they are often dried outdoors in the sun or in a machine to remove moisture, resulting in dried red dates. Dried red dates are sweeter than fresh ones, and drying makes them easier to store and better suited for cooking.

Red dates nourish the spleen and stomach, nourish blood, and calm the mind.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, red dates are sweet and neutral in nature, belonging to the spleen and stomach meridians. They are primarily used to nourish qi, the spleen and stomach, and calm the mind, treating conditions such as blood deficiency. While red dates are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to nourish blood, their iron content is not high, with approximately 2 mg of iron per 100 grams of dried red dates.

Red dates are often used to add sweetness and flavor to dishes. For iron and blood supplementation, it’s recommended to pair them with high-iron ingredients, such as stewed pork liver, beef, and other animal-based meats, or to add them to soups or dishes.

Adding red dates to purple rice and red bean soup can also help achieve iron and blood-boosting benefits through the combined effects of iron-rich ingredients like red beans.

When consuming red dates, caution is advised, as they are quite sweet, and those with diabetes should exercise caution. If you’re looking to nourish qi, blood, and the spleen and stomach with red dates, avoid consuming too many at once. Red dates are quite sweet, and overeating can easily cause phlegm.

How to choose red dates?

When choosing dried red dates, look for those with thick flesh, a deep red skin, and a naturally yellowish flesh. If you can touch or smell them, pay attention to the natural aroma. Past inspections of red date products during the autumn and winter seasons have revealed cases of excessive pesticide residues in some products.

Before cooking, it’s recommended to rinse the dates with clean water to remove any dust and quickly rinse them with hot water before discarding. This will help remove any residual pesticides and dirt, making cooking safer.