SAUDI ARABIA: After a long day of fasting, Muslims around the world traditionally break their Ramadan fast on dates, but there are also health benefits linked to eating the sweet fruit

Record ID: 189221

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: After a long day of fasting, Muslims around the world traditionally break their Ramadan fast on dates, but there are also health benefits linked to eating the sweet fruit
  • Date: 14th July 2013
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (JULY 10, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING IN DATES MARKET PEOPLE BUYING DATES DATES IN BOXES ON DISPLAY CUSTOMER BUYING DATES BOXES OF DATES ON DISPLAY CUSTOMER BUYING DATES VARIOUS OF DATE SELLERS ARRANGING DATES IN A BOX DATES IN PLASTIC CONTAINERS ON DISPLAY SHOPPER, MAHMOUD ZOHRA, CHECKING DATES ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHOPPER, MAHMOUD ZOHRA, SAYING: "Dates have an important historical and nutritional value in the Arabian Peninsula, and they provide our bodies with the needed amount of organic compounds." EXTERIOR OF SHOP SELLING DATES VARIOUS OF DATES ON DISPLAY IN SHOP CUSTOMER PICKING DATES IN SHOP DATES ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MANAGER OF A DATES FACTORY, KODRAT ALLAH MOHAMED, SAYING: "According to statistics, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consumes more than half a million tonnes of dates in Ramadan. Sales in the Jeddah region in particular exceed 50 million (Saudi Riyals) from sales of dates." EXTERIOR OF MOSQUE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BREAKING THEIR FAST BY EATING DATES EXTERIOR OF SHOP SELLING DATES BOXES OF DATES ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF CUSTOMER BUYING DATES BOXES OF DATES ON DISPLAY ON SHELF NUTRITIONIST, TAMARA AJEEB, READING A HEALTH BOOK (SOUNBITE) (Arabic) NUTRITIONIST, TAMARA AJEEB, SAYING: "After a long day of fasting, you lose your full energy. Breaking your fast with dates will provide you with many important vitamins such as, A, E, K and B - 1, 2, 3, 5. When it comes to minerals, dates also contain magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Phosphates and potassium are very good for the heart and reduce cholesterol." AJEEB READING HER BOOK (SOUNBITE) (Arabic) NUTRITIONIST, TAMARA AJEEB, SAYING: "Diabetics have to pay attention to two main things, the first thing is the quantity, not eating more than three dates in the meal. The second thing is to eat them with protein or fibre, to not raise sugar levels too much and to help with blood circulation." VARIOUS OF BOXES OF DATES ON DISPLAY
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Health,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA4W7YHBGCKO9NXHDYIVGL7BJTZ
  • Story Text: During Ramadan, Muslims around the world break their fast by eating dates for their iftar meal, following prophetic tradition.
    But dates are more than a sweet treat and there are a number of health benefits linked to breaking the day's fast on the fruit.
    In Saudi Arabia, people were stocking up on dates during the holy month of Ramadan.
    At a market in Jeddah, shopper Mahmoud Zohra said that dates are an important part of people's diets and culture in the Arab world, as well as being a nutritious snack.
    "Dates have an important historical and nutritional value in the Arabian Peninsula, and they provide our bodies with the needed amount of organic compounds," he said.
    A manager of a dates factory in Jeddah said that, across the country, half a million tones of the popular fruit are sold during Ramadan.
    "According to statistics, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consumes more than half a million tonnes of dates in Ramadan. Sales in the Jeddah region in particular exceed 50 million (Saudi Riyals) from sales of dates," Kodrat Allah Mohamed said.
    Dates are high in natural sugars and are also nutritious so they are a popular way to break a long day's fasting and provide a healthy energy boost, before the main evening meal.
    Nutritionist Tamara Ajeeb said that, because dates are full of vitamins and minerals, they can quickly replenish the body with essential nutrients and are good for the heart.
    "After a long day of fasting, you lose your full energy. Breaking your fast with dates will provide you with many important vitamins such as, A, E, K and B - 1, 2, 3, 5. When it comes to minerals, dates also contain magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Phosphates and potassium are very good for the heart and reduce cholesterol," the 27-year-old nutritionist said.
    Ajeeb, who works in Jeddah's Al-Zahir Hospital, added that diabetics have to be careful when breaking their fast on the fruit due to the high sugar content of dates.
    "Diabetics have to pay attention to two main things, the first thing is the quantity, not eating more than three dates in the meal. The second thing is to eat them with protein or fibre, to not raise sugar levels too much and to help with blood circulation," Ajeeb said.
    The holy fasting monthwith the holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
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