{"id":25860,"date":"2026-04-28T07:09:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/?p=25860"},"modified":"2026-08-18T16:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T23:51:36","slug":"are-dates-good-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/blog\/are-dates-good-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Dates Good For You, or the Planet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the U.S., dates hardly register in most people\u2019s \u201cfruit consciousness,\u201d at least compared to dozens of other fruits like apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, peaches, melons, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n

But in other parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, dates are not only popular snacks; they\u2019re also celebrated and revered. Evidence suggests that people in the Middle East and North Africa have been eating dates for <\/span>over 6,000 years<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re such a central part of some cultures that dates are offered at important social events and are sometimes referred to as \u201cthe fruit of heaven.\u201d The Prophet Muhammad <\/span>urged<\/span><\/a> his followers to eat seven dates a day to protect against poison and witchcraft. And across the world\u2019s Muslim population, worshippers consume the fruits to break their fast each evening during the holy month of Ramadan. <\/span>Dates are also known as \u201cthe fruit of kings,\u201d as they were originally <\/b>eaten by royalty<\/b><\/a> and thought to fend off fatigue.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Today, many plant-based eaters think of dates as a <\/span>whole food sweetener<\/span><\/a>. Their sticky consistency and high sugar content make them an effective sugar substitute. But when something tastes that good, is there a catch? Are dates actually good for us and the environment? And if so, what are some delicious and healthy ways to add them to your diet?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are Dates?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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iStock.com\/bhofack2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dates are the fruit of the date palm or <\/span>Phoenix dactylifera<\/span><\/i>, which definitely sounds like a magical dinosaur from a fantasy novel. The <\/span>scientific name<\/span><\/a> refers to the plant\u2019s ability to spring to life from the desert’s searing heat, like its mythological namesake bird, the phoenix, which rises from the ashes to live again.<\/span><\/p>\n

The date is a one-seeded fruit (also known as a drupe), like a peach or nectarine. Typically oblong, dates can vary significantly in shape, size, color, quality, and consistency of flesh. Dates that are ready to eat are generally brownish in color, and their taste depends on their ripeness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Date palms are native to the Persian Gulf area of the Middle East, but they are also grown in many other warm or tropical climates. Egypt is the world\u2019s largest producer of dates, followed by Iran, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. produces a small amount (roughly 4% of Egypt\u2019s crop), with most of the U.S. harvest coming from California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Dates<\/span><\/h2>\n
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iStock.com\/pictafolio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While it\u2019s not obvious from the options in most Western grocery stores, <\/span>there are more than 2,000 varieties of fresh dates<\/b><\/a>. The two most widely grown in the United States are the Deglet Noor and the Medjool.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other types of dates enjoyed around the world include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n