Dates provide various antioxidants that have a number of health benefits to offer, including a reduced risk of several diseases.
Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may cause harmful reactions in your body and lead to disease (7 Trusted Source).
Compared to similar types of fruit, such as figs and dried plums, dates appear to have the highest antioxidant content (8 Trusted Source).
Here’s an overview of the three most potent antioxidants in dates:
- Flavonoids: Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and have been studied for their potential to reduce the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and certain types of cancer (2 Trusted Source, 9 Trusted Source).
- Carotenoids: Carotenoids are proven to promote heart health and may also reduce the risk of eye-related disorders, such as macular degeneration (2 Trusted Source, 10 Trusted Source).
- Phenolic acid: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, phenolic acid may help lower the risk of cancer and heart disease (11 Trusted Source, 12 Trusted Source).
reference: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-dates#section3