Date cake WITHOUT sugar! Let's lose weight one-two-three!

Fragrant homemade baked goods have always symbolized comfort and warmth. And with the onset of the cold season, many of us dream of wrapping ourselves in a blanket, taking a cup of hot tea with something sweet and watching the falling snow out the window.

Today we will talk about a tender and incredibly tasty date pie, which is not only easy to prepare, but also very healthy. Since dates themselves are sweet, it is not recommended to use sugar or any other sweetener in these recipes.

Date Pie Recipe: Ingredients

Required Products:

• whole grain flour - 200 grams;
• pitted dates - 150 grams;
• milk - 125 ml;
• soda - 1 tsp;
• grape oil - 2 tbsp. l.;
• almonds - 50 grams;
• dried apricots - 50 grams.

If you have dates with pits, you can use those too. As a rule, such fruits are softer and juicier.

Selection of dates

You can enjoy fresh palm fruits in Israel, Algeria, Egypt, etc. In our country they sell frozen, dried and dried products.

Fresh dates have thick, glossy skin with yellow, orange or red hues. The taste is juicy and sweet without being cloying. The pulp of the fruit, picked from a palm tree, is crispy, like a persimmon. The pit is difficult to remove. The unripe fruit has a gray color with a greenish tint, a waxy coating and an astringent taste.

Dried dates have a different color, uniform and deep brown. The fruits have a neat round shape. There are no cracks or wrinkles on the peel. The fruit is dry, but slightly sticky to the touch. A high-quality product does not form into lumps. The softness of the pulp is average. Juiciness is low. Dried date pits are easy to remove.

If the dates are dried without using chemicals, the skin of the dried fruit will be intact, dry and slightly translucent. A slight stickiness indicates the natural release of sugar.

Step-by-step preparation

Let's break the date pie recipe into several steps:

1. Pour flour into a deep bowl, add soda and grape oil.
2. Using a blender, grind our dates, pour milk into them and beat the resulting mass again.
3. Chop almonds and dried apricots with a knife, mix it with date paste and stir well.
4. Preheat the oven and grease a baking pan with spread or butter.
5. Combine all ingredients and knead the dough.
6. Transfer the finished dough into a mold and bake for 35-40 minutes.

After the specified time has elapsed, check our date pie for readiness and remove it from the mold. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and powdered sugar. If you wish, you can add a little chocolate chips or coconut flakes to make the baked goods taste sweeter and more spicy.

The use of dates in folk medicine

In the literature of Ancient Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and eastern countries, date decoctions were prescribed for a dozen diseases. Traditional medicine adopted the experience of Arab countries.

Drinks treat infections, acute respiratory infections, and flu. Treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Used as a prevention of cancer.

Decoction of water

The drink treats viral and infectious diseases, and carries out prophylaxis against the risk of a tumor degenerating into a malignant one. The content of magnesium in dates accelerates the work of antibodies, which prevent the development of harmful microorganisms and cells.

The decoction is prepared as follows: one or two berries are diluted in a glass of boiling water. While the boiling water cools, the fruits saturate the water with elements. A water drink is recommended for anemia and problems with blood clotting.

Decoction with milk

This drink is recommended as an expectorant. For bronchitis, complications of acute respiratory infections, mild forms of tuberculosis, the decoction removes mucus and facilitates the functioning of the respiratory tract.

To prepare you need 5 - 7 medium fruits and a glass of milk. Place the ingredients in a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

Allow the milk to cool before using. The drink acquires calming properties. Therefore, it is recommended to drink it in the evening, before bed.

Date and apple pie recipe

Ingredients of this dish:

• wheat flour - 100 grams;
• oat flakes - 125 grams;
• olive oil - 75 grams;
• sour cream - 250 grams;
• baking powder for dough - 1 tbsp. l.;
• ripe apples - 3 pcs.;
• dates - 150 grams.

To decorate this date and apple pie, we will use powdered sugar and chopped walnuts and poppy seeds.

Composition and calorie content

The calories in dried dates should not be compared to the same amount of fresh fruit. 100 grams of fresh dates contain 142 kilocalories, and the energy value of the dried product is much more than 277 kcal.

A dry product will always have more calories.

Dried fruit is dehydrated, so it is a concentration of both energy (calories) and nutrients.

The two most popular varieties of dates, Deglet Noor and Medjool, differ slightly in their nutritional content. Both varieties are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

• Potassium: affects blood pressure and regulates heart function, is involved in protein synthesis, supports the nervous system and muscles;
• Magnesium: is necessary not only for the functioning of the heart and nerves, but also for basic energy transformations in our body;
• Phosphorus: responsible for the skeleton and nervous system;
• Zinc: strengthens the body's resistance to infections, maintains healthy hair and nails;
• Iron: directly affects the ability of blood to carry oxygen, also has a beneficial effect on the immune and nervous systems;
• B vitamins: are critical for the nervous system and metabolism.

Nutritional value of fresh dates (per 100 g) (for popular varieties Deglet Nur and Medjool):

Dried dates have similar nutritional value. The exception is the fiber content, which is slightly higher (about 8.7 g/100 g) than the raw fruit.

How to cook

So, the sequence of our actions is as follows:

1. Pour oatmeal into a deep bowl, add sour cream, stir well and leave for 15 minutes.
2. Sift the flour through a sieve, add a little baking powder and combine with the flakes.
3. Measure out the required amount of olive oil, pour it into the dough and mix thoroughly.
4. We wash the dates under cold water to remove dust and dirt. We take out the seeds and cut the fruits into small pieces.
5. Pour over the apples with hot water, remove the peel, cut in half and remove the core and seeds.
6. Cut the fruit into lengthwise pieces and mix with dates.
7. Combine all the ingredients, knead the dough and turn on the oven.
8. Grease the mold with vegetable oil and transfer the finished dough into it.
9. Flatten using a pastry spatula and bake for about an hour.

Before serving the dish, it must be decorated with walnuts, sprinkled with poppy seeds and powdered sugar.

Beneficial properties of dates for the body

Dates are especially useful for weakened people who have frequent health problems.
In addition to all of the above, dates are useful because:

• normalize stomach acidity and help get rid of heartburn;
• quickly satisfy hunger and restore the body's energy reserves;
• improve mental activity;
• do not contain pathogenic microflora, since the pulp is a destructive environment for it;
• used to combat anemia and intestinal parasites;
• minimize the side effects of antibiotics;
• do not contribute to the growth of cholesterol in the blood;
• normalize sleep.

Dates are a valuable product that allows you to maintain health and quickly restore strength after illness.

For women

The benefits of dates for the fair half of humanity are beyond doubt, so it is recommended to use them to support the body during pregnancy, childbirth and immediately after. The fruits are recommended for women to consume in everyday life because they:

• improve the appearance of nails, hair and skin;
• reduce the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome;
• relieve apathy, absent-mindedness and mood swings;
• slow down the withering process;
• help overcome depression and restore vitality.

A few dates taken with you on the road or to work will help restore strength and replenish the necessary energy reserves.
If you put a few dates in your purse, the fruits will not take up much space, but they will help out a lot as a light and pleasant snack.

For men

It has been proven that dates are also beneficial for the stronger sex because they:

• increase stamina during sex;
• are excellent prevention of prostate cancer and cardiovascular problems;
• help fight carcinogens resulting from smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol;
• have a positive effect on sperm quality, increasing the volume of viable and active germ cells.

In addition, consuming dates increases the body's resistance to stress and improves performance.

For children

It is not recommended to give exotic fruits to children under one year of age. It is better to introduce the baby to them when he is already one and a half years old. Dates are good for a growing body, especially if there are problems with the heart.

Before offering unusual fruits to your baby, pour boiling water over them and set aside for 10–15 minutes. Then rinse under the tap, peel off the hard skin and remove the pit. The child will be able to chew such a delicacy, regardless of the number of teeth. Older children are given dates like adults, after rinsing them with warm water.

The fruit is introduced into the child’s menu gradually. Start with 1⁄4, then give half of the peeled fruit. If within 3-4 days the body has not shown alarming symptoms of intolerance, you can add dates to porridges, purees and curds, and also use them in making compotes.

Dates: benefits and harms when losing weight

World-renowned nutritionists recommend including dates in your diet. They restore strength, are perfectly absorbed by the body, and most importantly do not turn into fat. This product contains proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and mass. There is more information about this in the previous article.

The undoubted benefits of dates:

• enrich the body with useful microelements, substances and vitamins;
• give energy for physical activity, playing sports, strengthen the heart;
• you can go on a diet with them without giving up sweets;
• lift your spirits and improve your well-being;
• allow you to satisfy your hunger.

Due to the high sweetness of the product, it may seem that this is not the fruit that should be eaten to lose weight. In fact, there are recipes for dishes with dates and certain rules for their use that help you lose weight. But first, let's find out: who is recommended to eat dates?

First of all, this dried fruit is the choice of people with slow metabolism, nursing mothers, pregnant women and anyone who is on a diet. And especially for those who want to lose weight in the autumn, winter or spring periods. This product is recommended for anyone who loves fatty foods and meat. It is also suitable for people with fast metabolism, the main thing is to eat it in the right combination with other foods. So, we’ve figured out the benefits of dates, but who will they harm when losing weight?

Who shouldn't eat dates? Men and women suffering from diarrhea, acute pancreatitis, intestinal infection. Allergy sufferers should gradually introduce these fruits into their diet. Also, diabetics and people taking any medications should add this product to their diet with caution. In this case, consult your doctor to avoid complications.