Date Seed Health Benefits – Nutritional Value, Side Effects

Date seed is a byproduct of the date fruit industry. Various studies that have been conducted on date seed found that it can be an excellent source of dietary fiber. In addition, other components such as protein and minerals are also present in a considerable amount in the seed. Based on the fatty acid composition of date seed oil, it is suggested the use of this oil for nutritional purposes, as edible cooking oil, and also for the production of margarine due to the high stability and resistance of date seed oil to thermal treatment which indicates the good shelf life and storability of this oil even for a long period of time.

Date Seed Quick Facts
Name: Date Seed
Scientific Name: Phoenix dactylifera
Origin The Middle East and especially in the United Arab Emirates
Colors Brown
Shapes Length from 1.2 to 3.6 cm, and the width from 0.6 to1.3 cm oblong, ventrally grooved, with a small embryo,
Health benefits Prevent DNA damage, Useful in treating blood sugar problems, Antiviral Agents, Prevent kidney and liver damage, Antioxidants, Skin Benefits, Thickens Hair, Fights Free Radicals, Moisturizes Hair, Prevents Premature Greying

Date seeds, which constitute 6-15% of the total weight of the ripe date are actually a byproduct of date fruit and are largely produced in the Middle East and especially in the United Arab Emirates. It is normally discarded, used as an animal feed ingredient, or turned into noncaffeinated coffee by the Arabs. Date seeds are composed of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, fat, ash, and protein. In addition, the antioxidant content in date seed oil (DSO) was found to be similar to olive oil, which can be a good source of antioxidants in order to fulfill the consumer’s requirements.

Date seed Facts

Name Date seed
Scientific Name Phoenix dactylifera
Native The Middle East and especially in the United Arab Emirates
Common Names Date seeds, dates pits, date kernels, date stones, date pips
Seed Shape & Size Length from 1.2 to 3.6 cm, and the width from 0.6 to1.3 cm oblong, ventrally grooved, with a small embryo, and with a hard endosperm made of a cellulose deposit on the inside of the cell walls
Seed Color Light Brown
Seed Weight 0.5 g to 4 g
Health Benefits
  • Prevent DNA damage
  • Useful in treating blood sugar problems
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Prevent kidney and liver damage
  • Antioxidants
  • Skin Benefits
  • Thickens Hair
  • Fights Free Radicals
  • Moisturizes Hair
  • Prevents Premature Greying
Traditional Medicinal Use
  • The seed powder is an ingredient in a paste given to relieve ague.
How to Eat
  • A coffee-like product is made from date seeds by drying, roasting, and grinding them in a similar way to coffee beans, to produce caffeine-free coffee.
Other Facts
  • Seeds are used as fodder for cattle, sheep, camels, and poultry.
  • The date seed oil has been used to replace the portions of other vegetable oils in body creams, shampoos, and shaving soap formulations, and, in general, the quality of these cosmetic formulations.
  • Date seeds comprise up to 15% of the date fruit’s weight.
  • The seeds contain a higher content of protein and fat compared to date flesh.
  • The high content of dietary fiber and phenolics in date seeds makes them good ingredients for functional foods.
  • The utilization of seed in animal feed will improve weight gain and feed efficiency.
  • Seeds can even be incorporated into necklaces.
  • They can also be used as a source of oil.
  • The seeds contain 6 to 8% of yellow-green, non-drying oil suitable for use in soap and cosmetic products.
  • Seeds are burned to make charcoal for silversmiths.

Dates Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Phoenix dactylifera

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class Liliopsida (Monocotyledons)
Subclass Arecidae
Order Arecales
Family Arecaceae/Palmae (Palm family)
Genus Phoenix L. (Date palm)
Species Phoenix dactylifera L. (Date palm)
Synonyms
  • Encephalartos pungens (L.f. ex Aiton) Lehm.
  • Macrozamia tridentata var. pungens J.Schust.
  • Palma dactylifera (L.) Mill.
  • Palma major Garsault
  • Phoenix atlantica var. maroccana A.Chev.
  • Phoenix chevalieri D.Rivera, S.Ríos & Obón
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. adunca D.H.Christ
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. adunca D.H.Christ ex Becc.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. costata Becc.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. cylindrocarpa Mart.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. gonocarpa Mart.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. oocarpa Mart.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. oxysperma Mart.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. sphaerocarpa Mart.
  • Phoenix dactylifera var. sylvestris Mart.
  • Phoenix excelsior Cav.
  • Phoenix iberica D.Rivera, S.Ríos & Obón
  • Zamia pallida Salisb.
  • Zamia pungens L.f. ex Aiton

Date seeds are the by-product of date stoning, either for the production of pitted dates or for the manufacture of date paste. The date seed is a hard-coated seed, usually oblong, ventrally grooved, with a small embryo. Date pits weigh 0.5 g to 4 g and represent 6 to 20% of the fruit weight depending on maturity, variety, and grade.

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Health benefits of Date seeds

Date seeds or a pit have several amazing medicinal properties. It helps to prevent kidney and liver from toxicity or damage, is useful in diabetes, is rich in antioxidants, prevents DNA damage, and helps to fight various viral infections. Listed below are a few of the health benefits of using Date seeds

1. Prevent DNA damage

According to a study, date seeds have shown a defensive effect against chemically-induced liver damage and oxidative DNA damage. Date seeds provide protection against liver intoxication, and this hepatoprotective effect might be attributed to the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.

2. Useful in treating blood sugar problems

Date seeds are found useful in treating blood sugar-related problems, diabetes, and its related complications. According to recent research, date seeds have shown potential protective effects against early diabetic complications of both liver and kidney.

3. Antiviral Agents

Date seed act as antiviral agents against various pathogenic human viruses. It can be useful in the treatment and prevention of many types of viral infections. Research has shown that date pit extracts show a strong ability to prevent the infectivity of Pseudomonas phage ATCC 14209-B1 and completely prevent bacterial lysis.

4. Prevent kidney and liver damage

Date seeds are rich in proanthocyanidins that actually help to protect the liver and kidney from damage. A study states that proanthocyanidins-rich date seed extract protects against chemically induced kidney and liver toxicity.

5. Antioxidants

Date seeds are rich in antioxidants and have antioxidants and free radical scavenging capabilities. It helps to protect the body against oxidative stress damage.  In recent research, the antioxidant potential of date seed protein hydrolysates could be used as a potential functional food ingredient for health promotion. Another research found that Iranian date seeds are strong radical scavengers and can be considered a good source of natural antioxidants for medicinal and commercial uses.

Health benefits of Date seed oil

Date seed oil is obtained from date seed through the Soxhlet extraction technique. Date seed oil is mainly composed of the four fatty acids namely oleic, linoleic, lauric, and palmitic acid. Listed below are some of the well-known health benefits of using date seed oil

1. Skin Benefits

The use of date seed oil on the skin has approved the protective effects against the damage due to the exposure to UV-B irradiation when it was compared with skin that was applied with the date seed oil. Similarly, the study found that the date seed oil could repair the human skin which could be due to antioxidant activity. The presence of natural antioxidants such as phenols and tocopherols in date seed oil was capable to prevent keratinocytes oxidative damage caused by the exposure of hydrogen peroxide on the skin. In addition, they also found that date seed oil could protect the skin from the oxidative stress damage caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the lipid peroxidation process that is better than olive oil

2. Creates a Healthy Scalp Environment

The ideal environment is needed for healthy hair to thrive. And we don’t have to look far. The scalp is where the hair gets its nutrition, so it should always be in top condition to support proper hair growth.

Date oil consists of generous amounts of Omega-6 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats that provide nourishment to the scalp. Apart from that, date oil is also rich in lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid that contains antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. This helps create an optimal environment for hair growth by removing dandruff and acne.

3. Thickens Hair

Thinning hair is a normal part of aging. Hair loss is caused by many factors. But here’s the basic idea: When our cells do not generate enough energy, all our organs – including our hair follicles – will start to age. As a result, hair growth will slow down and shedding will soon begin. When this happens, you will need vitamin B2 and amino acids to prevent it from getting worse.

Date oil has high amino acid and riboflavin (vitamin B2) content that can effectively curb hair loss. Amino acid is essential in producing keratin, the protein responsible for strengthening the follicles and increasing hair elasticity. Riboflavin, on the other hand, plays a major role in energy production and restoring cellular function and development.

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4. Fights Free Radicals

Dates are rich in bioactive non-nutrient called phytochemicals that function as antioxidants. In fact, dates have been reported to be the second-highest antioxidant fruit consumed in China. Date oil consists of many classes of bioactive components, and one of them is carotenoids. It is a well-known antioxidant that helps strengthen the hair by protecting it from free radicals.

5. Moisturizes Hair

Apart from preventing dandruff and scalp acne, date oil is also widely used for its moisturizing benefits. The Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids contained in the oil help control water loss so the hair’s moisture is kept intact and the cuticles sealed. To revive dry, brittle hair, we recommend using hair care products made with date oil.

6. Prevents Premature Greying

Dates are high in many vitamins that help protect against pigment loss. Two of which are Copper and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), which help stimulate pigment production. Hair color is determined by the amount of melanin in the strands. As we age, our body produces lesser melanin, turning our hair grey. While we cannot reverse aging, we can encourage our body to produce enough melanin by eating food and using products that are naturally rich in Copper and pantothenic acid, such as Date seed oil.

Date Seed Oil Benefits (Medicinal and therapeutic)

The date seed oil has many pharmaceutic and remedial benefits

  • Ulcer treatment.
  • It is recommended for people who suffer hair loss to use dates seed oil for treatment.
  • It is used as a lotion, especially body cleansers such as soap and shampoo.
  • The date seed oil contains fatty triglycerides, which have about 80% saturated fat and 20% unsaturated fat.
  • Various products contain seed oil, including margarine, vegetable oil, cream, chocolate, and ice cream.
  • It is used for hair strengthening and lowering hair loss and skin softening.
  • The date seed oil has many benefits for the skin and softens the skin.

Other benefits of date seeds oil

Non-cholesterol or zero cholesterol

One of the benefits of date seed oil is the lack of cholesterol. Due to the cholesterol-free trait of vegetable oils and margarine, like date seed oil, some conjectures exist that these oils are healthier than animal butter. However, margarine contains trans fats that can cause heart disease. Date seed oil is a better choice for pork and butter in the cooking process and is more suitable for people who suffer from high cholesterol and heart disease.

Vitamin k

The date seed oil contains vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin necessary for bone health. It acts as a crucial coagulation factor in the blood. However, you can receive 67% of your daily need. Receive all your daily vitamin K from a cup of date seed oil, although we don’t recommend it.

Durability and long life

While the overall benefits of date seed oil may be one of the benefits of the commercial food industry, according to the US Palm Oil board, the dates seed oil is resistant to high-temperature oxidation and is a better alternative for cooking. It is better to use date seed oil for commercial products such as doughnuts, potato chips, and French fries.

Vitamin A

Date seed oil contains vitamin A, which is beneficial for eye disorders and night vision.

Vitamin E

The date seed oil contains vitamin E, which prevents the emergence of wrinkles. Vitamin E is good for strengthening hair, reducing hair loss, and skin softening.

Practically, you can consume it as food. But you should know that there are two types of date oil. One is the oil procured from the date fruit itself, and the other is extracted from the dates seed.

Health Benefits Date Seeds Powder

The essential benefit of date seed is lowering blood sugar. If you have diabetes, daily consumption of three cups of date seed can be helpful. Other benefits of date seed are lowering blood fat, cleansing the liver, controlling blood pressure, losing weight, excreting kidney stones, reducing hair loss, supporting nerves, and treating diarrhea.

You can relieve the toothache with date seed. Sprinkle a little date seed powder on your tooth, and it will soothe the pain. We recommend using date seed for mucous disease.

Although this drink is safe for healthy people and is a good substitute for coffee, it is essential to consult doctors before taking any medication. Please consult your doctor before using dates in your diet.

Skin and Hair Recovery

The skin’s beauty and the treatment of wrinkles are the astonishing benefits of date seed oil. This oil is very effective due to its containing B and A vitamins as well as iron. Palm oil treats skin issues due to its B vitamins. Therefore apply a small number of date seed oil on your face every day. After a short period, you will notice that the skin has absorbed the oil and acts as a good moisturizer. The date seed oil has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that treat all skin issues.

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Healing Wound

One of the benefits of date seed is gash healing. Date seeds can treat ordinary or septic wounds. Burn the date seed and after cooling down, crush them near the gash. By burning the date seed and putting it in the said place, your wound will heal.

Excretion of Kidney Stones

Kidney stone excretion is another incredible benefit of date seeds. Individuals who suffer kidney or bladder stones can pound dates seeds and brew them in water and drink twice a day.

Diarrhea Treatment

Date seeds are good for treating digestive disorders, especially chronic diarrhea! Organic dates also act as a powerful disinfectant and kill bacteria that enter the alimentary tract.

Nail Repairing

Date seed oil is efficient for repairing nails due to its variety of vitamins, especially vitamins K and A.

Increase Immunity for Pregnant Women

Date seed increases milk of breastfeeding mothers and supports the immune system in pregnant women. We recommend pregnant women eat date seed powder several times a week. Date seed has antioxidant properties, supports the immune system, and avoids any damage to the DNA structure.

Hair Loss Treatment and Hair Restoring

The date seed oil contains iron which prevents hair loss. It also helps hair to grow. The utilization of this oil softens the hair and aids hair growth. You can massage your head with date seed oil. It contains vitamins and nutrients and helps your hair to grow thicker and recover.

The Role of Date Deed in Preventing DNA Impairment

The consumption of date seed powder can prevent toxic chemicals from impairing the liver and kidneys. Date seeds contain substances that prevent oxidation and avoid any damage to the DNA genetic cells. Some studies depict that the antioxidant in date seed detoxifies the liver and prevents DNA impairment.

How to make date seeds powder at home for various health benefits?

Wash the date seeds and let them dry completely. It may take up to 3 days to dry, depending on where you live. Once it is dried completely, grind the date seeds and use them in the manner of coffee beans.

Date Lady Date Syrup

Ingredient: Organic Dates

Serving Suggestions – Use it on your breakfast favorites like waffles, pancakes, French toast, or oatmeal – Dollop on greek yogurt or coconut ice cream. – Mix in smoothies, shakes, or coffee for a hint of sweetness – Drizzle over goat cheese & crostini or cheddar cheese & apples – Add to roasted veggies like carrots or Brussels sprouts – Use as a replacement for processed sugar or honey when cooking or baking. Try replacing 1 cup sugar with 3/4 cup Date Syrup and decrease any other liquid by 25%

How to make date seed syrup at home?

  • Wash and soak the date seeds for 24 hours. Grind it with some water.

How to use date seed?

  • Some people use date seeds as an additive to coffee.
  • Add date syrup into the warm water with lemon and drink as tea or infused water.
  • Try to make a healthy bread spread. Just blend date syrup with honey or Jaggery. Use this instead of jam.
  • Add date powder to your smoothies or juices.
  • Add date palm seed powder into your baking dishes like cookies, cakes, etc.
  • Add date syrup while making the salad dressing for extra health benefits.

From Where To Buy

Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Pitted Medjool Dates, 1.5 Lbs - Pits Removed | Soft Chewy Texture | Sweet Caramel Taste
  • Grown in the Coachella Valley of California, our Medjool dates are certified organically grown and are glyphosate-free, gluten-free and certified kosher and have had their pits removed
  • Medjool dates make a delicious and decadent snack and make a great natural sweetener
  • Pitted dates are a natural source of antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, and potassium and are vegan and paleo diet friendly
  • Every decision we make at Terrasoul is based on one guiding principle—your happiness. Our team of experts is dedicated to bringing you the highest quality foods at fair prices, and the measure of our success is your satisfaction.
  • We strive to make every experience with our company and our products a positive one, so we’ve backed all of our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Just let us know if there is ever a problem, and we’ll make it right. It’s our promise to you.

or

Award Winning Organic Date Syrup 18 oz Squeeze Bottle | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free & Kosher | Sugar Substitute | More Nutrition Than Maple Syrup or Honey
  • 1 Simple Ingredient: Just Organic Dates.
  • Diet Friendly: Non-Gmo, Vegan, Kosher, Paleo, Gluten Free, No Added Sugar
  • Nutrient-Dense: More potassium and magnesium than maple syrup and honey.
  • Many Uses: Use as an all natural sweetener in sweet and savory dishes, and baking or as a spread on toast.
  • Rich in antioxidants and electrolytes. Date syrup is great for a pre or post workout to recharge fatigued muscles.

References