Date trees reach up to 30 metres (100 feet) in height, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. Slow-growing, they can reach over 100 years of age when maintained properly. [7] Date fruits (dates) are oval-cylindrical, 3 to 7 centimetres (1 to 3 inches) long, and about 2.5cm (1in) in diameter, with colour ranging from dark brown to bright red or yellow, depending on variety. Containing 61–68 percent sugar by mass when dried, [8] dates are very sweet and are enjoyed as desserts on their own or within confections. Transfer the soaked walnuts to your high-speed blender and blend into a rough crumb consistency. Be careful not to over blend, or you’ll start to make walnut butter, Energy balls: People can blend dates with nuts, cranberries, oats, coconut flakes, or a variety of other ingredients to make no-bake “energy balls.”

In addition to being used as food for 6,000 years, dried dates have been used as a remedy for the following: Dried dates are a great source of fiber and also include several important vitamins and minerals. However, these qualities can create complications for people with particular medical conditions. Cinnamon date: cinnamon and walnuts pair SO well. For this cinnamon walnut milk, add ¼-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2-4 Medjool dates (based on how sweet you want the milk to be) or the sweetener of your choice. Technically, walnuts are soft enough that you can use raw walnuts for walnut milk, and it will work. However, it likely won’t blend quite as well, and you’ll end up with more pulp. More so, unsoaked nuts contain phytates, tannins, and other anti-nutrients that will impact the milk’s nutritional value, make them less easy to digest, and yield more bitter walnut milk. Top Tips and Recipe Notes

Yogurt/Dahi: Therapeutic Properties..

The process for making homemade walnut milk is incredibly simple – but you need to make sure to plan for enough time to soak the walnuts (aka activate them). This process is very hands-off and can be done overnight. Step 1: Soak the Walnuts Laboratory studies have found dates to be helpful for lowering inflammatory markers, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), in the brain. High levels of IL-6 are associated with a higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s ( 16, 17, 18). Journal of the American College of Nutrition: “Dried fruits: excellent in vitro and in vivo antioxidants.” According to USDAFoodData Central, dates are a good source of energy, fiber, sugar, and various vitamins and minerals. Essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and zinc can be found in them. Apart from the above-mentioned nutrients, they may also contain important vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin K. [5] Add the walnuts to a large bowl, cover with cold/room temperature water, and add ½ teaspoon salt. Leave to soak for at least 6 hours, up to 12 hours. I like to do this overnight (8-9hrs).

Some people may experience an allergic reaction to date fruits. Additionally, the sulfites in dried dates can lead to allergic reactions for some people. Symptoms can vary, with many people experiencing skin rashes. Some people may suffer eye sensitivity, with itchy, watery, or red eyes or a runny nose after eating them. Sweetener: there are several ways to sweeten your homemade walnut milk. You can use dates (or date paste to avoid any bits in your nut milk), sweeteners (like monk fruit or erythritol), or even liquid sweeteners (like honey or maple syrup.) Maple walnut milk: this flavor combination is perfect for the Fall/Winter months. Simply add 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup and a pinch of salt (add more for a salted maple nut milk). Optionally add some vanilla too.There are several ways to sweeten and flavor homemade walnut milk easily and naturally. Here are just a few of my top recommendations. Basic Optional Add-ins To strain or not strain: walnut milk (and cashew milk) are particularly great for making nut milk that doesn’t leave behind a ton of pulp since they’re so soft. This means you can get away with not straining the milk at all in some cases (especially if using a high-speed blender). Though there will be sediment in the milk, so it won’t be completely smooth unless strained.

Although walnuts may be fairly calorie-dense with high-fat content, studies have shown that our bodies may not absorb all the calories. In fact, studies show that walnuts are very unlikely to cause weight gain and can even help curb cravings and support weight management. Dates might be a natural way to encourage labor in pregnant women. A 2017 study in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology revealed that among 154 pregnant women who consumed dates, there was no need for labor induction using prostaglandin and oxytocin, and no negative effects were observed on either the mother or child. [32] 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 ( 11, 12, 13). Compared to similar types of fruit, such as figs and dried plums, dates appear to have the highest antioxidant content ( 10). Nut milk bags are a simple and inexpensive reusable kitchen tool that makes straining nut milk a breeze. They’re simply a material bag that you can pour the milk into and squeeze. They’re easier to work with than cheesecloth (and easier to clean). I often use nut milk bags in my cheese-making now too! Note that cloth/hemp versions are slightly harder to clean. I recommend using nylon versions.An animal study done in 2016 indicated no such increase in weight. Given the conflicting reports, more research is needed to support this benefit. [29] Can Potentially Aid in Relieving SAR Symptoms Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. There is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in Arabia from the 6th millenniumBCE. [9] The total annual world production of dates amounts to 8.5million metric tons (9.4 × 10 Plus, by making this walnut milk at home, we’re able to use soaked walnuts (aka activated walnuts), which is even better for our health. In fact, there are several reasons why it’s important to soak the walnuts before blending your walnut milk. Benefits of Soaked Walnuts

Organic pitted dates may contain selenium, manganese, copper, and magnesium, all of which may aid in managing bone health, particularly among older adults. May Promote Healthy Weight GainAdditionally, dates contain tannins, which are compounds that have been shown to help facilitate contractions. They are also a good source of natural sugar and calories, which are necessary to maintain energy levels during labor ( 23). Summary Often whenyou exercise in a gym, outside, or even on a stretching machineat home, you feel exhausted. A studypublished in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutritionsuggests that dates rich in essential nutrientsmay help you regain your energy immediately. [9] Dates provide various antioxidants that have a number of health benefits, including a reduced risk of several diseases. One-minute “cheat” walnut milk: if you’ve run out of walnut milk, you can actually make “instant” nut milk by combining ONE tablespoon of raw, unsalted walnut butter (or nut butter of your choice) per ONE cup of water. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: “Allergy to date fruits: characterization of antigens and allergens of fruits of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)