Dates are ripe with plant compounds that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are cellular bandits in your body that steal electrons from healthy cells to stabilize themselves. This thievery comes with costs that include cell damage and a higher risk for chronic diseases.
Studies show that free radicals play a role in the development of:
Autoimmune diseases.
Cancer.
Cardiovascular disease.
Cataracts.
“Because antioxidants fight free radicals, they help prevent this domino effect of disease development,” explains Culbertson. Dates contain several kinds of antioxidants, including:
Carotenoids.
Flavonoids.
Lignans.
Phenolic acids.
Polyphenols.
