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Exciting Dates with Palms of Love
How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: Bible: ‘Song of Solomon’ Chapter 7 (6:7:8) 1 & 2
This blazing June, there has been great botanical excitement about a very special wild Date Palm Tree (Phoenix Dactylifera L), germinated from a 2,000 year-old seed unearthed at King Herod’s fortress palace in Israel by British doctor, Sarah Sallon.3 It is the oldest seed ever brought back to life.4 The seed was discovered during excavations by archaeologists on Mount Masada5, near the Dead Sea. It was planted on 25th January 2005 in quarantine conditions at Kibbutz Ketura, near Eliat southern Israel.6 Boasting six leaves, it is hoped the fourteen inch seedling of this special variety of Judean date palm tree that would otherwise be extinct will yield vital information connected with past renowned medicinal properties of the wild date palm’s fruits (drupes). The plant, which seems to have died out since the Middle Ages before this single seed’s resurrection, has been aptly nick-named ‘Methuselah’ because of its age. Using the leaves for DNA analysis Dr Sallon, a world-renowned expert on the medicinal properties of plants, hopes that the research may reveal medicinal qualities that have disappeared from modern cultivated date palm varieties to be used to the benefit of future generations.7 This is not an unfounded hope, dates were highly medicinal and had an enormous amount of use in ancient times for infections, for tumours and very much more. The date palms growing in the Israel of today are of a strain originating in Iraq and were imported from California; they do not possess the same properties as the Judean date prized in antiquity.8 Steeped in history and attributed divine and diverse powers, for Christians the palm is a symbol of peace associated with Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and for Muslim’s it is a symbol of ‘love and prosperity’. It would be heart-warming to think that this ancient date palm’s rediscovery might also symbolize ‘peace’ to come in the area where it was recently found.
Fruits of History
Date Palm and fruit (Phoenix Dactylifera L) Courtesy of Mark Reiger- http://www.uga.edu/fruit/date.htm Photographer: A. Couvillon, Dept. of Horticulture
The Date Palm, a ‘Tree of Love’, is fêted in the Bible in the ‘Song of Solomon’, also known as the “Song of Songs” and “Canticles” – a series of beautiful romantic poems celebrating human love with immense grace, sensuousity and erotic imagery. The Judean date palm tree is fabled as an aphrodisiac from antiquity and is chronicled in the Bible, Koran and other ancient literature. The date palm’s name Phoenix dactylifera L. holds its own mystery. ‘Phoenix’ in ancient Greek was the name of a legendary bird that ‘lives forever’, because before dying it built its own funerary pile, set fire to it with its magical wings and arose again from its own ashes.9 In ancient Egypt, where the date palm was known from the first Pharaonic dynasties, the tree was linked to the sun-bird, the great Sun-god ‘Ra’ and the Sun itself.10 It is also hypothesized that Theophrastus may have derived the word ‘Phoenix’ used to describe a purple dye of the area to typify the palm fruits’ purple appearance when ripening.11 Palm Trees were not only a symbol of fertility, but of hospitality in the ancient Middle East and played a central role in the life of the ancient pagan people, who considered it to be the ‘Tree of Life’. The date was for rich and poor an important source of nutrition in lands with little water and with a severe environment. In these harsh conditions the date palm tree flourished and provided food and shelter. What is more, dates are a highly portable type of food for nomadic travellers. They were used to make wine, the seeds as animal fodder and for palm seed oil, as well as the trunk for construction and the branches woven into ropes or household goods.12 No fewer than 800 uses are recorded for the date palm tree. In fact, the Date Palm has been with us much longer than recorded Biblical times. The earliest date palm finds were from the Old Stone-Age period, recovered from Egypt and found in Kharga Oasis’ western desert.13 Indeed, finds have been recorded covering the Predynastic (c.3500BC), Dynastic (c.2950BC, c.2600 and c.2400), Graeco-Roman (350AD) and Roman (c.500) periods.14 The date palm tree features in many religions. Ancient Egyptians used date palm leaves as an emblem of longevity and for the greatest god ‘Ammon Ra’ and ‘Hathor’ the goddess of life, joy, music and fertility.15 The ancient Jews used palm leaves in worship and in the Muslim’s Koran it is an especially ‘holy tree’, according to which Mary gave birth to Jesus under a palm tree.16 Interestingly, the use of the date palm leaf in Christian ‘Palm Sunday’ religious celebration, given as palm ‘branches’ in the Gospel of John, was in places where people did not know of or grow the palm tree the symbolism was adapted to using branches from their indigenous trees, so that various names were given to ‘Palm Sunday’, such as ‘Olive Sunday’, ‘Willow Sunday’, ‘Blossom Sunday’ or plain ‘Branch Sunday’.17 The history of the Palm Date Tree is very wide and very deep and could take quite a slice off any lifetime to study, sift and relate to give its due; like delicious dates served up at Christmas it is a moreish treat for which, once sampled, you may acquire a lasting taste and wish to pursue.
Date Medicine Past and Present Date palm fruit or its juice was employed in Ancient Egypt in many medicinal remedies. Date wine was used as an alcoholic beverage, which drinks were used for pleasure, nutrition, medicine, ritual and remuneration and funerary purposes.18 The ancient Egyptians made at least seventeen varieties of beer and at least twenty-four varieties of wine, some of which were used as ingredients of medicines.19 Historically, medicinal uses of the Date Palm in ancient Egypt can seem quaint, alone or combined with other medicaments of those days such as myrrh, red natron, milk, carob, honey, sweet beer, bone of a dog and donkey’s hoof! These used severally in remedies for swelling of limbs, swollen or aching legs, sneezing and children’s cough, to kill worms, to cure ‘heat of the heart’ and accelerate hair growth.20 However, the date palm folk medicine does cover a wide spectrum and is described as follows: “an aphrodisiac, contraceptive, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, estrogenic, expectorant, laxative, pectoral, purgative, refrigerant, the date is listed in folk remedies for ague, anemia, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, catarrh, chest, condylomata,21A cough, diarrhea, eyes, fatigue, fever, flu, gonorrhea, endurations, longevity, piles, pterygia,21B splenitis, sterility, stomachache, thirst, toothache, tuberculosis, urogenital ailments, vaginitis, virility, warts, and whitlows.”21 Its use is also mentioned and applied in relation to “cancers, indurations or tumors of the abdomen, gum, liver, mouth, parotids, spleen, stomach, testicle, throat, uterus, and viscera.” “Medicinally, fresh juice is cooling and laxative; gum useful in treatment of diarrhea and diseases of the genito-urinary system; fruit is demulcent, expectorant, anti-scorbutic, nutrient, laxative, aphrodisiac, and is prescribed in asthma, chest complaints and cough, fever, and gonorrhea. And, a plaster of the nuts or of the bark is a folk remedy for whitlows, hardnesses, and scirrhi.”21C The report on one superstition that may have a scientific rational behind it: "The pollen of a male date palm mixed with water is a charm against childlessness,” as the pollen, contains estrogenic hormone ‘estrone’21D and has exhibited gonadotrophic21E activity on immature rats. “Egyptians also believe that to swallow one, two, or three date stones will prevent child-bearing for many years.” Therefore, the date may be seen as both a potential fertility aid and contraceptive. It is not without basis or alacrity that present day researchers are suddenly mightily interested in delving into the plant profiles of the near and distant past. In a now over-populated world, every effort needs to be made to try to find cures and treatments from our beneficent Plant Kingdom for the fast gathering speed and proliferation of current diseases, conditions and ailments that beset the human race. Medicine was the first of the Greek sciences to be studied in depth by Islamic scholars. In the c5th-6th-Centuries Western and Arabic Medicine began to move towards each other. Archbishop Nestor, or at least the Nestorian Christians, among them physicians, took Western Greek medicine to Persia, which became part of the Islamic world in 636AD.A1 “Arab rulers supported the medical school at Jundishahpur and for the next 200 years, Jundishapur was the greatest center of medical teaching in the Islamic world. There, Islamic physicians first familiarized themselves with the works of Hippocrates, Galen, and other Greek physicians. At the same time, they were also exposed to the medical knowledge of Byzantium, Persia, India, and China.”A2 Recognizing the importance of translating Greek works into Arabic, the Abbasid caliphs Harun al-Rashid (786-809) and his son al-Ma’mun translated the Greek medicine scrolls and other collected scientific works of the West at their translation bureau in Baghdad.A3 In the case of the use of dates for medicine, what was always there in Arabic medicine is now reversing the compliment and coming around full circle to the West. There is undoubtedly scientific need to separate the myth from reality, allowing that some of the more ancient date fruits’ remedies may indeed have had a ‘placebo’ effect in some cases or may be considered ‘off the radar’ in others. Nevertheless, there is more than a grain of truth, rather than a pile of sand, in the effectiveness of many ancient desert remedies. Scientists are out of necessity waking-up to the importance of anecdotal historical records and accounts. For example, it has been reported that, “experimentally, date extracts have been shown to increase sperm count in guinea pigs and to enhance spermatogenesis and increase the concentration of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in rats.” 24 Also, “the pollen grains of date palm have been used by Egyptians to improve fertility in women. Date pits have been included in animal feed to enhance growth, an action that has been ascribed to an increase in the plasma level of oestrogens ‘or testosterone’.” 25 It is stated that, many Middle Easterners believe that consumption of dates, particularly in the morning on an empty stomach, can reverse the actions of any toxic material that the subject may have been exposed to. Last year, Saudi researchers sought to assess the ability of date flesh and pits to prevent some of the toxic actions of carbon tetrachloride on the liver in animals, the latter being a model for acute liver hepatitis. Treatment with aqueous extract of date flesh or pits significantly reduced ill effects and suggests the induced liver damage can be ameliorated by treatment of extracts from date flesh or pits.26 Earlier, because dates are very commonly consumed in many parts of the world and are a vital component of the diet in most of the Arabian countries, Kuwaiti researchers carried out a preliminary study for the first time on date fruits’ antioxidant and anti-mutagenic properties ‘in vitro’. Results indicated that antioxidant and anti-mutagenic activity in date fruit is quite potent and implicates the presence of compounds with potent free-radical-scavenging activity. This is good news whether dates are seen as a Food Medicine or their extracts to be used for other applications.27 This spring, Saudi researchers tested the local folk medicine claim that dates are beneficial in gastric ulcers in humans (in animals). The results indicated that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the date fruit and, to a lesser extent, date pits, were indeed effective in ameliorating the severity of gastric ulceration.28 It was postulated that the basis of the gastro-protective action of date extracts may be multi-factorial, and may include an anti-oxidant action.29 It is well to remember that all recent research has been conducted upon the modern variety of Phoenix dactylifera growing all around the world, so it is not surprising that there is such interest and renewed hope for what the ancient variety of the Date Palm may have in store.
Date Food Medicine
Fruit of the Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L)
We may associate dates with the romance and mystery of the Middle East, but since the early 1900’s, with imported date palm trees and careful selection, date crops have been a feature of California, USA.30 The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) scientists maintain one of the world’s largest date-palm collections, which doubles as a gene-bank, safeguarding specimens of more than 50 different types of date palms including the delicious, exotic, Amir Haji date, known as ‘the visitor’s date’ in the Middle East because it is served to guests as a delicacy. There are also the jewels of Moroccan Medjools, prized for their large size, rich taste and soft texture. There is an especially serious side to this Date-bank, as it is a safe haven for some wild relatives of commercial dates.31 These species may hold genes for natural resistance to insects or diseases or have ability to thrive in salty soil. They are precious in the same way as to another level is the resurrection of ‘Methuselah’ the 2,000-year-old date seed’s plant. Archaeobotanical finds may yet bring more surprises; for example, in 2000 it was found that in the Czech countries’ Medieval diet, among imported fruit and spices from the peak period of the Middle Ages, researchers succeeded in finding a date tree – the date palm Phoenix dactylifera!32 In these days of obesity, it is well to remember that sweet, sun-ripened dates make a tasty, fat- and cholesterol-free snack or addition to your cookery commissariat. As a Food Medicine, dates provide carbohydrates and protein, fibre, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, and sodium (there is a minute amount only and some dates e.g. Californian are sodium-free) with several vitamins A, B-complex: (B1 B2 B6 niacin, pantothenic acid) and C (ascorbic acid). For those adherents to the ‘GI’ diet, research proves that dates (Khalas dates – the best variety of Arabian dates) when eaten alone or in mixed meals with plain yoghurt have low glycaemic indexes.33 The ‘good news’ is that consumption of dates may also be of benefit in glycaemic and lipid control of diabetic patients.34 Dates may play a bigger role than just an international ‘snack’ quite soon. Only a couple of years ago research posited the date as potentially the best food for the future. Although the micronutrient content of dates varies with the species grown and harvested, there were at least fifteen minerals found in dates in various proportions: “including boron, calcium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, sodium and zinc. Selenium, another element believed to help prevent cancer and important in immune function, is also found in dates.” 35 (The six vitamins in found present in dates are the abovementioned earlier.) In our concern for our heart-condition’s oriented society, it is as well to be reminded that potassium helps prevent and control blood pressure. “The protein in dates contains 23 types of amino acids, some of which are not present in the most popular fruits such as oranges, apples and bananas.” It was concluded that: “In many ways, dates may be considered as an almost ideal food, providing a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits.” 36 Dates are an especially good food source for the elderly, the frail and convalescent. Indian research has observed that there is scientific basis for feeding certain plants to mothers after child birth and to invalids with relatively poor immune status, among which is the date (Phoenix dactylifera).
Here Comes the Fun – Date Recipes When choosing your dates (if loose and not already boxed) it is as well to know that dates harvested at the ‘Khalal’ stage (partially-ripe) when they are yellow or red, depending on the cultivar, are eschewed by many consumers who find them astringent due to a high tannin content.38 Most dates are harvested at the fully-ripe ‘Rutab’ and ‘Tamar’ stages, when they have much greater levels of sugars, lower moisture and tannin content, and are softer. Sucrose provides the main sugar in the ‘sweetness’ of dates.39 The date has been described as ‘The Candy that Grows on Trees’, but not everyone likes to eat dates solo. There are many recipes in which we may include some of them and here are some date recipe arrows to add to your culinary quiver and to tickle the palate. Most of us are familiar with the Christmas season’s boxes of dates; why not try a variation on the theme of ‘Festive Stuffed Dates’.40 Dates deep, rich taste adds flavour to breads, cakes, muffins and other baked delights. An ‘Old-fashioned Bread Pudding’ never goes amiss.43 & 45 ‘Date Fruit Cake’ is a favourite,41 ‘Carob Date Brownie Mix’, ‘Date and Apple Squares’, ‘Date and Nut Bread’.42 Go Yankee with an American style breakfast including ‘Date Waffles’.47 Dates also go well with many other fruits and are compatible in compotes, in salads and desserts. Dates wrapped in cheese pastry; ‘Indonesian Rice Salad with Fresh Dates’; ‘Bacon wrapped Dates stuffed with almonds and goat’s cheese’.44 If you are an advocate of slow-cooking in a ‘crock-pot’, try ‘Crock-pot Pumpkin Date Pudding’ dessert.& ‘Apple and Date pudding’.45 Luscious dates add luxury to entrées and side dishes that may include meat, seafood, and poultry. Try ‘Moroccan Spice Braised Chicken with Dates and Almonds’, 42 or another ‘Moroccan Chicken with Dates’; ‘Chicken with Dates and Wine’; ‘Lamb Tajine with Dates’; ‘Chicken with Dates- Apricots and Couscous’. 44 For the more adventurous there are many BBC celebrity chef recipes to tempt your palate: For example, Anthony Worrall Thompson’s ‘Stuffed Lamb with Dates’, served with vinaigrette, Paul Merrett (Fresh Food) ‘Lamb, Shallot and date Tagine’. Spuds with a difference from the British Potato Council: ‘Spicy Elizabethan Casserole’; Susan Norwak’s : ‘Pan-fried Monkfish Medallions’ on Date, Apricot and Ale Compote with Plum Tomato Concasse. If you are an aficionado of sheer opulence and do not have to watch your waistline, ‘Chocolate Date Truffles’42, may take your fancy, or if you go for something a bit different, try ‘Date Chutney’ to go with cold fare.42 Getting hold of a date infused alcoholic drink may be out of the question, but a popular easy and highly nutritious drink to make is a date milk shake. Why not be special and do a ‘Medjool Milk Shake’, 47 or go wild and make an’ Egyptian Date Fruit Cup’ for guests.48 The potential and possibilities for the culinary use of dates are endless. Likely when you have ‘put your thinking cap on’ you will create your own brand new recipes or think of ways to adapt tried and tested recipes to incorporate the date. You may surprise yourself!
COMMENT: Although this research comes from the Middle East, it is as well to note that elsewhere some people may be allergic to dates. In 1999 a Saudi study stated that where Date-palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits are eaten daily by most inhabitants of the Middle East and the neighboring countries, recent reports indicated that dates are allergenic. The study aimed to investigate the antigenic and allergenic potential of date fruits.49 The results strongly indicate that 1) date-palm fruit is a potent allergen. 2) sera from fruit-allergic as well as pollen-allergic patients recognize common fruit-specific epitopes. And, 3) there is heterogeneity in patient responses to the different extracts. (See ‘word definitions’ in References below). Or put more simply, dates can be a potent allergen and blood serum from fruit-allergic as well as pollen-allergic patients showed the same reactions with differing patient responses to different date extracts. 50
References: 1. Bible: ‘Song of Solomon’ Chapter 7 (6:7:8) “To ‘climb the palm tree’ had a special meaning. In the Ancient Near East the artificial fertilization of the female’s palm tree flowers by the male palm tree flowers has been practiced form the earliest times. The male and female flowers are born on separate tress in clusters among the leaves. In order to fertilize the female tree, one must climb the male tree and get some of its flowers. One then ascends the female tree and ties among its flowers, a bunch of the pollen-bearing male flowers. Thus to climb the palm tree is to fertilize it.” http://www.new-life.net/marrag01.htm 2. Bible: ‘Song of Solomon’ Chapter 7 (6|:7:8) ‘I will take hold of its branches (boughs)’ – “The man says he will take hold of her branches, i.e. fruit stalks of the date palm – her breasts. Now he changes images from date palms to grape clusters for breasts, which seems more appropriate. Grapes swell and become increasingly round and elastic as they ripen, similar to the female breasts when sexually aroused.” http://www.new-life.net/marrag01.htm 3. Dr Sarah Sallon, Director of the Louis L Bork Natural Medicine Research Centre at Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Quote: Dr Sarah Sallon: “A lotus seed was germinated (in China) after 1,200 years, but nothing has been germinated coming from this far back, not to 2,000 years.” 5. Masada: The desert mountain fortress where ancient Jewish rebels chose suicide over capture by Roman legions in 73AD. 6. ‘Date palm grown from 2,000-year-old seed’ by Steve Weizman, AP Writer Jerusalem 12th June 2005. - ‘Tree of love from 2,000-year-old seed’ from Matthew Kalman in Jerusalem, Daily Mail 13th June 2005. 7. Ibid. 8. Ibid. 9. Alchemy in Islamic Times: History of Botany Part 1: The Date Palm in Ancient History. Study by Dr Wafaa M Amer, Botany Dept., Faculty of Science, Cairo Uv., Giza, Egypt. http://www.levity.com/alchemy/islam08.html 10. Ibid. (Bircher 1990) 11. Ibid. (Bircher 1990) – Theophrastus Botanist: 370-285 BC. 12. ‘Palm Trees and Daffodils’ Rev. Joel Miller http://www.rejm.com/palmsdaffodils.htm : [ii] Queen of the Desert: The Palm Tree as Cultural Symbol, The World and I, Rachel Janar, 13. 04-01-1996.p.205. 14. History of Botany Part 1: The Date Palm in Ancient History. Study by Dr Wafaa M Amer, Botany Dept., Faculty of Science, Cairo Uv., Giza, Egypt. http://www.levity.com/alchemy/islam08.html 15. Ibid. 16. Ibid. 17. ‘Palm Trees and Daffodils’ Rev. Joel Miller: Origins of Profound Things, Charles Panati, Penguin NY, 1996. p.207. 18. ‘History of Alcohol and Drinking Around the World’ by David J. Hanson Ph.D. (Cherrington, 1925, v.1., p.405) - http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1114796842.html 19. Ibid. (Ghaliounqui, 1979, pp. 8 and 11) 20. History of Botany Part 1: The Date Palm in Ancient History. Study by Dr Wafaa M Amer, Botany Dept., Faculty of Science, Cairo Uv., Giza, Egypt. (Darby, et al 1977 and Manniche 1989). 21. ‘Phoenix dactylifera L.’ Source: James A Duke. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops. (Duke and Wain) 1981). http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Phoenix_dactylifera.html 21A Condylomata [acuminata]: Another name for Genital warts (or close medical condition association). 21B Pterygia: An abnormal mass of tissue arising from the conjunctiva of the inner corner of the eye that obstructs vision by growing over the cornea. 21C Scirrhi, scirrhuses (Pathol.): A hard swelling, especially a hard cancer. 21D Estrone [oestrone, theelin, Estronol]: a naturally occurring weak estrogenic hormone secreted by the mammalarian ovary, synthesized trade name ‘Estronol’ and used to treat estrogen deficiency. 21E Gonadothropic/gonadotropic: of or relating to gonadotropin. Gonadotropin: hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and placenta; stimulates the gonads and controls reproductive activity. 22. Ibid. Hartwell (1967–1971) 23. Ibid. Tackholm and Drar (1973) A1 ‘Arab Roots of European Medicine’ – History of Medicine – http://www.hmc.org.qa/hmc/heartviews/H-V-v4%20N2/9.htm A2 Ibid. A3 Ibid. 24. ‘Protective Effects of Extracts from Dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on Carbon Tetrachloride – Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rates’. Introduction: Aly Abdullah Al-Quarawi, et al. Dept of Vet. Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, King Saud Uv., Buraydah, Gaseem, Saudi Arabia. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med, Vol 2, No.3, 2004: http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:1wVuPDUncbEJ:www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol2Iss3/ELMOUGHJARVMVol2No304.pdf+Phoenix+dactylifera+medicine+&hl=en 25. Ibid. 26. Ibid. 27. ‘Antioxidant and anti-mutagenic properties of aqueous extract of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.: Arecaceae). Vayalil PK, Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait Uv,. Kuwait. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Jan 30;50(3):610-7. 28. ‘The ameliorative effect of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats.’ Al-Qarawi AA, et al. Dept of Vet. Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, King Saud Uv., Buraydah, Gaseem, Saudi Arabia. J Ethnopharmcol 2005 Apr 26; 98(3):313-7. 29. Ibid. 30. ‘Date Bank Preserves a Holiday Treat’ by Marcia Wood, Dec. 1997. 31. Ibid. 32. ‘Assortment of the plants in the Medieval diet in Czech countries (based on archaeobotcanical finds). Culikova V. Institute of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Dept. of Archaeobotany, Opava. Act Univ Carol [Med} (Phrha); 2000;41(1-4):105-18. 33. ‘The glycaemic index of dates and date/yoghurt mixed meals. Are dates ‘the candy that grows on trees’?’ Miller CJ, et al. Dept. of Family Medicine and Heath Sciences, United Arab Emirates Uv., Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Mar; 57(3):427-30. ‘Glycemic index of 3 varieties of dates.’ Miller CJ, et al. Dept. of Family Medicine and Heath Sciences, United Arab Emirates Uv., Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Saudi Med J. 2002 May; 23(5):536-8. 34. Ibid. 35. ‘The fruit of the date palm: its possible use as the best food for the future?’ Al-Ahahib W, Marshall RJ. London Metropolitan Uv., Dept of Health & Human Sciences, London, UK. Int J Food Sci. Nutr. 2003 Jul; 54(4):247-59 36. Ibid. 37. ‘Immnnostimulant activity of dry fruits and plant materials used in Indian traditional medical system for mothers after child birth and invalids.’ Pur A, et al. Div. of Biochemistry, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India. J Ethnopharmacol 2000 Jul; 1(1-2):89-92. 38. Postharvest Technology: http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Produce/ProduceFacts/Fruit/Dates.shtml 39. Ibid. Recipes: 40. http://www.recipestogo.com/fruit51.html - Festive Stuffed Dates. 41. http://www.foodclassics.com/re653/recipes.php - Dare Fruit Cake. 42. http://www.ichef.com/search.cfm?task=process Moroccan Spice Braised Chicken with Dates and Almonds; Carob Date Brownie Mix; Chocolate Date Truffles: Date and Apple Squares: Date and Nut Bread: Date Chutney. 43. http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotdessertrecipes/ - Old-fashioned Bread Pudding – Slow cooker. Crock-pot Pumpkin Date pudding dessert.& Apple and Date pudding. 44. http://www.recipezaar.com/r/q=dates – Moroccan Chicken with Dates; Chicken with Dates and Wine; Lamb Tajine with Dates; Chicken with Dates, apricots and Couscous; Dates wrapped in cheese pastry; Indonesian Rice Salad with Fresh Dates; Bacon wrapped Dates stuffed with almonds and goat’s cheese. 45. http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotdessertrecipes/ - Old-fashioned Bread Pudding – Slow cooker. Crock-pot Pumpkin Date pudding dessert & Apple and Date pudding. 46. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/stuffedlambwithdates_74121.shtml BBC Celebrity Chef Recipes. 47. http://www.sphinxdateranch.com/_page_1.html – Date Waffles, Medjool Date Shake. 48. http://www.touregypt.net/recipes/recipeweek11192001.htm - Egyptian Date Fruit Cup 49. ‘Allergy to date fruits: characterization of antigens and allergens of fruits of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Kwaasi AA, et al. Dept. of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Aramia.Allergy 1999 Dec.; 54(12):1270-7. 50. Word Definitions: Allergenic: relating to or having the effect of an ‘allergen’. Allergen: a substance causing allergy. Antigenic: of or relating to antigens Antigen: A substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs. Antibody: An immunoglobulin, a specialized immune protein, produced because of the introduction of an antigen into the body and which possesses the remarkable ability to combine with the very antigen that triggered its production. Sera [pl. Serum] Serum: Liquid part of blood: the fluid that separates from clotted blood, similar to plasma but without clotting agents. Epitope: A single antigenic site on a protein against which an antibody reacts. Heterogeneity: The quality or state of being heterogeneous. Heterogeneous: Not the same. |
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