Dates: Healthy fruits for Ramadan

Dates have antioxidant properties and are nutrient-rich and high in fibre, which makes them the ideal food to break fast with during Ramadan. — MERUYERT GONULLU/Pexels

Dates are the sweet fruits from the date palm tree that can trace their lineage back thousands of years. In fact, archaeological evidence can pinpoint cultivation of these fruits as far back as 4,000 BC.

Dates are typically grown in the north African and Middle Eastern belt. These days, Egypt leads the pack in terms of worldwide production, while other major global players include Algeria, Iran and Saudi Arabia.