Page 54 - Ramadan 2022

54 LG RAMADAN 2022

Why Dates Are Eaten During Ramadan?

ASTING during Ramadan something sweet into the mouth of a years. Once again India topping the ing to modern medicine, dates have axanthin and lutein, which are types
is from sunrise to sunset. newborn. biggest importer of dates in 2018 10 elements which are crucial for of carotenoids present in eye tissue
This tradition is rooted in Besides being delicious, dates are with 282,578 metric tons, while humans to stay healthy and fit. The and have antioxidant properties. An-
Freligious teachings of the truly a remedial reserve, especially moving 2 places down to 6th Turkey sugar in dates is fructose as opposed other benefit of dates is they contain
Prophet Muhammad, who is quoted when it comes to fasting. Thanks to imported 45,844 metric tons of dates glucose, and does not make people minerals such as calcium, magnesium
as saying: “When one of you is their high carbohydrate content that and in 12th the UK importuned fat. High in body-building amino and zinc as well as phosphorus, daily
fasting, he should break his fast with packs a lot of energy in such a small 26,896 metric tons. In Arabic, the acids, vitamins A, B and C, as well as helps improve bone health and pre-
dates; but if he cannot get any, then volume, they help to quickly renew word for date palm is “nahle” and many minerals such as potassium, vent conditions such as osteoporosis.
(he should break his fast) with water, empty carbohydrate stores, suppress its fruit is called “tamr.” However, in magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, Dates are also recommended for
for water is purifying. “ sugar cravings and thus help you con- Turkish the word for date is “hurma,” zinc, copper and selenium, dates pregnant women. Scientific studies
Muslims around the world, follow trol your appetite throughout the day. are truly a powerhouse of nutrients
a religious tradition of serving Dates, a fruit that grows in tropical because it means “respect” in Arabic. helping to support the immune sys- have shown that eating dates are
dates (tmar) at their Ramadan iftar and desert climates, have an im- Dates have a very special place tem.Research reveals that a diet rich highly beneficial for pregnant women
table, with many making it a point portant place in Middle Eastern in Turkish culture as it is easy to in potassium helps to lower blood and nursing mothers. Dates contain
to actually to break their fast with and North African cultures, as they understand their importance from pressure, maintain cardiovascular certain stimulants which assist in
them. Dates are not only associated mostly grow in these regions. the name. health and reduces the risk of stroke. the strengthening of the muscles of
with Ramadan, however. The fruit is Saudi Arabia was the leading table Dates also contain compounds that the womb which can lead to an easier
mentioned 23 times in the Quran, date producer, accounting for 21% of HEALTH BENEFITS help stop age-related eye diseases delivery. The sugar content of dates
and they’re favored by many Muslims global production both in 2020/21 Dates might be one of the most from developing. Studies have shown is about 80% making it an ideal high
for tahneek, the tradition of rubbing and on average over the last five beneficial fruits for humans. Accord- that dates are a strong source of ze- energy food for nursing mothers.

Turkey Dry tops the worldwide dried fruit and nut production

NCE again Turkey is grapes accounted for 22% of the exports reached around 405,000 Kocaeli. The hazelnut regions Most hazelnuts are grown in the
marking its statues global share during 2020/2021 metric tons. Turkey remained the are divided in an older eastern provinces of Ordu, Samsun and
in the production With once again The European world’s largest exporter, account- part which spans from Ordu to Giresun while in Sakarya and
Odried fruit and nut Union and the United Kingdom ing for over 77% of all exports. Artvin and a new hazelnut region Düzce hazelnut production is very
production in the latest publica- accounted for 76% of Turkish The European Union and the in the western part of the Black efficient. In Ordu alone, 200,000
tion on International Nuts and exports, with the UK (27% of the United Kingdom were the largest Sea between Samsun and Kocaeli. tons were harvested in 2017.
Dry Fruit council (NIC) show country share), Germany (12%), destinations for Turkish exports
that Turkey is a leader in the and the Netherlands (10%) being (78%), with Germany and Italy
production and exporting of a the largest importers. accounting for 50% of the country
large number of these products; share. The bulk of Italy’s exports
Hazelnuts, dry apricots, dry figs HAZELNUTS (93%) were destined for EU coun-
and dry grapes are were Turkey tries, especially Germany (52%)
tops the list. The global hazelnut crop to- and France (17%).
Turkey’s dried fig production in talled over 512,000 metric tons There are accounts dating back
the 2020/2021 accounted for 58% (kernel basis) in 2020/21, the to 1500 BC of hazelnuts being
of the worldwide total, Turkey’s second largest production in the cultivated in the Black Sea region
top destinations were the Europe- last 10 years. (historically Pontus) and the
an Union + the United Kingdom Turkey’s crop accounted for Turkish historian Evliya Çelebi
(52% of the country share), with 62% of the world total, and was described hazelnut orchards in
Germany (17%), France (11%), estimated at 320,000 MT. Fol- the 1650s, during the Ottoman
and the UK (6%) ranking as the lowed by Italy with 75,000 MT in Empire. The hazelnut plantations
top importers. comparison. are mainly located in the Black
Turkish production of dried In 2019, overall hazelnut Sea region between Trabzon and