In view of the rising cost of sugar and growing health hazards from its consumption, a good number of Nigerians have shifted attention to consumption of date fruits, as alternative to sugar.

Reports have it that dates are now in high demand, as the produce is becoming an essential part of daily diets across the country. One of the benefits of the produce is that it can eaten fresh, dried, stuffed, mashed or chopped.

Dates are basically tropical fruits that are grown on date palm trees. It’s scientifically known as Phoenix Dactylifera and is one of the healthiest fruits in the world. It is high in several nutrients, fiber and antioxidants, all of which may provide health benefits.

Research have shown that eating dates during pregnancy is capable of reducing labour augmentation, as it can stimulate the uterus to increase the frequency, duration and intensity of contractions after labour onset.

A consumer, AbdulAzeez Yusuf Opeyemi, who confirmed that the produce is currently enjoying good patronage, said the fruit is very common, especially during the fasting period. “Hausa call it debinu, Yoruba call it Eso Mecca – its fruits are very sweet like honey. The good thing about it is that it doesn’t cause dysentery. It can be consumed by adult and children. The fruit is like glucose, once you eat it, you will have energy.”

The Producer of Real- Time Date Powder, Abuja, Abdul Azeez Onimisi Jimoh, who confirmed the nutritional value of the date fruits, said the produce is the major ingredient used by his company, as it promotes general wellness, especially healthy hearts.

“Dates have a high level of natural sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose that helps in boosting energy. It’s also essential for overall health, such as relieving constipation, lowers cholesterol, control diabetes, improve heart health, rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, strengthen bones, promotes brain health, improves digestive health, helps to detoxify the body, improves skin and also control night blindness,” he said.

Continuing, Jimoh said: “As Muslims, breaking the fast using date fruits is a sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It’s not without reason that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advised breaking the fast with dates.

“According to medical research, the body of a person fasting possesses sugar stored in the body’s cells during the day and by the time the sun sets, our blood sugar levels would have dropped below normal. As a result, people who fast occasionally experience dizziness, dizzy eyes, and a lack of energy. Therefore, those who are fasting should eat sweet foods that are quickly processed by the body.”

The CEO of Shamwal Natural Products, Madawaki, Katsina State, Shamsuddeen Usman Danasabe, asserted that the demand for date fruits tend to increase during Ramadan as the numbers of people buying it increase during the holy month. “Normally, I am not selling the debinu, I am a buyer. I usually buy and process it, I am not selling the whole fruit. I don’t use to buy the debinu during the Ramadan because I know the price will go up. What we do is that we buy before the Ramadan.

“We use to buy it in modules, the last time I purchased; I got it at the cost of N4, 500 per module not kilogramme. There are some kinds of debinu we import from abroad, we call it Achua, before the Ramadan the module I got for N4, 800 is now between N7,000 to N8,000, the price is changing.

“The price is also increasing because of the naira to dollar exchange rate, so the price must change since they are foreign products.” A consumer, Gabriel Onothilue, said he decided to consume more of it whenever he is opportune, “as a substitute to drugs and alcohol for the purpose of enhancing sexual performance.”