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Dates : natural oxytocin in Child Birth

By Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

Dates (Phoenix dactylifera) are the sweetest fruits native to Iraq.  Studies have found numerous impacts of eating Dates on pregnant women.  In this article, I examine the impact of dates on pregnant women.

Nutritional Profile

The US Department of Agriculture reports that date calorie content is higher than most fresh fruit. The calorie content of dates is similar to that of other dried fruits, such as raisins and figs.  The following is the nutritional profile of a 100-gram date:

Dates, Pregnancy, and Labor

Dates have been studied for their potential to promote and ease late-term labor in pregnant people.  One study by Kordi et al. ( 2017) confirmed that consuming dates in the last few weeks of pregnancy may promote cervical dilation, and lower the need for induced labor. And reduces labor time. 

A previous meta-analysis by Al-Kuran et al. (2011) examines studies on pregnant people who consumed dates before their due date and revealed that pregnant women who ate dates were in labor for less time than those who did not eat them, but also notes that the link between eating dates and a faster delivery needs to be researched further.

Another by Razali et al.  (2017)of 154 pregnant women also found that those who ate dates were less likely to be induced compared to those who did not.

In a third study,  Kordi et al. (2017) also found similar results in 91 pregnant women who consumed 70–76 grams of dates daily at the 37th week of pregnancy. They were in active labor for an average of 4 fewer hours than those who did not eat dates.

Dates could act as a natural oxytocin, a hormone that causes labor contractions during childbirth (Kordi et al. 2017).

Furthermore,  dates contain tannins, compounds that have been shown to help facilitate contractions. They are also a good source of natural sugar and calories, which are necessary to maintain energy levels during labor (Kordi et al. 2017). Hemorrhoids are a common complication during pregnancy. Dates are excellent sources of fiber. They may help prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy.

Take Home

NB:

Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups.  My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.

The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, and a science writer. President, Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT), African Naturopathic Foundation, Ashaiman, Ghana. E. mail: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com.  Currently, BL candidate at the Gambia Law School, Banjul, The Gambia.

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