PESHAWAR
\nDates is being considered an important food item during iftar parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where its business was shined after commencement of the holy month of Ramazan.
\nOwing to its delicious taste, quality and numerous health and nutrition benefits, dates is a part of almost every \u201cDastarkhwan\u201d and a prime choice of Rozadars during Iftari.
\nThe business of imported and locally produced dates (Kajoor) have get upward boom during Ramazan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including seven merged tribal districts where the commodity become the most preferable choice of fasting people during Iftar.
\nAll the fruits markets of Peshawar including Gul Bhar, Firdus, Hasthnagri, Chamkani, Faqirabad, Boards, Tehkal, Cantonment, Pishtakhara, Kohat, Dalazak Roads etc are flooded with different varieties of dates and are attracting buyers despite it\u2019s high prices.
\nMuzafati date is being sold at Rs360-380 per kilogram this year compared to RsRs330-350 last year.
\nSimilarly, Iranian dates are being sold at Rs240-260 this year as against Rs200-220 per kg last year and its price is quite high this year that needed to be checked.
\nDhaki DI Khan\u2019s dates are also almost out of reach of poor people as it is being sold at Rs380-420 this year against Rs340-360 last year.
\n\u201cDespite its high prices, Dhaki dates are my favourite and my iftar party cannot complete without it,\u201d said Zeeshan Khan, a resident of Nowshera district while talking to APP.
\nZeeshan said he prefers Dhaki dates due to its better taste and numerous nutrition\u2019s health benefits.
\nHe said its price is quite high in local markets and needed to be checked by the districts administration.
\nBesides my family, he said most of his friends liked Dhaki dates during Iftari as helping in restoration of blood sugar level after fasting all the day.
\nPunjgor dates are also attracting consumers in large number in local markets due to it\u2019s better quality and nutritious level.
\n\u201cMy sister has requested for three kilograms\u2019 dates but I purchased only two kilograms because of its high prices even in Peshawar.\u201d
\nHe said it was the responsibility of district administration to control prices of daily use items including dates in open markets and urged DCs to activate his staff to control price hike during Ramadan.
\nDr Zamin Khan, head of medical ward at Govt Rashid Hussain Shaheed hospital told APP that dates was an important food item during Ramazan and recommended people to commence Iftar by eating at least 3 to 5 dates because it provides the body with necessary sugar, which are helping in restoration of blood sugar level after fasting all the day.
\n\u201cOne of the most common reasons for headaches or dizziness during Ramzan is low blood sugar that is why eating dates is very beneficial at the start of Iftar to maintain sugar level,\u201d he said.
\nHe said it is easy to digest so they don\u2019t exhaust the fasting person stomach, adding research studies proved that having dates after fasting has got great benefits for nutrition and health of people.
\n\u201cDates decrease great hunger feeling of fasting person and people doesn\u2019t rush into excessive food eating, which causes digestion disorders.\u201d
\nDr Zamin said dates prepare person\u2019s stomach to receive food after being inactive throughout the day by activating the release of digestive secretions and juices besides rich with sugary energy.
\nHe said scientific studies showed that eating dates were extremely beneficial for pregnant women and lactating mothers as it contain certain stimulants, which assist in strengthening of muscles of the womb that can lead to an easier delivery and good health of newborns.
\nThe sugar content of dates is about 80% making it an ideal high energy food for lactating mothers, he said adding it contain about seven vitamins and eleven minerals which are very beneficial for pregnant women and breast feeding mothers.
\nHe said people, who consumed more dates during Iftari, will help minimize risks of heart attack, respiratory disorders, cancers, anemia, allergies, and constipation
\nDr Zamin advised breast feeding mothers to consumes maximum dates for better nourishment and growth of their children.
\nHe recommended inclusion of dates in routine dietary programs after Ramzan for a healthy life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Dates is being considered an important food item during iftar parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where its business was shined after commencement of the holy month of Ramazan. Owing to its delicious taste, quality and numerous health and nutrition benefits, dates is a part of almost every \u201cDastarkhwan\u201d and a prime choice of Rozadars during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[5761,416,5760,5568],"class_list":{"0":"post-253849","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-boom","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-dates","11":"tag-ramazan"},"yoast_head":"\n