A Sweet Treat That’s Good For Your Teeth!

I read a great article from Real Age telling about the benefits of eating dates. I’ve never cooked much with them, but I will be looking for recipes with dates in them now! It appears that dates are naturally rich in the element fluorine, which is a component of fluoride, and not only strengthens tooth enamel, but helps reverse early tooth decay. It’s also high in fiber, as well as many vitamins and minerals.

Substituting date sugar for regular sugar:

Dates still have sugar in them, so it doesn’t affect the need to brush your teeth regularly. Using date sugar in recipes, is a healthy alternative, but how much should you use? Most places say it’s a 1:1 ratio for both white and brown sugar substitution, but several moms have said date sugar is much sweeter, and they prefer 2/3 cup of date sugar to substitute for 1 cup of white or brown sugar. Keep in mind that date sugar doesn’t dissolve well in liquids.

Where to find date sugar:

Most large grocery stores carry dates and date sugar. If you want organic, you may need seek out a Whole Foods or your local coop. One place most people don’t think to look is Amazon. While their prices usually run just a little higher than stores like Walmart or Kroger’s, it’s worth your while to check their grocery sales and specials. For instance, this month Kashi is offering 25% off select products with the coupon code KASHNTRL.  If you sign up for regular delivery from Amazon, they’ll take another 15% off. You can cancel the regular delivery at any time, or set it up for any time interval you like. I love getting delivery to my front door, and you won’t pay sales tax, either. (Our tax is 9.25%!) Buying items with 40% off and no tax works out to be a great deal. I’m a big herbal tea drinker, and I get my Celestial Seasonings Teas and my favorite, Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Red Tea this way and save big.

Check out the amazing selection of food at Amazon, and see their sales and specials here>