What I Reach for When Hanger Strikes
Bumper to bumper traffic, an annoying coworker, a bad hair day… Normally you can take these things in stride, like it’s no big deal. But when low blood sugar hits- watch out!
The cantankerous wart-covered mountain troll within is about to go postal and it isn’t pretty. Heaven forbid your unsuspecting partner or friend is around and they are lucky enough to be on the receiving end of this dramatic temper tantrum.
The good news is that I have discovered the cure for hanger and it may surprise you. The answer is… dates! Half of the audience is probably groaning or wrinkling their noses right now. Dates you say? But I don’t even like those.
I’ll be honest, dates weren’t my favorite either. Until one of my yogi inspirations, Ali Kamenova, began touting their many health benefits. And I became converted my friends.
First of all, despite their less than appealing appearance, dates are nature’s candy. They are caramelized and as sweet as honey. And if you eat about 4 a day you can reap all of their nutritional advantages. I prefer the Medjool variety, but that is mostly what’s available at my local grocery store.
Yesterday, I was hangry and whining at my husband about it. Unfortunately, he was unsympathetic to my charming pleas. In a fit of hanger, I decided to have a single date. Immediately, I transformed into my normal human self again, lovely and sweet.
My hunger was curbed and yet my appetite had not been ruined. And then it dawned on me that dates are the miracle cure for hanger victims everywhere. Not to mention, they are extremely portable. You can be a weirdo like me and keep a few dates in your purse and never worry about being an ill-tempered sourpuss ever again.
You can eat them raw, add them to smoothies, make energy balls or incorporate them into your next salad. The possibilities are endless!
Health Benefits of Dates
Now allow me to wax poetic about the many other benefits of dates…
1.Dates make your bones stronger due to the myriad of minerals they contain.
2. Regular consumption of dates helps your body become more… regular if you know what I mean 😉 They are packed with fiber! And I don’t know about you, but I can use all the help I can get.
3. Dates are a great pick-me-up if you have low energy, and because they are low-glycemic your blood sugar won’t spike.
4. They improve your cardiac health and help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
5. Dates have a lot of Vitamin A which keeps your eyes healthy. They can even improve your night vision!
So the next time you are hangry or craving sugar, I would suggest you try snacking on the humble date.
