Getting your strength back after an illness takes time. Appetite is often poor, and a tired body does better with food that is soft, easy to swallow and gives some energy in a small portion. Dates, or kurma, fit that well. They are mostly natural sugar, so a few of them carry a fair amount of energy, and they turn soft and smooth with a little soaking or cooking. When preparing dates for the sick, how you prepare them matters as much as the fruit itself, so that a weak stomach can manage them.

What dates offer someone who is unwell

This article is general information, not medical advice. Anyone who is ill should follow the advice of their doctor, especially people with diabetes, kidney disease or a special hospital diet.
To choose a preparation, it helps to know what is in a date. 100 g of dates (about 4 Medjool or 14 Deglet Noor) has 277–282 kcal and 75 g of carbohydrate, mostly glucose, fructose and sucrose, according to USDA FoodData Central (Medjool, Deglet Noor). A 2011 study in Nutrition Journal measured low glycemic index values (about 46 to 55) for five date varieties, so the sugar is absorbed less sharply than pure glucose. The same 100 g has 656–696 mg of potassium, a mineral the NHS says helps control the balance of fluids in the body and helps the heart muscle work properly. Iron is modest, about 1 mg per 100 g against an adult need of 8.7–14.8 mg a day (NHS), so dates will not fix low iron on their own. There is also 6.7–8 g of fibre per 100 g. Dried fruit can cause wind (NHS), so for a sensitive stomach the preparation methods below matter. Ajwa dates, known in Malaysia as kurma Nabi Malaysia (Prophet’s dates), carry special meaning for many Muslims because of a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari 5445: “He who eats seven ‘Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them.” That is a matter of faith rather than medicine, and for a family caring for someone who is unwell it can be a comfort.

Preparation method I: date water or date milk

The first and arguably most gentle preparation method involves transforming the date into a liquid or semi-liquid form, which is crucial when a patient is struggling with appetite or digestion.

Date water (Nabidh)

A traditional method involves soaking dates overnight in plain water. This process softens the fruit considerably and lets some of its sugar dissolve into the water. The resulting liquid, often referred to as Nabidh in ancient traditions, is a mildly sweet drink, and it is an easy way to get someone who is unwell to take fluids. The dates themselves, now extremely soft, can be easily mashed and eaten separately or stirred back into the water.

Warm date milk

A more filling option is to blend soaked, pitted dates with warm milk (dairy or plant-based, depending on tolerance). Milk adds protein and calcium. Some people find a warm drink comforting with a sore throat, though the NHS itself suggests cool or soft foods and plenty of water, so let the patient choose the temperature. A pinch of turmeric or cardamom can be added for flavour. The key is to make the blend perfectly smooth, so it is effortless to drink.

Preparation method II: a soft, energy-dense paste

A paste suits a patient who needs more energy but cannot chew yet.

Plain date paste

To create a paste, dates are pitted and then boiled gently in a small amount of water until they are very soft. They are then blended or mashed into a smooth, thick consistency. This paste can be easily spread on soft toast, mixed into porridge, or simply given by the spoonful. It packs a lot of energy into a small amount and needs almost no chewing.

Date paste with nuts

For a patient ready for more substance, the date paste can be mixed with ground almonds or cashews (if there are no allergies). The nuts are typically soaked and then blended into the paste. This adds protein and fat, so the spread is more filling than dates alone. For those buying their dates from online sources, they might look for pre-pitted options to simplify this preparation, often found when searching for kurma online.

Preparation method III: softening whole dates

Once appetite comes back, a sore mouth or throat can still make chewy food hard. Whole dates can be softened first.

Soft stuffed dates

The standard, dried date can be too chewy and tough for someone with a dry mouth or who is generally weakened. The solution is to lightly steam or gently soak the dates in hot water for a few minutes to soften them significantly. Once soft, they can be pitted and stuffed with a soft, mild filling such as cream cheese or thick yogurt, which add some protein. A little honey works too. The NHS lists hot lemon and honey as something to try for a cough, while noting the evidence is limited and that honey is not suitable for babies under 1 year old. The small, soft “package” is an easy snack for someone whose appetite is only just coming back.

Date porridge

Porridge is soft and easy to eat. Dates can be cut into small, soft pieces and cooked directly into a simple rice or oatmeal porridge. The heat softens the dates completely and their sweetness flavours the meal, so no refined sugar is needed. The bowl combines starch from the oats or rice with the sugar and fibre of the dates.

Combining dates with other foods

Dates also mix well with other soft, nourishing foods, which helps when someone can only manage small amounts.

Date smoothie

A smoothie is a practical way to get food into someone who can only manage small volumes. Blend pitted dates with yogurt for protein, a banana for creaminess and a little ginger for flavour. A handful of spinach can go in too. Blending breaks the dates down completely, so there are no chewy pieces.

Dates with ghee

In traditional systems such as Ayurveda, dates are often combined with ghee (clarified butter). A small amount of date paste mixed with warm ghee is very rich in calories. That can be useful for someone who has lost weight during a long illness: for people at risk of malnutrition, the NHS says a dietitian may suggest snacking between meals and drinks that contain lots of calories. Ask the patient’s doctor or dietitian before using it as part of their plan.

Conclusion

Dates are a gentle, energy-dense food for someone who is recovering, and they carry cultural and religious meaning for many families. The useful part is in the preparation: turning dates for the sick from a dry, chewy fruit into something soft, such as a smooth milk, a paste or a spoonful in warm porridge. They are a supportive food, not a cure. If the patient has diabetes or kidney disease, note that dates are high in sugar and potassium, and people with kidney disease can develop high potassium levels (NHS), so check with their doctor first.

References

• USDA FoodData Central. Dates, medjool (FDC 168191).
• USDA FoodData Central. Dates, deglet noor (FDC 171726).
• Alkaabi JM et al. Glycemic indices of five varieties of dates in healthy and diabetic subjects. Nutr J 2011;10:59. PMID 21619670
• NHS. Vitamins and minerals: others (potassium).
• NHS. Vitamins and minerals: iron.
• NHS. Flatulence.
• NHS. Sore throat.
• NHS. Cough.
• NHS. Malnutrition: treatment.
• NHS. Chronic kidney disease: treatment.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 5445 (Book 70, Hadith 74), sunnah.com.