India, Dec. 1 -- Dates have suddenly become the internet's favourite health snack, and the hype has taken over every corner of social media. From butter-filled dates to the viral peanut-butter-and-chocolate versions that some people insist taste like a Snickers bar, these small fruits have shot to health-food fame. Plenty of posts now claim that eating just two dates a day can steady blood sugar, improve digestion, and even lower cholesterol. But how much of that is actually true? Dietitians say the answer is a mix of benefits and a bit of caution.

According to Heidi Silver, PhD, RD, who heads the Vanderbilt Diet, Body Composition, and Human Metabolism Core, dates pack more nutrients than most people realise. She told Very Well Health th...