8 Reasons You’ll Never Overlook This Simple Fruit Again

Plums are a delicious low sugar, low calorie fruit that are brimming with health benefits you may have never even heard about until now. After bananas, they are next in line as one of the most cultivated fruits in the world. With over 140 different types of plums available, it is no surprise that the purple fruit is recognized by the Chinese as symbolizing good luck.

From warding off cancerous cells to helping build strong bones, the power of this simple fruit is undeniable. After checking out the following eight ways that plums can improve your health, you will certainly want to add them to your regular regimen.

1. They keep you regular

Most people know that the dried version of the plum, the prune, is an effective laxative that can keep your bowel movements on a regular schedule. With more than three times the amount of fiber required on a daily basis, prunes have been proven to be more effective in providing regularity to constipation sufferers than most over-the-counter remedies.

2. Keeps your bones strong

Oklahoma State University and Florida State University conducted tests on women who were postmenopausal. One group were given 100 grams of prunes each day, and the other group consumed the same amount in dried apples. Both groups of women were also administered calcium supplements and vitamin D. After one year, the group that was given the prunes had more density in the bone minerals in their forearms and spine than the group that was given the dried apples. With the flavonoids known as rutin and caffeic found in plums, this fruit is able to keep osteoporosis at bay in women who are postmenopausal. In addition, it has been found that plums are even able to return lost bone density that was compromised from the aging process.

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3. Helps ward off diabetes

While fresh ripe plums have a sweet taste, they are actually a low sugar fruit and have a low glycemic index. They can keep blood sugar levels low, which helps to reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The fruit has flavonoids that are able to protect patients from resistance to insulin. They also help to keep the body sensitive and responsive to insulin levels.

4. Work to keep your memory sharp

Plums are one of the leading fruits containing antioxidants and have even more than blueberries do. In addition, they have high levels of manganese and plant and iron phenolics. They may prevent dementia from occurring in elderly patients and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s in those who are suffering from it.

5. Help to manage blood pressure levels

Plums are rich in potassium, packing an impressive 113 mg per fruit. Potassium cuts down your chances of having a stroke by keeping your blood pressure under control. According to Dr. Adarsh Kumar, who is part of the internal medicine team at the National Heart Institute, the high level of potassium ensures that the nerve responses in the body and the heart itself function at optimum level. Eating dried plums keeps the blood flowing through the arteries, which reduces the chances of a number of disorders of the heart, including atherosclerosis and heart attacks.

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6. Strengthens the immune system

Along with their other impressive nutritional qualities, plums have a high level of vitamin C. This nutrient helps to build and maintain the body’s immune system, protecting it from a variety of colds and infections that affect so many people. A specific type of plum grown in Asia has properties that promote nitric oxide, which may prevent cancer cells from metastasizing.

7. Effective in treating breast cancer cells

Lab tests that were conducted at the Texas AgriLife Research Center found that when treated with the extracts from plums and peaches, breast cancer cells died off, leaving normal cells intact. The cells that were tested were extremely aggressive and were successfully destroyed by peaches in the Rich Lady variety and plums from the Black Splendor family. The center has been promising in its work with stone fruit and continues to make even more breakthroughs.

8. Keeps the nervous system running smoothly

Your nervous system basically is responsible for just about everything that operates in your body. Because plums are filled with vitamin B6, they contribute to keeping the nervous system running at its optimum level and help nerve signals to be transmitted smoothly. Another compound found in plums is tryptophan, an amino acid that assists in the production of serotonin and ultimately helps with concentration, sleep patterns, and appetite.

Finally, plums play a part in overseeing the normal growth of the brain, and they help in the creation of hormones that influence a person’s moods.

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.khanacademy.org

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