Plums Vs Prunes: Which Are Better?

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Dried Plums Are A Fiber Fiesta

Another major benefit of plums in both their fresh and dried forms is the abundance of fiber they contain. Fiber is essential for maintaining healthy digestion and bowel movements. Fiber, along with other beneficial compounds like sorbitol and isatin, can also reduce one’s risk for developing colon cancer. The high fiber content also improves the health of your gut microbiota, which is damaged in many people due to the overuse of antibiotics.

Here again, we see that plums in the dried form offer a much higher concentration of an essential nutrient than fresh ones. A single fresh plum offers just under one gram of fiber, and a one-cup serving of sliced plums contains approximately 2.3 grams. Not bad, but how do prunes compare? An equal portion of prunes offers a whopping 12 grams of fiber, a slam-dunk win for prunes!

Because of their considerable fiber content, dried plums have long been used a laxative. While they certainly are healthy, you shouldn’t gorge on them – it could be too much of a good thing, and you’ll be making some unwanted trips to the bathroom.

Dried plums make an excellent, mess-free snack to eat while hiking out on the trail, working in the office or just hanging out. Much like their smaller and more well-known cousin the raisin, dried plums are also very versatile. They can be used as an ingredient in baking, mixed in with yogurt or shakes or tossed into a salad.

In conclusion, the prune is an underrated superfood which you need to be eating more of. Pick some up today at your local health food store and see why dried plums might just be the new kale.

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.healwithfood.org

www.rethinkingcancer.org

www.nutritionfacts.org