7 Amazing Prunes Benefits
Not a fan of prunes? You’re not alone. In the US, a research found women of ages 25-54 to react negatively to the idea of prunes, so the California Prune Board pressured the Food and Drug Administration to change the name of prunes to the more inviting ‘dried plums’. And it worked!
All crinkled and wrinkly, this unassuming fruit is surprisingly packed with fiber and a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, iron and retinol. ‘Prunes are rich in vitamin K and contain beta-carotene. Each prune (approx 9.5 g) offers about 23 kcal and 0.7 g of fiber.
An ounce (28g) can be added to smoothies or trail mixes to add to the fiber and antioxidant content’, says Dr. Rupali Datta, Chief Clinical Nutritionist, SmartCooky. Just one cup of prunes provides 87% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, more than 20% of most B vitamins, 8% of calcium and 27% of potassium.
Here’s a list of 7 benefits of prunes -
1. Improves Vision
Prunes are a great source of vitamin A, a vitamin that is essential for healthy vision. One prune delivers 3 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. People who are deficient in vitamin A are prone to night blindness, dry eyes, macular degeneration and cataracts.
2. Powerhouse of Antioxidants
Blueberries may be high on the antioxidant scale, but surprisingly prunes are even higher. A study conducted by researchers from Tufts University in Boston ranked prunes, or dried plums, as #1 food in terms of antioxidant capacity. Prunes contain manganese, iron and plant phenolics that function as antioxidants and help protect the cell membranes from free radical damage.
3. Heart Healthy
‘Prunes are high in potassium, an important mineral that ensures proper functioning of the heart and nerve response throughout the body’, says Dr. Adarsh Kumar, Internal Medicine, National Heart Institute. Daily intake of potassium helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of problems such as dizziness, heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
4. Relieves Constipation
Prunes have been sold as a popular digestive remedy for years together. And when it comes to laxatives, prunes are more effective than even psyllium, according to the April 2011 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Prunes help the body in digesting food properly, to relieve constipation and have regular bowel movement. This is because prunes are high in fiber and sorbitol.
Did you know that just 1 prune provides 3% of the recommended daily intake of fiber? Sorbitol, the natural sugar present in prunes, functions as a laxative because it pulls moisture into the digestive tract and facilitates bowel movements. Note: Do not eat too many prunes, as it can cause gastrointestinal distress due to excessive sorbitol and fiber.
5. Protection against Osteoporosis
A single serving of prunes (100 grams) fulfills the daily requirement for boron, and the potassium present in prunes helps support bone health. According to Florida State University, prunes may be able to reverse osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
For the study, postmenopausal women were asked to eat 100 grams of dried plums per day and as a result, they had improved bone formation markers after only three months, compared to a control group who were eating 75 grams of dried apples. Prunes also have anti-inflammatory properties and are highly recommended for people suffering from arthritis.
6. Promotes Hair Health
Iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, dryness and discoloration of hair. And prunes are great sources of iron, contributing to the overall health of your hair and offering countless benefits to it.
7. Great for Skin
The vitamins and minerals present in prunes help in maintaining healthy skin. This humble fruit also helps slow down the aging process and delays development of wrinkles. How’s that for sweet!
