5 Health Benefits of Eating Plums
Updated: Mar. 31, 2021
This fruit is a sweet yet healthy way to satisfy your hunger.
1. Protect your heart
One medium-sized fresh plum contains 104 mg of potassium, a mineral that helps manage high blood pressure and reduce stroke risk. (Here are some other foods that help lower high blood pressure.) If that isn’t heartwarming enough, the reddish-blue pigment in some plums, called anthocyanins, may protect against cancer by mopping up harmful free radicals.
2. Keep your bowels regular
Dried plums, a.k.a. prunes, are a tried-and-true way to help your bowel do its work (each prune contains one gram of fibre). Eat them as is, or make a batch of softened prunes to keep in the fridge to have in trail mix. Tip: soak a few handfuls of prunes in freshly boiled water, cool and store in a covered jar in the fridge. (Learn more on how to boost your fibre intake.)
3. Lower blood sugar
According to the Dietitians of Canada, plums rank low on the glycemic index, which means eating them can help you control your blood sugar and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
4. Boost bone health
Researchers from Florida State and Oklahoma State universities tested two groups of postmenopausal women over the span of 12 months for bone density. One group ate 100 grams of prunes per day (about 10 prunes); the other ate 100 grams of dried apples. Both groups took calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The findings indicated that the prune group had substantially higher bone mineral density in the spine and forearms. Plus, don’t miss these healthy living tips to promote bone health.
5. Improve your memory
Did you know that eating three to four antioxidant-rich prunes a day can help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that affect your memory? Now that’s sharp snacking!
Next, try these expert-recommended memory strategies to strengthen your brain.
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