Prunes its useful properties. Prunes - useful properties and contraindications. Is it possible to prunes while breastfeeding

Delicious prunes are popular due to their beneficial qualities and the universal combination with various products. On the basis of the fruits, pastries and decoctions are prepared, prunes are added to salads and second courses, and used externally as lotions. The product has other advantages, let's talk about them in more detail, consider the potential harm from taking.

Composition of prunes

Prunes are obtained by drying the fruits of the Italian Hungarian. Ultimately, we have a great opportunity to saturate the body with all the necessary nutrients.

Among the most beneficial vitamins, located in prunes, it is worth highlighting thiamine, pyridoxine, folic acid, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and other B-group vitamins. The fruits are also rich in gamma-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, nicotinic acid, alpha-tocopherol, biotin, alpha- and beta-carotene, vitamin K.

Speaking of accumulation minerals, when consuming 5-7 fruits per day, you will replenish the norm in calcium, silicon, chlorine, sodium and magnesium. Prunes also boast the content of potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, manganese, vanadium, boron, iron and aluminum.

A special place in the product is given to cobalt, iodine, molybdenum, zinc, rubidium, nickel. With all this the nutritional value 100 gr. fruits is quite low (compared to dates, for example). Calorie content is only 254 kcal. From 100 gr. over 57 gr. allocated to carbohydrates, 0.6 gr. - fats, 2.3 gr. - proteins.

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The benefits of prunes

Aronia plum has the highest antioxidant and tonic properties. The systematic intake of dried fruit increases efficiency and normalizes the psycho-emotional environment. This is made possible by the presence of the most valuable B vitamins. They soothe the body and improve sleep.
Prunes in without fail should be introduced into the diet of those who seek to lose weight. Despite the content of carbohydrates, protein and fat metabolism is normalized. Sugars are converted into energy, and not deposited as fat at the waist. Prunes increase metabolism and cleanse the intestines.
Traditional medicine has long recognized the fruits of chokeberry as powerful tool to cleanse the liver and restore its structure. With the help of decoctions based on dried fruits, the outflow of bile is stimulated, the load on the filtering organ is reduced.
Prunes contribute to rapid improvement general condition health. Dried fruits must be taken with you on the road or to work in order to satisfy a sharply raging hunger. In this case, harm to the figure or stomach will not be done. Fruits better than cookies or fruits saturate the body.
Prunes are indispensable for categories of people who spend a lot of time behind a PC or driving. Beta- and alpha-carotene improve perception and concentration, and are required for eye health. Prunes are a must for people with low vision.
Another benefit of plum fruits is to improve intestinal motility and normalize its microflora. The composition contains dietary fiber that cleans the esophagus and prevents food from fermenting in it. Reduces the frequency of constipation and bloating.
Even with obesity, doctors are allowed to include fruits on the menu to make up for the deficiency of nutrients. You should not pay special attention to the accumulation of saccharides, they are in the correct form. But people with diabetes should be careful, you need to consult a doctor.
Decoctions based on prunes are necessary to cleanse the body of strong slagging and toxic substances. Such drinks have a positive effect on the composition of the blood, improve blood flow and open the channels, and also cleanse them of cholesterol.
If you have disorders in the work of the heart muscle, the product must be included in the diet. And it is not necessary to use it on its own. Add prunes to salads, main dishes, teas.
Of course, it was not without the most valuable qualities of dried fruit for hypertensive patients. Due to the mild diuretic effect, plum fruits lower blood pressure. Also normalizes intracranial pressure, which leads to the elimination of frequent headaches and throbbing in the temples.
Prunes are good for oral cavity. Due to its bactericidal properties, the product kills pathogenic microorganisms, prevents the appearance of caries and stomatitis, strengthens tooth enamel. Aronia fruits are necessary to prevent the reproduction of staphylococcus aureus, salmonella and E. coli.
Because of the special color, the dried fruit is called the “black healer”. It is indicated for liver diseases, osteoporosis, fallen vision, gastrointestinal problems, rheumatism, varicose veins veins and atherosclerosis. In all these cases, prunes have a powerful therapeutic result.
Healers of traditional medicine advise preparing an infusion for the treatment of bronchitis from grated fruits of prunes and vodka. After insisting, such a remedy is taken in a teaspoon three times a day. This helps to clear mucus from the airways.

The benefits of prunes for women

Dried fruits should be introduced into the diet of girls who experience pain during menstrual cycle. Prunes eliminate spasms, normalize the abundance of secretions, replenish iron deficiency, eliminating dizziness and lethargy.
Not without benefits for women in the climatic period. Prunes reduce the number of hot flashes, make up for the lack of vitamin D and calcium, thereby preventing osteoporosis.
Ladies during pregnancy, dried fruit is indicated for use to suppress anemia and its consequences. The fruits of the chokeberry plum are necessary for the correct formation of the central nervous system of the child.
Dried fruit is used by women for weight loss, because it has the ability to increase metabolism and start the breakdown of fat. Weight loss is achieved by cleansing the intestines and removing excess fluid.
It is important for girls and women to always look well-groomed. Prunes do an excellent job with this task. It supports the beauty and health of hair, skin, teeth, nails.

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The benefits of prunes for pregnant women

Any dried fruit has a valuable niche of beneficial enzymes for human body. Prunes are among such products. Active substances needed by the fair sex during gestation.
An abundance of B vitamins is necessary for quick recovery activities nervous system. Prunes significantly improves mood, prevents panic attacks and depressive states.
The presence of ascorbic acid allows a pregnant girl to protect herself from seasonal viruses. Tocopherol has a positive effect on the tone of muscle tissue. The enzyme also improves hormonal levels.
Vitamin K is necessary for the formation of bones in the baby. With the help of an enzyme, protein is synthesized correctly in the body. The abundance of iron in the product helps to avoid the development of anemia. The mineral has a positive effect on blood formation.
Prunes are famous for wealth folic acid, the substance is necessary for the formation of the nervous system of the baby. Silicon synthesizes collagen in the body. The substance prevents the development of rickets in a child.
The only condition is the normalized eating of prunes. In case of non-compliance with the prescribed norm, the level of sugar in the blood and urine can jump. The risk of obesity and rashes on the skin increases.

The benefits of prunes for weight loss

The systematic consumption of dried fruit can reduce the amount bad cholesterol. Prunes have shown themselves well in the fight against harmful deposits.
In addition, the product produces a soft laxative effect, removing all the muck from the body. The result is a natural weight loss.
The undoubted advantage of the product is the low glycemic index. As a result, eaten prunes will give a feeling of satiety for a long time. The fruits have enough dietary fiber, due to which the filling of the stomach is felt.
Prunes will be a good alternative to snacks during snacks. You need to exclude fast food and all kinds of sandwiches. Dried fruit is useful in that it does not contain saturated fats, due to which obesity and heart pathologies develop.
The sweetness of the product is achieved by the presence of natural sugars. Therefore, during weight loss, you can replace all kinds of harmful delicacies with natural dried fruit. It is enough to eat about 3 fruits to satisfy your desire.
Observations have confirmed the fact that prunes are an excellent antidepressant. Systematic eating of the product allows you to have a stable mood. This may affect the effectiveness of weight loss.
Weight loss with the inclusion of prunes in the diet will help improve the psycho-emotional background and increase brain activity. The product saturates the body with the necessary enzymes. Also, you are not threatened with vitamin deficiency.
The active substances in the raw materials stop premature aging. Prunes increase skin elasticity, flabbiness gradually disappears, wrinkles and creases are smoothed out.
The abundance of potassium in prunes helps to avoid cardiovascular diseases and strengthen muscle tissue. Do not forget that the timely intake of dried fruit improves metabolism and prevents constipation.
Nutritionists recommend combining prunes with homemade yogurt. Such a duet allows you to lose weight as much as possible short time without harm to the body. Together, the products have a positive effect on the activity of the digestive tract.
During the diet, replace 1 meal with a glass of low-fat kefir or yogurt with 4 dried fruits. You can pass the product through a blender and enjoy a healthy cocktail.

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Harm of prunes

It is not recommended to eat prunes with diabetes. Dried fruit can cause a sharp jump in blood glucose levels.
It is forbidden to include raw materials in the daily diet for obesity. Abuse of the product provokes complications.
If you suffer from prolonged diarrhea, prunes are contraindicated for a while.

Undoubtedly, prunes can be categorized useful products, which should be included in the daily diet in the absence of contraindications. The only condition remains that you need to comply with the daily rate of dried fruit.

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Video: 10 reasons to love prunes

The benefit-to-harm ratio of prunes is very similar to the qualities of other dried fruits. On the one hand, dried fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. And it's useful. And, on the other hand, prunes have enough high calorie content, it has a lot of sugars, from which they get fat. And the laxative activity of dried plums may not be to everyone's liking.

Compound

The calorie content of prunes per 100 grams is 240 kcal. This product contains:

7.1 g fiber, which corresponds to 28% daily allowance;
100% daily dose boron;
74% vitamin K;
21% potassium;
16% vitamin A;
15% manganese;
14% copper;
11% vitamin B2;
10% magnesium and vitamin B6;
9% niacin.

Dried plums also contain:

vitamins B1, E, pantothenic acid;
trace elements iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc.

Useful properties of prunes for the human body determines a large number of antioxidants, mainly of the polyphenolic group (cryptoxanthin, lutein, etc.). The ORAC index, which reflects the strength of the antioxidant activity of the product, is very high in dried plums. It is 5770 units per 100 grams. And surpasses blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and many other fruits that are famous for their ability to destroy free radicals.

Beneficial features

The general and most universal explanation of why prunes are useful sounds like this - it cleans from a lot of severe ailments. And from atherosclerosis, and from cancer, and from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, etc. Such a beneficial effect is associated with the presence of a large amount of antioxidants in dried plums, which destroy free radicals and fight against chronic inflammation, that is, eliminate the main causes of deadly diseases.

Impact on weight loss

The effect of prunes on weight loss coincides with the harmful and beneficial effects of dried apricots on the weight loss process.

The therapeutic effects of the product include:

its ability to saturate the body with plant fiber, which is absolutely necessary for normalizing weight;
positive effect on the composition of the intestinal microflora (in people with overweight the intestinal biocenosis is always “sick”, and violations of its composition stimulate further weight gain);
antioxidant properties (according to current scientific information, obesity is directly related to the presence in the body of sluggish inflammatory processes often go unnoticed).

Still, prunes for weight loss are not as useful as they might seem. And all because it has properties that encourage weight gain, and do not help get rid of it.

High fructose content. Just one medium-sized piece contains 1.2 grams of this carbohydrate. Fructose makes you fat. Fast and significant. Since the metabolism of this sugar is such that it all enters the liver, where it turns into fat.
The urge to eat is sweet. Although prunes are high in fiber, which usually suppresses appetite, this dried fruit can increase the desire to eat sweets. This feature is associated with the intensely sweet taste of the product, which affects the brain in such a way that a person wants to eat all the time. And not just eat, but eat sweet foods. Giving up sugar in such a situation is usually unattainable.
Prunes provide the body with a huge boost of energy. If a person at the same time actively moves and eats little, then such an influence is certainly useful. But if he leads sedentary image life with constant snacking, the energy charge of dried fruit leads to weight gain. After all, a person introduces much more energy into himself than he burns. And she remains inside him in reserve, that is, it is transformed into fat.

Since the dried fruit has both beneficial and harmful properties for weight loss, you can eat prunes for weight loss, but very little. Moreover, many of their beneficial features, for example, the ability to destroy free radicals, dried plums have only when they are eaten a little. Since the abundant inclusion of the product in the diet loads the body not only with antioxidants, it also contains sugars, which negate all the positive effects of the medicinal components of the meal.

There is no medically correct prune diet. Just as there are no other strict dietary approaches that offer to lose weight by including one food in the diet at the expense of all others. That means you can lose weight. You may even start to starve. But you won’t be able to achieve any health benefits or sustainable weight loss in this way.

However, dried plums are still more suitable for weight loss than other dried fruits, such as dried apricots or dried figs. This is due to the presence in them of the substance sorbitol, which suppresses appetite.

How to include in the diet?

The first and most important rule is to eat a little.
Do not add to foods rich in easily digestible carbohydrates: quick cereals, honey, pastries, etc.
Eat instead of food, that is, as a full-fledged snack, and not for dessert after a big meal (lunch, dinner).
Consume with healthy fats and proteins, which are good sources of natural dairy products and nuts. Just be careful: a nutty snack, supplemented with prunes, gives the body a lot of calories and a lot of energy. All of them must be burned, otherwise they will turn into fat.
It is useful to add prunes to the lungs vegetable salads, which may also contain sources of protein, such as chicken. But put dried plums in fruit salads undesirable, since they lack fructose even without this ingredient, the excess of which is harmful to the body. Here you will find a selection of 9 prunes and chicken salads that will help you properly include this product in your diet.
Dried plums are not recommended before training if you are training only to lose weight. Since it can slow down the burning of body fat. And, on the contrary, it is useful to eat them before classes for those people who dream of sporting achievements, and not about weight loss.
No need to invent special ways inclusion of a product in the menu, for example, take kefir with prunes at night supposedly for weight loss. There is nothing harmful in this drink. And if you like it, you can use it as a healthy snack, at least at night, at least for an afternoon snack. Just do not attribute any unusual fat-burning properties to it. He does not have them.

How much can you eat per day?

There are no clearly defined rules that would say how much prunes you can eat per day. Since this is a common food product, not a drug.

However, nutritionists still call the recommended amount. This is 10-12 things per day, divided into several doses.

It is this amount of dried plums that contains the amount of fructose that is safe for most people, including those who need to lose weight. As well as those amounts of vegetable fiber and sorbitol that makes prunes useful for cleansing the intestines, but do not cause diarrhea.

How to take prunes for constipation in children and adults?

Usually, prunes are taken as a laxative in the form of a so-called juice, or infusion. Do it like this:

take a glass of dried fruits and pour boiled water so that all dried plums are completely covered with liquid;
close the container with a lid and leave at room temperature for 12-24 hours;
then prunes are crushed with a blender in the water in which they were infused;
filter through a sieve;
bring the volume of boiled water to one liter.

If you use such an infusion of prunes for constipation to treat babies, then give it 60 ml each ( maximum dose 120 ml).
Older children and adults should take from 120 to 250 ml of "juice".

However, prunes for the intestines are useful not only in the form of an infusion, but also as a whole. So, if you are too lazy to prepare "juice", you can just eat a few pieces of dried plums daily. This will help normalize bowel movements.

How to choose?

In order for prunes to have the maximum of useful properties, it is important to know how to choose them.

Not worth buying

dried brown plums, as they were most likely scalded with boiling water;
dark gray prunes, especially those that shine brightly (such appearance indicates treatment with glycerin).

You need to take a dried fruit of a matte black color, wrinkled and without shine.

You also need to pay attention to the smell of dried fruit. It should not resemble gasoline fumes or campfire smoke.

But white plaque on prunes, you should not be afraid. It usually looks like dried fructose, which can come to the surface.

By the way, you can dry the plums yourself. How prunes are made at home in a conventional oven, you can see in the video.

Be careful. Today, on the Internet, you can find recipes for making dried plums at home, which advise you to cover them with sugar. Of course, nothing prevents you from preparing such a dessert. Just do not call it "prune" and believe that it brings health at least some benefit.

How to store?

At home, prunes can be stored:

at room temperature in a cabinet away from the battery, in a closed glass jar or plastic container;
in the refrigerator (also closed jar or container)
in the freezer (in a plastic container or a special freezer bag).

Should I wash?

Of course, if you did not dry the plums yourself, washing them first.

Wash prunes before use as follows:

put in a sieve and washed under running water;
then placed in a bowl and poured with water at room temperature for 10-15 minutes;
then rinse again under running water.

Never pour dried fruit with boiling water. It will ruin a lot of it useful compounds.

Contraindications and side effects

Strict contraindication for the consumption of prunes is an allergy to plums, which is rare.
side effects from the use of dried plums in excess of 10-12 pieces per day unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract: pain in the abdominal region, flatulence, diarrhea.
Prunes weaken, not strengthen. And yet it can lead to constipation. It has been established that with its regular use by people who have long suffered from chronic constipation, there may be a dependence on the product, similar to dependence on stable drugs. That is, without taking dried fruit, there will be no urge to defecate.
Prunes for gastritis are prohibited in the acute phase of the disease. During the period of remission, you can eat it, but also carefully. Since it is quite difficult to digest and has a high acidity. The same rules apply to diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis.

Is it okay to eat with diabetes?

Glycemic index prunes 29. Therefore, it can be eaten with diabetes 2nd type.

But you should remember the high content of fructose - a substance that does not instantly raise blood sugar, but when massively included in the diet, it aggravates the course of diabetes. Remember and limit the number of dried plums to 5-6 pieces per day.

Can it be used during pregnancy?

Prunes during pregnancy helps to cope with constipation, strengthens the immune system and bone tissue helps prevent anemia.

However, it is especially important for pregnant women to observe the dosage.

It is advisable to use not 10-12, but 5-6 pieces per day.

Such a restriction will help to avoid the development of diarrhea, which is especially dangerous for women in position, as it leads to dehydration. It also protects against weight gain.

Is it possible to prunes while breastfeeding?

During lactation, many women suffer from constipation, and therefore laxative dried fruit is useful for them.

An allergy to prunes in infants is rare. However, you need to be careful when starting to introduce this dried fruit into your diet while on guard. Eat one first. Carefully watch the reaction of the little one. And only then increase the dose.

When using dried plums in a small amount(5-6 pieces a day), the baby should not have colic.

Some nursing mothers rely on the fact that if they eat prunes, this will relieve their crumbs of constipation. This will not happen. An infusion of dried fruit must be given to the child himself, but not earlier than at 6 months.

Useful properties of prunes and its possible harm: conclusions

Dried plums are rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and plant fiber.

Due to the presence of these substances, dried fruit improves digestion, strengthens bone tissue, protects against anemia and heart disease.

Prunes have a high absorption capacity free radicals. And therefore, it saves a person from many serious ailments, since the basis of all these ailments is the detrimental effect on cells of free radicals.

However, dried plums also have negative qualities, mainly related to large quantity sugars in it.

Optimal dose dried fruit per day is 5-6 pieces, the maximum is 10-12.

RELATED MATERIALS

Dried fruits are highly valued for their nutritional value and good taste, but not all types bring the same benefits to the body. Prunes are one of the few products that have been used in medicinal purposes. The benefits of prunes for the body are enormous, dried fruit helps to get rid of various health problems, while it is affordable, tastes good. Almost everyone can use natural medicine, but in some cases it can be harmful.

The benefits and uses of prunes
Treatment of constipation with prunes
The use of prunes during pregnancy
The benefits of dried plums for weight loss and cleansing
Unloading day on prunes

The benefits of dried plums for children The harm of prunes. Contraindications for use nutritional value prunes How to choose healthy prunes

The benefits and uses of prunes

Prunes are dried plum fruits. Despite this, these products work in completely different ways. The concentration of vitamins, trace elements and fiber in prunes is much higher, so it is much more convenient to use it for medicinal purposes.

The benefit of prunes lies mainly in its ability to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, but for other organs and systems it is obvious:

Relieves constipation. To solve delicate problems, prunes have been used since ancient times, it is a laxative of medium strength, it is used in doses.
Prunes are useful for atherosclerosis, hypertension, due to the high content of potassium salts.
It has a diuretic effect, helps to cope even with severe edema, improves kidney function, promotes the removal of toxins from the body.
Prunes are rich in vitamin A, which has a positive effect on vision. The use of the product is shown to people who spend a lot of time at the computer or surgical operation on the eyes.

The use of prunes in food helps to cope with a breakdown, raise vitality, improve performance. The product, rich in antioxidants, fights free radicals, slows down cell aging and rejuvenates the body.

Treatment of constipation with prunes

Prunes - natural and effective remedy for the treatment of constipation. The product has a pronounced laxative effect, contains a large amount of fiber, so it easily copes with a delicate problem.

Prunes are used for constipation in several ways:

In the form of an infusion. To prepare a drink, 100 g of dried plums are placed in a thermos, pour 400 ml of boiling water, insist 5 hours, you can leave it overnight. The prepared infusion is drunk before meals in several doses, fruits are eaten.
In the form of a decoction. If there is no time to wait for the infusion, you can boil the washed prunes in boiling water, drink it warm.
With kefir. For a glass of fermented milk drink, 5-6 pieces of prunes are used. You can eat fruits and drink kefir. Or cut prunes, mix with fermented milk drink and so eat. It will turn out very tasty and healthy yogurt.

If constipation lasts for more than 5 days, dried plums alone may not be able to cope. In this case, it is recommended to add laxative herbs, such as senna.

Recipe for constipation with hay

Compound:
Prunes - 100 g
Senna grass - 2 tsp
600 ml water

Application:
Prunes need to be washed, cut, put into a saucepan, add pharmaceutical herb senna. Pour all this with boiling water, cover, wrap in a towel, leave for 2-3 hours. Take 3-5 teaspoons every hour until the result is achieved.

Note: No scales? On average, one prunes weighs 8-10 g, that is, for 100 g you need to take 10-14 pieces of medium size and moderate humidity.

Video: How it works: interesting about prunes

The use of prunes during pregnancy

It is possible to introduce prunes into the diet of pregnant women. The product will have a positive effect on the body of the expectant mother, improve digestion, raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood, and help cope with constipation. A delicate problem often accompanies pregnant women in the last trimester.

It is worth remembering that dried fruit has a high calorie content and high sugar content, so you should not eat the product in large quantities. The benefits and harms of prunes directly depend on the amount eaten. Excessive consumption leads to large weight gain, sharp increase blood sugar levels, to stool disorder. A contraindication is also pregnancy diabetes, individual intolerance to the product.

The benefits of dried plums for weight loss and cleansing

The energy value of dried plums is 256 kcal. Approximately 57 g are sugars. The product is high-calorie, but this does not prevent it from being used for weight loss. Possessing choleretic, diuretic and laxative effects, it helps to cleanse the intestines from fecal deposits, remove excess water from the body, due to which several kilograms are lost.

Rules for the use of prunes for weight loss:

the daily norm of the product should not exceed 100 g;
it is desirable to use dried fruit in the morning;
you can not combine the use of prunes and other laxatives.

Dried fruit is allowed to be consumed before or after meals, added to salads, cereals, drinks. It can be used as a treat that will help suppress sugar cravings and prevent diet breakdown.

Interesting: Natural sweets are prepared from prunes. It is enough to soak the product in warm water, chop, mix with chopped nuts, honey, seeds, other dried fruits. Candies are formed from the resulting mass and cooled.

Unloading day on prunes

To cleanse the body, you can spend a fasting day. With its help, they get rid of 1-2 kg of excess weight, which occurs due to the cleansing of the body. On this day, it is not recommended to leave the house, it is also worth abandoning excessive physical activity And be sure to drink more fluids.

For unloading, you will need 25-30 pieces of prunes and pure water, herbal decoctions, unsweetened tea. Every 2 hours you need to eat 3-4 pieces of steamed fruit, drinking plenty of water. In total, at least 3 liters are drunk during the day. If by the evening you feel a strong hunger, it is allowed to use a glass of kefir or unsweetened yogurt.

Benefits of Dried Plums for Children

Prunes are introduced into the diet of a child in the first year of life, often this is done to normalize the stool. Puree can be used as the first complementary food. In this case, it is desirable to give preference to an industrial product that meets the needs child's body and undergone the necessary processing.

At home, a decoction is prepared for the child from dried fruits. It is important to pay Special attention the quality of raw materials, thoroughly wash it, soak it, heat it. Children of the second year of life and older can add the product to cereals, desserts, casseroles.

Harm of prunes. Contraindications for use

Any product can cause harm to the body if it is not suitable, used incorrectly or in unlimited quantities. Absolute contraindications to the use of prunes are:

stool disorders, diarrhea;
diabetes;
individual intolerance;
kidney disease.

Limit the use of dried fruit for obesity due to its high calorie content, reducing the amount of the product to 50 g per day. With caution and only if necessary, they are introduced into the diet of women during lactation, since prunes can cause diarrhea in an infant.

The nutritional value of prunes

100 g of dried prunes contain 56.9 g of sugars, which is 114% of the recommended daily requirement of the body. Nevertheless, the product helps to lose weight, cleanse the intestines, feel light and cheerful. And all thanks to the high content of coarse fiber and potassium.

Vitamin and mineral content table (per 100 g)

Video: The benefits of prunes and plums in the Living Healthy program

How to choose healthy prunes

For the manufacture of real prunes, dried plum fruits of the Hungarian variety are used. Depending on the degree of maturity, the place of growth and the accuracy of the technology, the appearance, taste of the final product and the amount of sugars, calorie content may differ.

The main features of quality prunes:

black color without red patches;
shiny, smooth, hard skin;
elastic pulp, when pressed, the fossa does not remain.

Dried fruit keeps well in airtight jars or containers at room temperature. It has high humidity and is prone to mold. Such prunes are desirable to decompose into small containers, close and store on the shelf of the refrigerator.

Dried fruits and, in particular, prunes stand out as a separate link in the human diet. This dried delicacy has a pleasant taste and can be used to promote health. Fans of such a product should know what the benefits and harms of prunes for the body are, as well as to whom it is indicated and to whom it is prohibited.

Prunes: chemical composition and calorie content

Prunes have a fairly high energy value - 264 kcal for every hundred grams.

The chemical composition includes:

fats - 0.7 g,
proteins - 2.3 g,
carbohydrates - 57.5 g.

Also, the composition of dried fruit includes a whole bunch of useful substances, vitamins and minerals:

Sahara;
pectins;
cellulose;
organic acids;
vitamins A, B, C, PP;
sodium;
iron;
phosphorus;
potassium.
sucrose;
glucose;
fructose.

Useful properties for the human body

What is useful prunes? The fetus has a positive effect on all body systems:

Cleanses the intestines from toxins and toxins.
It is considered a good prevention of constipation.
Promotes natural weight loss.
It has a cleansing effect on blood vessels.
Resists free radicals, reducing the risk of cancer.
Improves blood circulation.
Renders antibacterial action(suppresses the activity of harmful microorganisms: E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus aureus).
Serves for the prevention of dental diseases.
It has a beneficial effect on the quality of vision due to the content of carotene in its composition.
Helps improve performance.
Has a tonic effect.
It has a mild diuretic effect.

Treatment of constipation with prunes

The beneficial properties of prunes are relevant in the fight against such unpleasant phenomena as constipation. If this condition is not caused by serious pathologies, then traditional medicine recipes can be used to eliminate it.

Tea with prunes against constipation. Cooking steps:

Pour boiling water over several fruits.
Let them brew for at least 5 hours (best left overnight).
Take the infusion throughout the day in small portions.

Advice. Take this decoction should not be more than 2 times a week. Those who do not like prune fruits can remove them from the decoction and take only the liquid.

There is another option for using prunes for constipation (for those who value time and do not want to spend it brewing dried fruits).

It is enough to take 5 ripe prunes, chew them thoroughly and drink clean boiled water.
After 3-4 hours, the process should be repeated.
Relief, as a rule, occurs on the same day. It is necessary to carry out such a procedure on an empty stomach.

How to lose weight with prunes

Can prunes be used for weight loss? Of course, because the components in its composition help to quickly reset overweight without debilitating diets.

The main "weight loss" benefits of prunes are as follows:

Normalization of blood sugar levels. Despite the high calorie content, the fruit has a low glycemic index - only 29 units. This is almost 2.5 times less than that of sugar. Thus, prunes are also suitable for diabetics.
Reduces cholesterol levels.
Gives a feeling of satiety, dulling hunger. The fiber in the composition of the fruit fills the stomach, temporarily discouraging the desire to have a bite.
Counts good antidepressant. Good mood= successful diet. Prunes guarantee a charge of vivacity and optimism, improve mental and emotional state.
Cleanses the intestines. A diet rich in fiber is considered more effective.
Provides the body with everything essential substances. Dried fruit retains all the properties of a ripe plum and provides the systems with everything essential vitamins and minerals. In addition, this delicacy is very tasty.

The combination of prunes + kefir has excellent "weight loss" properties. For the sake of experiment, you can try replacing dinner or breakfast with these tandems. Cut 5 prunes (or chop in a blender) and mix with a glass of kefir. Such a cocktail will not only help you lose weight, but also prevent possible constipation.

Advice. When buying kefir, you should pay attention to the production time, since the laxative effect directly depends on its “age”.

A product older than 2 days, on the contrary, is able to have a fixing effect. In this case, it remains only to guess who will win - laxative prunes or fixing kefir.

The use of dried fruit during pregnancy

What is useful prunes during pregnancy? The fetus has a beneficial effect on the body of expectant mothers due to the following properties:

Improves the complexion, revitalizing the skin.
Eliminates constipation - frequent companions of pregnant women.
Normalizes the water balance in the body future mother.
Has a choleretic effect.

And although this dried fruit has practically no contraindications for women in position, when using it, you should follow some recommendations:

Do not use prunes often and uncontrollably. Pregnant women suffering from diabetes mellitus should be especially careful when taking the fetus.
To reduce the risk of possible allergies, you need to carefully choose prunes. The fruits should be sweet, with a slight sourness, without bitterness and fairly firm.

Dried prunes: benefits and harms

Such dried fruits are valued for their multiple positive qualities:

Stabilize pressure.
Fight oral infections.
Relevant in the early stages of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Helps to eliminate pathologies of the liver and kidneys.
Increase performance.
Rejuvenate body cells.
Improve eyesight.
They have a powerful antibacterial effect, not inferior to medications.

Attention! All listed qualities refer exclusively to natural, chemical-free fruits.

For a long time, plums were dried directly in the sun, and only in the 30s of the last century, mechanical dehydration began to be used.

As a rule, only ripe, fleshy fruits are dried with a sugar content of at least 10%, and acids - no more than 1.2%.

Drying prunes at home:

Plums carefully sort, rinse and blanch.
Arrange the fruit on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
It is necessary to dry the raw materials for at least 4 hours at a temperature of 100 degrees, but it needs to cool much longer - 6 - 8 hours.
After drying, the future prunes must be placed again in the oven, preheated to 80 degrees. At this temperature, the hearths are dried for 6 hours, after which they are cooled for another 3 hours.
It remains to heat the oven again to 100 degrees, place the plums there and hold for 30 minutes.
Prunes are ready. You just need to transfer it to a suitable storage container.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of prunes are few.

So, the fruits should not be introduced into the diet (or strictly limited):

patients with diabetes;
nursing mothers (can provoke colic and indigestion in the baby);
people suffering from obesity.

Prunes are a universal delicacy that combines a pleasant taste and invaluable benefits for the body. With a relatively small number of contraindications, these fruits are suitable for people suffering from constipation and those who want to lose weight. Dried plums are also useful for those who just like to enjoy healthy sweets.

Prunes - the same plum (Hungarian or renklod), but in dried form. It is the most popular dried fruit known. Already from the age of six months, it is recommended to use prunes, the beneficial properties and wonderful taste of which have made it a universal product. And not only in cooking.

Characteristics of prunes

The energy value

By energy value(calorie content) prunes lead among most fresh fruits. But he wins comparison with such "healthy sweets" as honey, marshmallow, marshmallows. It has less than 100 kcal. Therefore, dried plums are often used as a substitute for sweets to reduce weight.

100 g of prunes contains about 250 kcal. Picture of its energy value:

2.3 g proteins (approximately 9 kcal),
0.7 g fat (6 kcal),
57.5 g of carbohydrates (230 kcal).

About the nutritional value of prunes

For 100 g of the product, the nutritional value is distributed as follows (in grams):

saccharides (glucose, fructose, sucrose) - 56.9,
water - 25,
dietary fiber - 9,
organic acids (malic, oxalic, citric) - 3.5,
starch - 0.6,
fatty saturated and unsaturated acids- by 0.1.

Vitamins (in mg):

C - 3,
E - 1.8,
RR - 1.7,
B2 - 0.1,
beta-carotene - 0.06,
B1 - 00.2,
A - 10 mcg.

Minerals (in mg):

potassium - 864,
magnesium - 102,
phosphorus - 83,
calcium - 80,
sodium - 10,
iron - 3,
zinc - 0.54,
copper - 424 mcg,
selenium - 2.3 mcg.

The composition of the berry contains nitrogenous and tannic substances, as well as other ingredients vital for the body.

Method for obtaining prunes

To obtain high-quality prunes, juicy and ripe fruits are selected. Then they are subjected to:

blanching in boiling water
cooling in running water,
steam dry.

As a result, its beneficial properties are fully preserved.

To obtain 1 kg of prunes, 5 kg of black plums are used. Its production is widespread in the countries where this berry grows. These include America, Argentina, France. The highest quality and most expensive prunes from California (USA).

Prunes properties

Prunes, the benefits and harms of which are well known, can be used as effectively as possible for medicinal purposes.

The effect of prunes on human health

It is very important that dried plum retains all the useful components that are rich in fresh berry. Prunes inhibit the growth of disease-causing microbes such as salmonella and E. coli. The presence of pectin cleanses blood vessels from cholesterol plaques and gets the job done digestive system. Antioxidants suppress free radicals that damage the body. This explains the anti-aging effect of the berry and its ability to participate in the prevention of cancer.

Vitamin A improves vision and skin condition. The choleretic and diuretic effect of prunes is to normalize metabolism. It is beneficial in kidney diseases, gout, rheumatism, psoriasis. Prunes give a good effect on thrombophlebitis, as it helps to reduce blood clotting. The high calorie content of the product gives the body a lot of energy.

Prunes are especially useful for pregnant women who are prone to constipation or have difficulty with bowel activity. The presence of B vitamins in the berries has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system. This effect is expressed in reducing anxiety, preventing stress. Potassium provides powerful support to the heart: it is 1.5 times more in prunes than in (a recognized source of potassium).

Addressing Specific Health Problems

Official medicine recognizes the beneficial properties of prunes for human health. The variety of its beneficial effects is striking:

gently cleanses the body of toxins,
relieves constipation,
helps with diseases of the oral cavity, having a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms, protects against caries,
improves blood circulation,
brings blood pressure back to normal levels
strengthens the heart muscle (due to the presence of potassium),
(action of iron),
helps fight cancer (due to the content of phytonutrients),
increases performance,
rejuvenates the body (due to antioxidants),
fights vitamin deficiency
improves memory,
increases the potency
cleanses the skin.

Risk group

In spite of obvious benefit prunes, it has contraindications. Eating dried fruit can lead to problems with:

overweight,
diabetes,
product allergies,
breastfeeding (so as not to cause stomach upset baby); starting from six months, the baby can be given prunes compote.

Also, you should not get carried away with prunes for people suffering from chronic ailments of the liver and stomach.

Some people suffer from flatulence and bloating after eating prunes. This is due to the combination of dietary fiber with fructose. This phenomenon is recognized as individual intolerance, which is the reason for the exclusion of the product from the diet. In addition, prunes are often processed by chemical means which makes it simply harmful. Thus, it is not superfluous to know that prunes (the benefits and harms from it) do not always manifest themselves in the same way, although the benefits outweigh many times over.

Good selection of prunes

To bring dried fruit maximum benefit, you need to select high-quality berries with skill.

Definition of this product

Distinctive features of good prunes:

whole, fleshy and slightly soft fruits,
absence of rot and mold,
black color,
sweet taste with a little sourness (such berries contain a maximum of vitamin C),
lack of bitterness.

Pitted dried prunes retain more useful components. To check the quality of prunes, you need to soak it for 30 minutes. Real prunes will turn white in some places. Treated will retain a uniform color.

Purchased prunes must be scalded with boiling water. Then, after soaking, rinse in running water. Dried berries do not tolerate moisture. It is better to store them in a glass jar, paper bag or plastic container. The container must be kept in the refrigerator.

Signs of harmful processing of dried fruit

The shiny, dark gray color of the prunes (the fruit looks “fatty”) indicates its treatment with glycerin. It is made to improve the presentation of dried fruit. It can also shine after treatment with an unknown fat. Often sellers smear dried fruit vegetable oil for shine. But this method of processing promotes the growth of bacteria.

The coffee shade of prunes appears after it is scalded with boiling water. AT best case, there are practically no vitamins left in it. Manufacturers perform this “operation” to disinfect dried fruit and extend its shelf life. Brown tint is not the only drawback of this treatment. The berry is also bitter in taste.

The most harmful processing- sulfur dioxide (E220), which is a toxic inorganic compound that kills bacteria. Such fruits of insects do not attract. In the human body Chemical substance irritates the mucous membranes of the digestive system. This type of processing preserves the original color of the dried fruit. With natural drying, the berries necessarily darken.

Scopes of prunes

Features of the use of prunes in cooking

Cooks are very fond of this product, as it gives a unique taste to completely different dishes. It is used both independently and as part of a variety of drinks and dishes. A compote or a meat dish is simply impossible to imagine without it. Prunes added to pilaf increase the calorie content of this dish and give it a piquant taste. It goes well with any meat - beef, chicken.

the most delicious meat dish counts domestic duck. It is stuffed with apples and prunes and cooked in the oven. This dish will decorate any festive table. This dried fruit is very good as a filling for pies, cakes, sweets and other confectionery. Puff rolls stuffed with prunes and pieces of marmalade have a wonderful taste.

It should be remembered that prunes are not always combined with fibrous foods, such as chicory, apples. Such a mixture can be afforded by a person with strong digestion. Dried plums are best eaten on an empty stomach or with dairy foods. But you can not seize the main dish with it. Otherwise, it will serve as a stimulation to indigestion, gas formation, bloating.

Health Recipes

In many pharmaceutical preparations constipation contains an extract of prunes. But the remedy can be prepared independently. This is an infusion of prunes. Dry berries (6 pcs.) Before going to bed, wash well and pour boiled water (1 cup).

The next morning, drink the infusion and eat the berries. Often this infusion is recommended to use at night. And together with a glass of yogurt. This supports the microflora and improves the quality of bowel cleansing.

Calluses are treated with prunes: berries are poured with hot milk. When they are soaked, the bones are removed. The still not cooled berry is applied to the calluses. When it cools down, it is replaced with a new, hot one. This procedure should be repeated as often as possible.

The antiseptic properties of prunes help fight tooth decay. For its prevention, it is enough to thoroughly chew 2-3 berries before going to bed. A decoction of dried fruit heals purulent diseases skin. To do this, apply at night warm compresses to sore spots. Due to the ability to draw out pus in this way, it is good to treat acne.

Prunes for beauty

The dietary properties of dried fruit help to remove extra pounds, despite the fact that prunes have a high calorie content. It must be eaten properly. If you feel hungry, you should take a dried plum in your mouth and slowly dissolve it until you feel full. In this way, you can cope with hunger and at the same time consume the minimum number of calories. To saturate the body, it is enough to eat 5-6 fruits a day.

Nutritionists advise to combine prunes with vegetables, for example, boiled, grated fresh. Low-fat kefir or lemon juice is suitable as a dressing (sugar and salt are strictly unacceptable). Regular correct usage prunes most positively affect the condition of the skin. She becomes healthy, radiant and elastic. This result is facilitated by improved bowel function.

Exceptionally useful qualities of prunes make it excellent dietary product in system healthy eating. And the content is biologically active components does not limit this dried fruit only as a treat. It is deservedly used as a natural medicine.

Personally, without any unexpected consequences I can eat about twice a day for as many prunes as shown in the photo (this is about 20 pieces). At the same time, I eat it not at once, but two in the morning and in the evening.

To replenish the body with useful minerals and vitamins, eat 100 g of prunes per day, which is about 5 pieces.

At the same time, remember that prunes are quite high in calories. 100 g contains 230 kcal. For those who want to gain weight and at the same time make up for the deficiency of vitamins B, C, potassium and magnesium, beta-carotene, prunes are necessary.

At one time, I ate 100 g of prunes a day and did not feel any side effects, only positive :)

It all depends on your stomach, and on the method of processing the prunes themselves: there is dried, and there is smoked. And, in general, this needs to be verified experimentally. They say that smoked prunes weaken. So before going on a visit, or at a romantic dinner, it is better not to risk it. :))

It depends on what purpose you are going to eat prunes. If you need a mild laxative, eat 3-5 pieces. This will be enough. However, the body is prone to addiction, so after a few days of this intake, the dose will be small. And you will have to increase or mix with fiber. If you don’t eat anything except prunes - on a diet, then, in fact, there will be nothing to go out. If you cook meat with prunes, then for a serving for four you need to put 5 - 6 medium-sized prunes. Purchased - be sure to soak, they are treated with chemistry.

If there is just 5-6 things the normal dose, if as a laxative, then individually, how the body tolerates such an amount. Maybe 10 pieces of plums will not help a person. There are people who cannot drink plum compote, they run to the toilet in 5 minutes.

All dried fruits, in principle, weaken both dates and dried apricots. Fresh plums also behave ambiguously. I eat them from the belly. One of my favorite fruits. And I hate prunes.

I have digestive problems, so prunes are vital for me. I pour boiling water over 7-8 prunes and leave for at least 2 hours, or even all night. Then I drink this water and eat prunes, and it looks like a fresh plum. Yummy!

If you are allergic to plum, then you can not at all. Nursing mothers should also carefully eat this type of dried fruit, because it can cause diarrhea in the baby. Those with diabetes or obesity should eat prunes with caution as they contain high quantity sugar (of which, in fact, all the carbohydrates of this product consist), which is converted into fat in our body.

On the other hand, prunes are a source of vitamins and fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron, so it is useful for those who have a shortage of these substances.

Use common sense, remember that prunes inspire peristalsis. Here are the main data for this product:

Five seven pieces of prunes will be just right, to improve the functioning of the intestinal tract, to absorb potassium, an important element for the heart, anorexics often use a large amount of prunes as a laxative, although this is stupid, it is very high in calories.

7 things I think will be what you need. Well by at least I was once recommended by a doctor to eliminate the problems of the digestive tract.))

Prunes have a laxative effect. Therefore, if you do not suffer from constipation, then it is better not to get carried away with this dried fruit. It will be enough to eat about 8 things a day, but not immediately, but intermittently. I like to brew prunes in a large glass, and drink this compote during the day, as well as eat berries.

Prunes (dried plums) are a very tasty and popular product. It is used as an independent product, prunes are also used for making sweets (sweets, cakes), compotes, jelly, as a seasoning for meat.

It is important to remember that prunes are a laxative. Therefore, when using it, you need to monitor your condition. The dose for each is individual. On average, the daily dose of prunes is approximately 100 grams.

It is enough to eat 6 prunes per day. No more advice. Even this, at first glance, a small amount, is enough to normalize the work gastrointestinal tract. But there is prunes in large quantities should not be, as it has a laxative effect. Those who watch their weight should remember that prunes are quite high in calories (calorie content of prunes is 231 kcal).

From my own experience I will say that 5 pieces 2 times a day will not cause any harm, but

The benefit-to-harm ratio of prunes is very similar to the qualities of other dried fruits. On the one hand, dried fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. And it's useful. And, on the other hand, prunes have a fairly high calorie content, they have a lot of sugars, from which they get fat. And the laxative activity of dried plums may not be to everyone's liking.

Compound

The calorie content of prunes per 100 grams is 240 kcal. This product contains:

7.1 g of fiber, which corresponds to 28% of the daily value;
100% daily dose of boron;
74% vitamin K;
21% potassium;
16% vitamin A;
15% manganese;
14% copper;
11% vitamin B2;
10% magnesium and vitamin B6;
9% niacin.

Dried plums also contain:

vitamins B1, E, pantothenic acid;
trace elements iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc.

The beneficial properties of prunes for the human body are determined by a large number of antioxidants, mainly of the polyphenol group (cryptoxanthin, lutein, etc.). The ORAC index, which reflects the strength of the antioxidant activity of the product, is very high in dried plums. It is 5770 units per 100 grams. And surpasses blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and many other fruits that are famous for their ability to destroy free radicals.

Beneficial features

The general and most universal explanation of why prunes are useful sounds like this - it cleans up many serious ailments. And from atherosclerosis, and from cancer, and from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, etc. Such a beneficial effect is associated with the presence of a large amount of antioxidants in dried plums, which destroy free radicals and fight chronic inflammation, that is, eliminate the main causes of deadly diseases.

Impact on weight loss

The effect of prunes on weight loss coincides with the harmful effects on the process of weight loss.

The therapeutic effects of the product include:

its ability to saturate the body with plant fiber, which is absolutely necessary for normalizing weight;
a positive effect on the composition of the intestinal microflora (in overweight people, the intestinal biocenosis is always “sick”, and violations of its composition stimulate further weight gain);
antioxidant properties (according to current scientific information, obesity is directly related to low-grade inflammatory processes present in the body, which often go unnoticed).

Still, prunes for weight loss are not as useful as they might seem. And all because it has properties that encourage weight gain, and do not help get rid of it.

High fructose content. Just one medium-sized piece contains 1.2 grams of this carbohydrate. Fructose makes you fat. Fast and significant. Since the metabolism of this sugar is such that it all enters the liver, where it turns into fat.
The urge to eat is sweet. Although prunes are high in fiber, which usually suppresses appetite, this dried fruit can increase the desire to eat sweets. This feature is associated with the intensely sweet taste of the product, which affects the brain in such a way that a person wants to eat all the time. And not just eat, but eat sweet foods. Giving up sugar in such a situation is usually unattainable.
Prunes provide the body with a huge boost of energy. If a person at the same time actively moves and eats little, then such an influence is certainly useful. But if he leads a sedentary lifestyle with constant snacking, the energy charge of dried fruit leads to weight gain. After all, a person introduces much more energy into himself than he burns. And she remains inside him in reserve, that is, it is transformed into fat.

Since the dried fruit has both beneficial and harmful properties for weight loss, you can eat prunes for weight loss, but very little. Moreover, dried plums have many of their useful properties, for example, the ability to destroy free radicals, only when they are eaten a little. Since the abundant inclusion of the product in the diet loads the body not only with antioxidants, it also contains sugars, which negate all the positive effects of the medicinal components of the meal.

However, dried plums are still more suitable for weight loss than other dried fruits, such as dried apricots or. This is due to the presence in them of the substance sorbitol, which suppresses appetite.

How to include in the diet?

How much can you eat per day?

There are no clearly defined rules that would say how much prunes you can eat per day. Since this is a common food product, not a drug.

How to take prunes for constipation in children and adults?

Usually, prunes are taken as a laxative in the form of a so-called juice, or infusion. Do it like this:

take a glass of dried fruits and pour boiled water so that all dried plums are completely covered with liquid;
close the container with a lid and leave at room temperature for 12-24 hours;
then prunes are crushed with a blender in the water in which they were infused;
filter through a sieve;
bring the volume of boiled water to one liter.

If you use such an infusion of prunes for constipation to treat babies, then give it 60 ml each (maximum dose 120 ml).
Older children and adults should take from 120 to 250 ml of "juice".

How to choose?

In order for prunes to have the maximum of useful properties, it is important to know how to choose them.

Not worth buying:

dried brown plums, as they were most likely scalded with boiling water;
dark gray prunes, especially those that are brightly shiny (this appearance indicates processing with glycerin).

You need to take a dried fruit of a matte black color, wrinkled and without shine.

You also need to pay attention to the smell of dried fruit. It should not resemble gasoline fumes or campfire smoke.

But you should not be afraid of white plaque on prunes. It usually looks like dried fructose, which can come to the surface.

By the way, you can dry the plums yourself. How prunes are made at home in a conventional oven, you can see in the video.

How to store?

At home, prunes can be stored:

at room temperature in a cabinet away from the battery, in a closed glass jar or plastic container;
in the refrigerator (also in a closed jar or container);
in the freezer (in a plastic container or a special freezer bag).

Should I wash?

Of course, if you did not dry the plums yourself, washing them first.

Wash prunes before use as follows:

put in a sieve and washed under running water;
then placed in a bowl and poured with water at room temperature for 10-15 minutes;
then rinse again under running water.

Never pour dried fruit with boiling water. This will destroy many of its beneficial compounds.

Contraindications and side effects

A strict contraindication for the use of prunes is an allergy to plums, which is rare.
Side effects from the use of dried plums in excess of 10-12 pieces per day are unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract: pain in the abdominal region, flatulence, diarrhea.
Prunes weaken, not strengthen. And yet it can lead to constipation. It has been established that with its regular use by people who have long suffered from chronic constipation, there may be a dependence on the product, similar to dependence on stable drugs. That is, without taking dried fruit, there will be no urge to defecate.
Prunes for gastritis are prohibited in the acute phase of the disease. During the period of remission, you can eat it, but also carefully. Since it is quite difficult to digest and has a high acidity. The same rules apply to diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis.

Is it okay to eat with diabetes?

The glycemic index of prunes is 29. Therefore, it can be eaten with type 2 diabetes.

Can it be used during pregnancy?

Prunes during pregnancy helps to cope with constipation, strengthens the immune system and bone tissue, helps prevent anemia.

However, it is especially important for pregnant women to observe the dosage.

It is advisable to use not 10-12, but 5-6 pieces per day.

Such a restriction will help to avoid the development of diarrhea, which is especially dangerous for women in position, as it leads to dehydration. It also protects against weight gain.

Is it possible to prunes while breastfeeding?

During lactation, many women suffer from constipation, and therefore laxative dried fruit is useful for them.

When using dried plums in a small amount (5-6 pieces per day), the baby should not have colic.

Useful properties of prunes and its possible harm: conclusions

Dried plums are rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and plant fiber.

Due to the presence of these substances, dried fruit improves digestion, strengthens bone tissue, protects against anemia and heart disease.

Prunes have a high free radical scavenging capacity. And therefore, it saves a person from many serious ailments, since the basis of all these ailments is the detrimental effect on cells of free radicals.

However, dried plums also have negative qualities, mainly associated with a large amount of sugars in its composition.

The optimal dose of dried fruit per day is 5-6 pieces, the maximum is 10-12.

What is prunes? Is it really that healing? Prunes weaken or strengthen? Is it useful for pregnant women? What about children? Such a large number of questions is not accidental.

There are legends about prunes among the people. He is credited with miraculous medicinal properties: it is able to restore youth, beauty and harmony. And they also say that he is cunning, if you trust him without looking back.

How to cook prunes

Most best prunes obtained from Hungarian Italian. Variety Hungarian homemade is also very good for getting prunes. Other varieties may also be used. Plum fruits must go through several stages of processing.

Well-ripened berries are selected (at least 10% sugar, not more than 1.2% acid).
Treated with boiling water to remove plaque - this will facilitate the drying process.
Cool with water (preferably running water).
Then they are dried in special devices for about 36 hours, adjusting the temperature from 80 to 60 degrees.
Then cool.
After that they are sorted.
Place in boiling water for 1.5-2 minutes.
Treated with glycerin (the ratio of glycerin and fruits should not exceed the norm).

After such processing, prunes of the first, second or third grade are obtained. It is soft, sweet and sour in taste, black in color.

If at least one of the characteristics does not match the description, then the plum processing technology has been violated, and the resulting product cannot be called prunes. Surprising but true! Real prunes have a unique taste. It is simply impossible to confuse its taste with another product.

Composition of prunes

It is surprising that, having gone through such a difficult path of processing, prunes retain in their composition the same useful substances that a plum hanging on a tree branch has. organic acids, sugars, vegetable fiber are the main chemical elements in prunes. And also it is not deprived of vitamins, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.

The benefits of prunes

because of high content minerals and vitamins, the benefits of prunes for the body are very noticeable.

The composition of this dried fruit determines the range of diseases in which its regular use is desirable. Prunes are recommended for cardiovascular diseases in the early stages, to normalize blood pressure, metabolism, eliminate the problem of inflammation of the gums. At the same time, it has bactericidal properties. Prunes tones up, restores efficiency, improves the functioning of many organs, increases the body's ability to resist various diseases. There is a bold claim that this product, being a powerful antioxidant, helps to cope even with oncological diseases. Therefore, the regular use of prunes in the diet is recommended for people living in ecologically unfavorable areas.

To replenish the content of minerals and vitamins in the body, it is enough to consume 5-6 berries of this dried fruit daily. The use of prunes during periods of vitamin deficiency is especially recommended.

Prunes weaken or strengthen: find out

Most popular in traditional medicine prunes received as For these purposes, it can be consumed in natural form or make a decoction. It is prepared very simply: prunes are poured with boiling water, let it brew for 10-12 hours. Such a decoction is used as needed, the berries are also used for food. "Health candy" is another way to get rid of constipation. To prepare them, you will need 4 prunes, 4 figs and one teaspoon of coriander. Grind the fruits, mix with coriander, divide into equal portions (one teaspoon each), place in the refrigerator. One such candy will relieve even the most severe constipation. Relief will come in two hours.

Science has also proven the laxative properties of prunes by clinical researches product in 2011. It has been proven that these berries are able to soften the stool, acting like a light one. Therefore, doctors in some countries officially prescribe prunes to patients to eliminate this delicate problem.

Among the people, there is another advice for including this product in the diet. It turns out that the use is capable of producing not a laxative, but an astringent effect on the body.

So prunes weaken or strengthen? Speaking about this product, they often joke: "It weakens the chair, and strengthens the body."

Prunes and slim figure

Expert opinions about positive influence of this product on body weight is highly controversial. It should be noted that prunes are high-calorie product. One hundred grams of it give the body 231 kcal. Dehydrated (dried) product will give you 339 kcal. Stewed prunes contain 113 kcal, and canned prunes contain 105 kcal. These data allow us to conclude that the benefit is small. This product does not have a direct effect on the slimness of the figure, but its indirect participation in the weight loss program is quite acceptable.

So, for example, prunes can be used as a snack product (sometimes consumed with kefir), resulting in getting rid of hunger for a while. Eating five prunes before meals reduces appetite, and this affects the amount of food consumed during lunch. It is a misconception that the laxative properties of prunes will help you lose weight, but it is quite possible to reduce the tummy that can result from irregular stools.

Particular interest in prunes as a product that affects the harmony of the figure appeared in the eighties after special studies. It has been proven that this dried fruit is an excellent antidepressant, so for a person who decides to go on a diet (any) 1-2 prunes per day will be very useful for improving the functioning of the nervous system and improving mood. In addition, our product is an excellent substitute for sweets. Many folk recipes weight loss include prunes. There are different opinions about its ability to reduce weight, but all experts agree on one thing: prunes can easily add to the list of healthy foods.

The use of prunes during pregnancy

With the onset of pregnancy, expectant mothers have to revise their diet. Some of the foods they are accustomed to fall into the category of prohibited, and some dishes are highly recommended for consumption. After all, everything that a woman receives with food, the baby also receives. In what category is our dried fruit? All experts unequivocally refer it to the category of recommended products, since the benefits of prunes during pregnancy are obvious.

One of the common problems of a woman in position is the weakening protective functions oral cavity. There is bleeding gums, the possibility of developing caries, which is associated with hormonal changes in the work of the body of the expectant mother. Frequent use prunes will help in eliminating problems with gums and teeth.

With these fruits, it enters the body enough potassium, which ensures the smooth functioning of the kidneys. And this is important for mom and baby.

If you brew prunes with black tea and drink this drink, you can avoid problems with blood pressure, which is also one of the hardships of pregnant women.

Many expectant mothers suffer from constipation. The best remedy to eliminate this trouble is prunes, since the application medicines not recommended for pregnant women.

Perhaps the only drawback of our product is that it is high in calories. Excessive consumption of berries will lead to excessive weight gain, which is contraindicated for pregnant women.

Prunes and appearance

O cosmetic properties prunes also have positive reviews. It is able to significantly improve the condition of the skin, appearance, when using prunes, the body is rejuvenated.

cooking

Given the beneficial properties of prunes (dried) and its unique taste, this product used for cooking huge amount treats: salads, snacks, drinks, second and first courses.

In the preparation of desserts, prunes also take their rightful place. Together with this product, cream, nuts, kefir are often used. But especially prunes made friends with meat. If you add prune extract to the meat, you can keep it fresh, while the dried fruit will not change the taste of the main product.

Using these dried fruits, you can improve the taste familiar dishes e.g. cereals, salads.

Prunes and traditional medicine recipes

For hundreds of years of using prunes as a healing agent, some of the recipes have gained real recognition among the people. They give advice on how to eat prunes to improve health. For example, after heavy infectious diseases recommended to use with great content prunes. A very common recipe for biological tonic. To prepare it, you need to take in equal parts chopped prunes (useful properties and contraindications of which have long been studied), raisins, dried apricots, walnuts. Mix everything with honey and consume one teaspoon daily in the morning and evening.

Contraindications to the use of prunes

With all the positive characteristics of the product, you still need to pay attention to some negative points that can result from excessive consumption of prunes.

There may be cases of individual intolerance to this product, so precautions are necessary when using it in food.

Prunes are a high-calorie product, so its excessive consumption in case of obesity is contraindicated.

So, we figured out the questions: “What is the benefit of prunes, weakens or strengthens this product, who can and who can’t include it in the diet?”