The benefits and harms of prunes

The benefits and harms of prunes roughly balance each other. Dried fruit helps the cardiovascular system and promotes weight gain, which leads to CVD diseases. It helps with constipation and is dangerous for diabetics, often suffering from constipation.

Produce dried fruits from plum varieties "Vengerka". The drupe itself has all the same properties as dried fruit, but diluted with water. Drying of fruits and vegetables has been known since ancient times. This is the easiest and cheapest way to stock up on winter.

It turned out that it is this method that allows you to preserve the maximum of nutrients in plant products. If during heat treatment for canning, many vitamins are destroyed, then drying allows them to be preserved. The prune, from which the water was removed, is valuable precisely with a concentrated complex of minerals and vitamins.

Why are prunes useful?

The chemical composition of the drupes of this variety is one of the richest among the fruits. This is the reason for the real benefits of prunes. It works even for those 20% of the population that does not lend itself to self-hypnosis. The dried fruit contains:

• organic acids: malic, citric, oxalic;
• pectins;
• cellulose;
• macronutrients: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium;
• trace elements: zinc, iron;
• healthy sugars, of which 57% is glucose. The remaining 43% is divided between fructose and sucrose;
• complex of vitamins.

The beneficial properties of prunes are determined by a unique set of macronutrients.

But fruits also contain harmful sugar. Moreover, the amount of sugar exceeds the amount of glucose.

Vitamin content in prunes

The drupe contains vitamins of four groups:

• retinol;
• beta carotene;
• B₁;
• B₂;
• B₃ (PP);
• B₅;
• B₆;
• B₉;
• FROM;
• E;
• TO.

Due to the amount of vitamins in one type of fruit, prunes are considered one of the most useful and have a wide spectrum of action.

Group A

Responsible for vision and antioxidant defense of the body. A deficiency leads to blindness. Blindness is cured by introducing vitamin A into the diet. In this, prunes can bring considerable benefits.

But excess is even more harmful than lack of it. A single dose of 25,000 IU / kg leads to acute poisoning, and a daily intake of 4,000 IU / kg for six months leads to chronic poisoning.

Group B

B₁ or thiamine is responsible for the activity of the central nervous system. Harm of deficiency: Severe disorders develop, including beriberi disease. Harm in excess: causes a deficiency of copper, vitamins B₂ and B₃.

В₂, he is also riboflavin, is responsible for the health of the skin, reproductive function, growth regulation, the formation of red blood cells, thyroid function.In fact, riboflavin is responsible for the health of the entire body. Harm in case of deficiency: the work of the whole organism is disrupted.

В₃, he PP or nicotinic acid is responsible for the activity of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, protects the cardiovascular system, prevents the occurrence of blood clots. Also, nicotinic acid is involved in the formation of hormones. Due to their high content of niacin, prunes are especially beneficial for women.

B₅ or pantothenic acid is responsible for the body's metabolism. Increased fatigue, depression, fatigue, insomnia are a consequence of the lack of this pantothenic acid.

В₆, he is adermin. The main source is animal meat. Prunes are one of the few herbal products from which Adermin can be obtained. In this regard, its benefits for vegetarians can hardly be overestimated.

B₉ or folic acid. Harm in case of deficiency: growth retardation and impaired blood formation. In humans, folic acid is produced by the intestinal microflora and its deficiency can occur only in case of serious disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. The fruit can be of great benefit in restoring bowel function.

Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid is a multitasking substance. Scurvy is the most famous consequence of the harm when it is lacking. In general, vitamin C deficiency causes a weakening of the immune system. Prunes are beneficial by increasing the amount of ascorbic acid in the body.

Vitamin E

The main role is to protect cell membranes from oxidation. The harm from a lack of vitamin E manifests itself in a very diverse way: from infertility and muscular dystrophy to liver necrosis and softening of the brain.

Vitamin K

The deficiency leads to serious changes in the body:

• ossification of cartilage;
• deformities of developing bones;
• internal bleeding;
• deposits of salts on the walls of blood vessels.

Considering the consequences of a lack of vitamins, the benefit of prunes is that it helps to replenish a whole range of missing vitamins.

Calorie content of prunes

This item goes under the column "harm". Due to the removal of water during drying, the calorie content of all dried fruits increases greatly and cannot be used for weight loss. But gaining weight due to the large amount of sugar and carbohydrates can be unnoticed. The calorie content of prunes per 100 g may differ even in dried ones. Depending on the degree and method of drying, the number of calories in prunes will differ.

Some manufacturers prefer not to dry plums so that the consumption of fresh plums is less for the same package weight. Such a dried fruit is distinguished by high humidity and sticks to your hands, as if boiled in sugar syrup. When determining calorie content, you will have to look at the packaging, but there is no guarantee that the data is correct.

Calorie content of fresh prunes

The calorie content of fresh plums is much lower than that of dried fruits. There are only 249 kJ calories in 100 g of fresh prunes, that is, 60 kcal. Considering that plums of this variety weigh 50–100 g, the calorie content of 1 piece of fresh prunes can range from 30 to 60 kcal.

Just 100 g of fresh plums contains:

• proteins 0.6 g;
• fats 1.75 g;
• carbohydrates 15.44 g.

The amount of energy and carbohydrates in fresh fruit is low and can be misleading. When dried, the picture changes. The benefit of fresh fruit is that you can't eat a lot of it.

Calorie content of pitted dried prunes

The calorie content of dried prunes increases by 4 times. 100 g of dried plums contain 240 kcal. The carbohydrate content increases from 15.5% to 96%. The amount of fat decreases, as it is partially melted during drying, and as a result, instead of 1.75%, the fat content in prunes is less than 1%. The content of protein, like carbohydrates, also increases almost 6 times: from 0.6% to 3.2%.

Why prunes are useful for the body

Prunes are one of the few natural products recommended by official medicine.The benefits of prunes for the human body are not only in the well-known laxative effect. In addition, he also has a lot of "responsibilities":

• caries prevention;
• disinfection of the body in case of intestinal infectious diseases;
• blood pressure regulation;
• prevention of vitamin deficiency;
• stimulation of the brain;
• improved vision;
• strengthening the immune system;
• strengthening the central nervous system;
• improving the secretion of gastric juice;
• prevention of osteoporosis.

From the point of view of overweight people from this type of dried fruit, there is only one harm. On the other hand, dried plums are beneficial for people with a lack of weight. High-calorie dried fruits are used when you need to gain weight.

The large amount of calcium in prunes helps slow the progression of osteoporosis. Women are especially beneficial in this regard, since they have an accelerated leaching of calcium from the bones during menstruation.

Prunes: benefits and harms for a woman's body

Prunes bring significant benefits to a woman's body during menopause. At this time, a sharp decrease in estrogen provokes an increased leaching of calcium from the bones.

To prevent harm from osteoporosis, just 100 g of dried plums a day is enough. They contain all the elements necessary for inhibition of progressive osteoporosis.

During pregnancy, plums are also not harmful, but the benefits from them are enormous. They are the source of a whole range of nutrients and contribute to the normalization of the stool. Since women are often troubled by constipation during pregnancy, the help of dried fruits will be very useful.

How to take prunes during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the main benefit of plums is preventing constipation. It is also the main harm, since with the careless use of this natural laxative, you can earn a gastrointestinal upset. But in general, there are no contraindications to the use of dried plums during pregnancy and they do not bring harm.

In order not to suffer from the disorder, you just need to observe the measure: no more than 5 pieces of drupes per day, preferably no more than 2 times a week. The latter is adjusted depending on the state of the body.

Accept prunes in pure form, decoction or mixed with other products.

Is it possible to breastfeed prunes

When breastfeeding, prunes will only harm children. Even the use of dried fruit by a mother can cause intestinal upset in the infant, since the child will receive the substances that make up the prunes through the mother's milk.

The benefits of prunes for men

For a man's body, the benefits of prunes are almost the same as for a woman. But besides the prevention of high blood pressure, from which many overweight men suffer, the prevention of problems with potency is also added.

The harm is also mainly associated with the high calorie content of dried fruit. Overweight men should not abuse this delicacy.

The benefits of prunes for children

Benefits for children can suddenly turn into harm. Although dried plums contain a lot of useful substances, when dried, they form a large amount of acrylamide, which is a carcinogen and neurotoxin. The reasons for the appearance of this substance are unclear, since it usually forms at temperatures above 100 ° C. The technology for manufacturing dried fruits does not provide for such temperatures, but, nevertheless, acrylamide is formed on prunes and peaches.

The benefits of eating fruit are also significant. Children receive many of the missing items.

Prunes in folk medicine

The main and almost the only use of plums in folk medicine is a laxative. Although in fact, prunes are much more beneficial in regulating the work of the cardiovascular system and blood pressure.

Prunes for constipation

A very effective remedy if there is no desire to use laxative medications.The action is superior to dried apricots. But it will certainly yield to Purgen. In case of constipation, you can use it "pure" or make a decoction.

Great for hemorrhoids by softening stools. Here is the benefit of fruits in the prevention of exacerbations.

How to use prunes for constipation

For constipation, you can use prunes:

• directly from the package without preliminary preparation;
• with kefir;
• in the form of a decoction;
• mixed with other products.

Taking it out of the package and eating is the easiest way, but the body tends to get used to food. After a few days, all the packaging will be needed to get the benefits. Therefore, the consumption of dried fruits must be somehow diversified.

Several recipes:

1. Rinse the plums in hot water and soak in kefir for 2-3 hours. Up to 20 prunes can be consumed per day.
2. Chop prunes and mix with honey. Take 1 tsp. in the morning.
3. Boil 15 drupes with boiling water in the evening and let it brew until morning. Consume in three equal portions throughout the day.
4. Grind equal parts of dried apricots and prunes. Mix the resulting mass with honey. Take 1 tsp. in the morning on an empty stomach. Children after 1 year for ½ tsp.
5. Soak equal parts of dried apricots, prunes and figs for 2-3 hours. Mix with cinnamon and chop. Make small balls. For constipation, take 4-6 pcs. in a day.
6. Boil 200 g of prunes for 20 minutes. with 75 g sugar over low heat. Cool and drain. Dosage for adults - 1 tbsp. the spoon. If a child who is breastfeeding is constipated, the mother should take the infusion.

Benefit from applying these recipes to soften stools easily.

Prunes during pregnancy for constipation

Dried fruits do not cause harm during pregnancy. In case of constipation in a pregnant woman, she can use the above recipes. It is only important not to overdo it and not to achieve the appearance of diarrhea, otherwise there will be more harm than good.

Prune decoction for constipation for babies

The digestive system of an infant under 4 months is not yet ready to assimilate the entire complex of substances contained in prunes. Drinking a decoction of prunes as a remedy for constipation while breastfeeding a newborn can cause serious harm to the baby. In this case, the mother's nutrition is reviewed.

How to give prunes for constipation to children

If there is only one harm for an infant from prunes, then children over a year can already be given prunes on the sly in case of constipation. But if for adults the norm is 3-4 plums a day, then children need to start giving prunes with a decoction and starting with 1 teaspoon.

How to make prunes for constipation for adults

Than to brew prunes for constipation it would be easier to eat it like this, but if there is a problem with weight or these fruits are not your favorites, then it is easier to use a decoction. The broth recipe is simple: for a glass of water 4-5 pieces of dried fruits. Pour plums with hot water and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let it brew for about 5 hours.

With less fruit or more water, you will get dried fruit compote, which was often served earlier in canteens. This drink did not bring any harm in those days. The benefits, however, are also in doubt.

The benefits of prunes for weight loss

Dried prunes are harmful not because of their properties, but because they destroy the hopes of losing weight with food and without exercise. Dried plums are too high in calories to lose weight. Provided that we are talking about real weight loss, and not about dehydration as a result of diarrhea, which harms the body.

There is almost no harm to the psyche and the body from fresh prunes, but there is much more benefit. You can eat much less fresh plums. But in all recipes, dried fruits are indicated as an ingredient. Below are some recipes for "losing weight", or rather, dehydration.

№1

Ingredients:

• rosehip 100 g;
• prunes 300 g;
• buckthorn bark 50 g;
• water 1.6 l.

Pour dried fruits and buckthorn with water and cook over low heat for 25 minutes. Add rose hips and simmer for another 45 minutes. Insist overnight in a warm place.Strain, put in the refrigerator. Take half a glass at 21-00.

Especially buckthorn bark, which surpasses dried plums in efficiency. For this reason, this broth can do more harm than good.

№2

Grind in a meat grinder:

• 100 g of raisins, rose hips and dried apricots;
• 400 g dried plums;
• 50 g senna;
• 200 g figs.

Mix everything with honey, transfer to a glass container, store in the refrigerator. The mixture is offered to be eaten instead of sweets or to eat 1 teaspoon in the morning and in the evening.

We must again remember that all the ingredients have a laxative effect, and for weight loss you cannot eat all this instead of sweets and you need to replace breakfast and dinner with a mixture. Dehydration from overusing the mixture will do nothing but harm.

№3

Grind in a meat grinder:

• 400 g of dry apricots and plums;
• 1 pack of senna.

Mix with honey and refrigerate. Take 1 tsp. in the evening every day. In this recipe, the harm is minimal, but there is no need to expect much benefit either.

From the above recipes it is clear that when losing weight from them, at best, there will be no benefit, since they will only eliminate possible constipation. In the worst case, trying to lose weight in this way will harm and stain the sheets, due to the resulting diarrhea caused by the laxative.

Limitations and contraindications for taking prunes

Dried fruits can be fatal for diabetes, allergies, kidney stones and a tendency to be overweight. In the latter case, plums should be consumed very carefully, controlling their quantity.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of prunes are of interest to many of those who do not want to use pharmaceuticals. The benefits of dried fruits have been proven for a long time. Some mixtures are recommended for convalescents after diseases of the cardiovascular system. Drupe can cause serious harm with a very limited list of diseases. With excessive use of this fruit, the harm will be psychological.

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