Plum: 13 properties and benefits of this fruit

All fruits have different properties that help us maintain good health. The plum is no exception and, in addition to having a peculiar flavor that ranges between sweet and sour, it contains vitamins and other properties that you should know.

The plum is a laxative, purifying and energetic fruit. However, it has many other attributes. It is common to find it during spring and summer, so you have to take advantage of these seasons to consume it, in addition to being the time when it is most delicious.

Know all the properties and benefits of this fruit

The plum mainly has vitamins A, E and C. Although it also contains minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, in addition to water. All this makes it a fruit with high nutritional value, so it is advisable to consume it regularly.

It is best to eat it directly, but also a prune juice can provide the same benefits with a more concentrated flavor. Learn about the properties and benefits of plums and that make them an exceptional fruit.

1. Antioxidant

The plum is a fruit with antioxidant properties. Like all fruits and vegetables with a reddish coloration, the plum is an important source of antioxidants. This function helps fight cell degeneration.

For this reason, plums can help fight free radicals, which are precisely those responsible for the aging of cells, not only in the skin, but also in organs internal

2. Laxative

One of the best known properties of the plum is its laxative effect. For this reason it is not advisable to eat too much in a short time. However, if you are going through an episode of constipation, plums can be of great help.

Due to the large amount of water and the fiber it contains, the plum is a laxative fruit. On the other hand, if it is consumed in moderation it can help in the purification of the liver, precisely because of its laxative function.

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3. Energetic

The plum is a fruit that provides energy. It is even recommended for people with high physical but also intellectual activity. The plum has an important content of vitamins A, E and C which provide a significant dose of energy.

It can be consumed in those moments where it is required to have extra energy, or in a regular and constant way to maintain those levels of energy and concentration throughout the day.

4. Diuretic

Besides being a laxative, plum also has diuretic properties. This is due to the high amounts of potassium it contains. It is also effective in relieving fluid retention that causes swelling..

Consuming plum in a moderate and constant way helps to maintain a balance in the amount of water in the body. Well, in addition to this diuretic property, it must be remembered that the plum is composed of a large amount of water.

5. Fight anemia

The plum is a fruit that contains significant amounts of iron. Iron is essential to prevent anemia. It should be consumed together with a portion of vitamin C, since it allows the absorption of iron. However, plum also has this vitamin, so it is a complete alternative in the absorption of iron.

In cases where mild anemia occurs, the consumption of plum can be of great help. It also contains other minerals and vitamins that make the plum a fruit with a high nutritional value.

6. Helps to lose weight

Plum should be included in a diet to lose weight. As already mentioned, the plum has laxative, diuretic and energetic properties. It is also a multivitamin, for this reason it is an ideal fruit to include in weight loss diets.

Added to this, the plum has a very low caloric quantity, so it will be providing nutrients to our body without adding calories. For this reason, the plum is a fruit that can be consumed during a diet.

7. Fight cough

A little-known benefit of the plum is to help expel phlegm. When the cough is productive, that is, there is a significant accumulation of phlegm or mucus, plums help to expel them.

Plums can be consumed raw, but they can also be added to an infusion with honey and lemon to help soften the throat and enhance the expectorant effect of the plum.

8. Facilitate digestion

The amount of fiber and water in plums help regulate digestive function. Although plum has a laxative effect, consuming it in a moderate but constant way helps regulate intestinal and digestive function.

For this reason it is not recommended to ingest plum only in episodes of constipation, but eat it regularly to help the intestine in its function and thus regulate the process digestive.

9. Eye health

The plum contains a significant amount of vitamin A and, as is well known, this vitamin supports eye health. In addition, it contains antioxidants, which help prevent macular degeneration.

It must be remembered that antioxidants intervene in every degenerative process in the body, helping to delay it. One of the organs with the greatest tendency to deterioration is the eye, for this reason the plum, with its antioxidants, is a great ally for our eye health.

10. Purifying

The plum is a cleansing fruit. Due to its laxative, diuretic and antioxidant properties, the plum is an ideal fruit to help in the cleansing processes of the body. Well, its intake facilitates the elimination of toxins through urine and feces.

This is another of the properties and benefits of the plum. So during the season when plum is easily found, it is a good time to take advantage of its benefits and include it in the daily diet to use it as a cleansing food.

11. Strengthens the nervous system

The potassium contained in the plum is an aid in strengthening the nervous system. One of the properties of potassium is to maintain good communication between nerves and muscles.

The plum is an ideal food to help this purpose, since its potassium content is significant. It also helps counteract the damaging effects of sodium on the body, which destabilizes blood pressure.

12. Prevents cardiovascular diseases

Among the properties and benefits of the plum is to prevent heart disease. This is due to the high amount of vitamin C it contains. All foods that contain this vitamin are recommended to take care of cardiovascular health.

So to prevent hypertension and related conditions, eating plums can be of great help. In addition to the diuretic and antioxidant functions of this fruit, they are also of great help to counteract the risk of developing these diseases.

13. They help to have healthy skin and hair

Beautiful hair and radiant skin are benefits of plum. One of the most outstanding properties of this fruit is its high content of antioxidants. These elements help protect the skin and hair from free radicals.

Either raw or in juice, frequent consumption of plums is recommended to maintain radiant skin and strong hair. The internal and external factors that unleash free radicals can be minimized if plums are included in the diet.

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Bibliographic references

• ROBERT A. FLOYD, (1997) THE EFFECT OF PEROXIDES AND FREE RADICALS ON BODY TISSUES, The Journal of the American Dental Association, Volume 128
• Igwe, E. O., and Charlton, K. AND. (2016) A Systematic Review on the Health Effects of Plums (Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina). Phytother. Res., 30: 701-731.