Don’t sleep on prunes for vitamins, minerals, and gut-healthy fiber.
Julio Ricco/Getty Images
Youll never come across a prune tree because prunes arent your typical fruits.
Prune Nutrition Facts
Prunes are dried plums, kind of like raisins, which are dried grapes.
Photo:Julio Ricco/Getty Images
Dehydrating plums extends their shelf life and also yields prunes, explains Jenna Volpe, RDN, LD.
Since prunes come from plums, the two have overlapping nutritional values and even share some benefits.
Don’t just take our word for how healthy prunes are.
Take a look at what’s inside 1 cup of pitted prunes.
Top Health Benefits of Prunes
Check out some of the biggest benefits of prunes.
When you’re tired of eating plain plums, give these a go instead.
Prunes are high in fibers that feed good gut bacteria and help bulk up stool volume, Moon explains.
Prunes contain a whopping 7.1 g of fiber per 100-gram serving, according to the USDA.
This means that they can help ease the feeling of incessantly needing to urinate.
The antioxidants and nutrients in prunes also support a healthy urinary tract.
Support Bone Health
Your diet and lifestyle are important factors in osteoporosis prevention and generalbone health.
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes weak and brittle bones.
An estimated 10 million people are affected by it, while many millions more have low bone density.
Indeed, studies confirm the effects of potassium on lowering blood pressure.
Making prunes part of your regular meal is also one way to support heart health, Moon notes.
Prunes may lower blood pressure and encourage healthy cholesterol levels, which could reduce the risk of heart disease.
Some of prunes heart health benefits could also be explained by the high-fiber content.
Aside from its role in supporting digestion, fiber has loads of benefits.
These antioxidants help to protect the body from oxidative damage.
They also work to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Add chopped prunes to youryogurtin the mornings for an extra boost of nutrients to kickstart your day.
it’s possible for you to also blend them intosmoothiesany time of day.
Sprinkle some chopped prunes on salads to add a sweet flavor and chewy texture to them.
Or use prunes in side dishes or to top stews or roasts for a richer flavor.
you’ve got the option to also use prunes inhome-baked bread, muffins, and even cookies.
They provide natural sweetness and moisture.
Or make some prune juice out of your prunes to enjoy them in liquid form instead.
Too much of anything can be a bad thing, Volpe reminds us.
before you dive in adding prunes to every meal, there are a few things you should know.
Other groups may also want to consider enjoying prunes in moderation.
Generally, most people can tolerate and should aim for a serving of five prunes, Moon suggests.
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