Why prunes are useful, properties and contraindications

The benefits and harms of prunes are an interesting topic, since dried fruit is very common in the diet of children and adults. The properties of dried prunes deserve careful consideration, this allows you to understand how it affects the body.

Chemical composition and calorie content of prunes

Prunes, a common dried plum, are considered to be of great benefit to the body, especially the intestines. The valuable properties of dried fruit are explained by the increased content of important substances in it. So, the product contains:

• vitamin A;
• vitamin E;
• ascorbic and nicotinic acids;
• thiamine and riboflavin;
• minerals - iron, calcium and phosphorus;
• elements magnesium and potassium;
• large amounts of dietary fiber, or fiber;
• natural sugars - more than 100% of the daily value in just 100 g

As for the calorie content, it is equal to 230 kcal. The benefits and harms of prunes for the body are also determined by nutrients. The composition of dried fruit consists mainly of carbohydrates - about 57 g, but also the product contains 2 g of proteins and 0.7 g of fat.

The benefits of prunes for the human body

The properties of fresh prunes are beneficial mainly for human digestion. But dried fruit has value for some other systems as well. Prunes:

• regulates intestinal motility and metabolism, therefore it acts as a good laxative and helps to get rid of constipation;
• beneficial for hypertension and atherosclerosis, the product contains a lot of potassium;
• serves as a natural diuretic and helps with edema, the properties of dried fruit are good for the kidneys;
• comprehensively cleanses the body of toxins, toxins and other harmful substances;
• strengthens the visual system due to the increased amount of vitamin A;
• protects against the occurrence of frequent colds, improves the condition with a breakdown and depression;
• has a tonic effect.

Also, a useful product acts as a preventive anticancer drug, antioxidants in its structure prevent the spread of malignant cells.

For women

The main benefit of prunes for a woman's body is that dried fruit helps to level the condition during menopause and also protects joints from osteoporosis. The diuretic properties of the product are also in demand, if there is dried fruit, you can forget about edema. Often dried fruit is included in diets for weight loss - excess weight when consumed goes away easier and faster.

For men

Prunes benefit a man's body, it lowers blood pressure and protects against heart attacks, and also enhances potency.Potassium in the composition of dried fruit protects blood vessels from diseases, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, this expresses the benefits of prunes for the liver and for the brain.

For children

The benefits of prunes for children are quite large - the properties of the product help to normalize stool and regulate bowel function. You can introduce it into the diet as early as 6-8 months - it will benefit from mashed prunes. Also, babies can be given a decoction of a dried product, and from 12 months it is allowed to add dried fruit to casseroles and cereals.

Slimming

Prunes are useful for losing weight, although its calorie content is quite high, it has a pronounced laxative and diuretic effect. Therefore, the use of the product helps to remove toxins, excess fluids and toxic substances from the body. This is the benefit of prunes in the diet, it does not burn fat by itself, but prevents their accumulation.

In order for the benefits of dried plums to manifest in full force, and there was no harm, it is necessary to follow some rules. It is desirable to eat dried fruit in the morning, the daily norm should not exceed 100 g. It is also not recommended to combine dried fruit with other laxative products - this can lead to diarrhea, which will harm the body.

Is it possible to prune during pregnancy

The benefits of prunes during pregnancy depend on the well-being of the woman herself. If the expectant mother is prone to constipation, then it is definitely necessary to introduce dried fruit into the diet, it will help improve digestion and free the intestines. In addition, the potassium in the product will help to eliminate edema, which often accompanies pregnancy.

Are prunes allowed for nursing mothers

As for the benefits and harms of prunes for the health of nursing mothers, then during lactation the product should be abandoned entirely. The substances present in healthy dried fruit will enter the baby's body through breast milk and cause indigestion, which will definitely harm.

Is it possible to eat prunes with diabetes

The glycemic index of dried fruit is only 29 units. This is a very low figure, therefore, prunes do not cause changes in blood glucose levels. At the same time, the benefits of dried prunes are in the increased content of fiber in the product, the fruits help cleanse the body, improve digestion, and prevent constipation.

Thus, in diabetes, dried fruit does not harm, but only benefits. But, of course, the amount of the product must be controlled - 3-4 pieces of fruits per day will be enough for diabetics in pure form or as part of other dishes.

Traditional medicine recipes based on prunes

The medicinal properties of dried prunes are used to alleviate the symptoms of many diseases. Home medicine knows many recipes that use this dried fruit.

Constipation treatment

It has exceptional benefits for the intestines of prunes for constipation. Usually, two popular dried fruit-based remedies are used to normalize stool.

1. Infusion... About 100 g of fruit should be poured into a thermos, filled with boiling water and left under a lid for 5 hours or overnight. You need to drink the finished infusion three times a day before eating, along with it you can use the usual dried fruit.
2. Decoction... Such a drink is prepared faster - the fruits of dried plums are simply washed and boiled for half an hour over medium heat, and then the remaining liquid is consumed in a similar way.

The beneficial properties of prunes for constipation appear on the same day - dried fruit acts very quickly.

Colon cleansers

The properties of a healthy dried fruit are used not only to eliminate constipation, but also to remove toxins from the body globally. From time to time, there will be no harm from a fasting day on prunes. It is carried out like this - only water, tea without sugar and herbal decoctions, as well as 30 dried fruits are left in the daily diet. Dried berries are consumed every 2-3 hours in several pieces and washed down with liquid.

When unloading, kefir and prunes are beneficial to the liver, in this case, in the late afternoon, the last portion of prunes can be washed down with low-fat kefir. In just a day on such a diet, you can lose up to 2 kg by getting rid of toxins.

With polyavitaminosis

The benefits of prunes with walnuts can help relieve symptoms of seasonal vitamin deficiency. To improve your well-being, you can do the following useful tool:

• mix 100 g of dried apricots, prunes and raisins;
• add 100 g of walnuts and natural honey;
• mix the components thoroughly.

A healthy mixture should be consumed in a large spoonful twice a day, morning and evening.

From sore throat

The benefits of prunes for the human body are manifested, among other things, for colds. For example, with angina, it is recommended:

• mix rose hips and currants in 1 large spoon;
• add 5 large spoons of grated prunes;
• pour boiling water for 3 hours;
• add a spoonful of honey to the finished infusion.

You need to drink the product for 2 weeks, twice a day, half a glass. The components of the medicine will quickly relieve inflammation and swelling in the throat.

With atherosclerosis

Another useful remedy will help improve the condition of the blood vessels. Pounded dried fruit must be mixed with buckwheat flowers - both components are taken in the amount of 1 large spoon. The mixture is poured with a glass of boiling water and kept for 2 hours, and then drunk four times a day for half a glass.

With arthritis

Dried prunes are beneficial for the joints - 100 g of fruits are boiled over low heat for a quarter of an hour. Then, in a warm broth, moisten gauze or a piece of tissue and apply a compress to the sore joint twice a day. Keep the compress for at least 2 hours.

Another treatment option is the ingestion of a mixed drug collection. Grated prunes in the volume of a large spoon must be mixed with the same amount of burdock root, and then boiled for a quarter of an hour and filtered. You need to drink the remedy in between meals on a large spoon, the whole therapy takes 2 weeks.

For bronchitis

With a lingering cough, the properties of prune compote with the addition of onions and honey are beneficial. About 250 g of finely chopped onions should be mixed with 100 g of honey, add the same amount of dried fruits and boil for 3 hours over low heat. They drink the remedy 4 times a day on an empty stomach.

Tea with prunes for hypertension

The beneficial properties of dried plums help with increased pressure - tea with prunes is especially beneficial. Pour boiling water over about 5 fruits, and after 5 minutes remove the berries and chop finely. Soaked prunes are added to ordinary tea and infused for a quarter of an hour.

Blend for raising hemoglobin

Iron and vitamins, contained in large quantities in healthy dried fruit, help improve blood composition. With a lack of hemoglobin, it is recommended to make such a remedy:

• mix a large spoonful of ground prunes with the same amount of chopped cabbage leaves;
• pour freshly boiled water for 3 hours;
• filter the ready infusion.

They drink the drug three times a day, a large spoonful at a time, and in total it takes a couple of weeks to continue the course of treatment so that there is no harm.

Beauty recipes with prunes

The properties of dried plums are used not only for treatment - dried fruit can often be found in home beauty recipes.Vitamins and minerals in the composition have a very beneficial effect on the skin and hair, providing a rejuvenating effect.

Prunes for sensitive skin

If the epidermis is highly sensitive, then you can prepare the following mask:

• dried fruit in the amount of 1 fruit is washed and soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes;
• after that, the fruits are crushed and mixed with a teaspoon of ordinary flour;
• add half a teaspoon of honey to the mixture.

The mask is distributed over the washed face for a quarter of an hour. The properties of dried fruit and honey gently nourish the skin, relieve irritation and smooth the relief.

Prune decoction for face

Another popular remedy for reducing inflammation and improving skin color is prune tea. It is necessary to take 3 fruits, rinse them properly, pour 400 ml of water and boil in a water bath for a quarter of an hour.

With the cooled broth, wash your face in the morning and evening every day.

Prunes for hair

The properties of the dried product help to restore shine and silky smoothness to curls. About 12 fruits need to be boiled for 2 hours, and then strain and dilute the infusion with plain water. A useful home rinse is used to treat hair after washing - the effect becomes noticeable very quickly.

Cellulite remedy

Dried fruit is able to eliminate ugly fatty deposits under the skin in problem areas. It is recommended to mix 300 g of mummy with the same amount of milk, then add 200 g of grated dried fruit and slightly heat the mixture on the stove.

The warm agent is carefully distributed over problem areas and wrapped with plastic wrap and a towel for 40 minutes.

Harm of prunes and contraindications

In certain circumstances, the properties of dried fruit can be harmful to the body. First of all, this concerns an overdose - if you eat too much dried plums, it will lead to intestinal upset and diarrhea.

In addition, dried fruit has a number of contraindications. You cannot use it:

• for allergies, including fresh plums;
• with diarrhea or a general tendency to stool disorders;
• with kidney stones;
• during lactation.

It is necessary to eat healthy dried fruit with caution in case of diabetes mellitus - the product is not prohibited, but it can potentially be harmful, and its amount should be limited. Also, dried fruit should be consumed in small portions with a tendency to obesity - no more than 50 g per day, since the product is quite high in calories.

How to dry plums at home

You don't have to buy prunes at the market or in the store, you can make them at home. The process is time consuming but looks pretty straightforward.

1. Fresh plums must be thoroughly washed, rinsed with boiling water, and then laid out on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
2. The baking sheet should be placed in an oven preheated to 100 ° C and left for 4 hours, then turn off the stove and wait another 8 hours until the prunes have completely cooled.
3. After that, the fruits are again put in the oven, but at a temperature of 80 ° C, and dried for about 6 hours, and then cooled for 3 hours at room temperature.
4. At the last stage, the oven is reheated to 100 ° C and the plums are kept in it for another half hour.

After that, the prunes can be considered completely ready.

How to choose the right prunes when buying

If there is no free time for preparing prunes, you can buy it, but when choosing, you need to adhere to several rules.

• Good dried fruits should have a rich and uniform black color, without reddish and rusty blotches.
• The skin of prunes should be smooth, firm and shiny.
• If you lightly squeeze the prunes in your fingers, there should be no pits left from pressing, the pulp inside the dried fruit should still retain its elasticity.

How to store prunes

You can store dried fruits both in room heat and in the refrigerator. But in both cases, it is important to keep the product in dry, sealed containers to avoid harmful mold growth.On average, at room temperature, fruits retain their useful properties for six months, and in the refrigerator - up to a year.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of prunes depend on the characteristics of the intestines. For those prone to diarrhea, it is better to stop using the product. But for people suffering from constipation, dried fruit will bring increased benefits.

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