Discover dried plums: The tiny nutrient powerhouses enhancing gut health and aiding weight loss
6:39 AM EST, December 16, 2023
There's a plethora of reasons to make dried plums a staple in our diets. While high in calories, they improve gut health with merely around eight pieces per day. Let's delve deeper into the worthiness of the humble dried plum.
Is it safe to eat dried plums daily?
In a nutshell, yes, and it's indeed beneficial. A study by King's College London, published in the 'Clinical Nutrition' journal in January 2018, illustrated how consuming approximately 2.8 ounces of dried plums daily can enhance gut function. This portion also boosts the population of gut bacteria known as Bifidobacterium. Therefore, as laid out by the researchers, dried plums have a prebiotic effect.
From fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to carbohydrates, protein, and fats— dried plums abound with sustenance essential for our digestion. They also supply tryptophan, which plays a key role in the creation of serotonin, otherwise known as the feel-good hormone.
The role of dried plums in weight management and cholesterol reduction
The fiber content in dried plums catalyzes intestinal peristalsis and aids in defecation. Concurrently, sorbitol—a substance present in these fruits—touches off a natural laxative effect. It's noteworthy that dried plums harbor enzymes that help digest starch and fats. Per a study by the University of Liverpool, having dried plums in your diet might bolster weight loss efforts.
"These results indicate that dried plums can be feasibly incorporated into a future weight control diet. Decreasing hunger and curbing the urge to snack plays an immensely helpful yet notoriously difficult role for people wanting to stick to a diet," commented Dr. Jo Harrold, who directed the study.
Dried plums, in their battlefield against free radicals, wield antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids that help prevent cell damage. In addition to slashing cholesterol and blood sugar levels, these fruits reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. And let's not dismiss their fabrication of a beauty effect by improving the quality of skin, hair, and nails.
