Prunes - useful properties and contraindications

Prune is a dried plum fruit. Like other dried fruits, it is used to make stewed fruit and sauces, as well as in desserts, salads and sauces. It goes well with meat, adding to it a characteristic sweet note. But in addition to the expressive taste, prunes have a rich composition of vitamins and minerals. It has a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes the secretion of bile and improves the general condition of the body.

When is prune good for health and when is it better not to eat it? How to choose dried fruit and how to dry plums at home?

Useful properties of prunes

1. The composition of prunes is dominated by pectin, which is considered a natural anti-inflammatory and cleansing substance for the digestive tract. In combination with plant fiber, which is also present in it, it perfectly stimulates the intestines and is a preventive combination in the fight against constipation.
2. Prunes are rich in B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9). Vitamin B1 is essential for the functioning of the nervous system, B2 stabilizes fat and protein metabolism. Vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of all necessary trace elements, as well as the absorption of glucose by cells of the nervous system. Without vitamin B9 (folic acid), the full functioning of the circulatory and immune systems is impossible.
3. Due to the presence of iron, prunes help with anemia. Therefore, it is recommended to be used by pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.
4. Vitamin A, which is part of prunes, restores vision. It also belongs to the category of antiviral, so adding it to food will help in the fight against seasonal infections.
5. Prunes are irreplaceable in the struggle for youth. Performing the function of an antioxidant, it effectively fights free radicals, improves the general condition of the body and increases potency.
6. Dried fruit supplement will help satisfy your hunger. This wonderful product will not only make the taste of the dish more saturated, but also saturate. Therefore, it is often added to energy bars. It can be given to children, especially active teenagers involved in sports.
7. Experts recommend paying attention to prunes to people suffering from problems with blood coagulation. Vitamin K, which is part of the dried fruit, copes with this problem.
8. Vitamin C tonic is important for the functioning of the immune system, the optimal functioning of connective and bone tissue.
9. Prunes are used as cancer prevention. This feature of dried fruit stems from its ability to suppress pathological processes in the body.

Prunes are useful for heart disease, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and rheumatism.

But the main benefits of prunes are in the intestines. It has an antibacterial effect, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microflora: staphylococcus, salmonella and E. coli. And due to natural muscle stimulation, the gastrointestinal tract helps with stool normalization and natural detoxification.

How to use prune as a laxative

To combat constipation, you can eat dried fruit directly, or you can make natural infusions from it. They are suitable for people of almost any age.

Prune infusion
Take 12 units. prunes, rinse well, soak for 15-20 minutes in clean water, separate the pulp from the seeds.Put them in a convenient container and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Cover the container with a lid and insist for 10-12 hours. For children, give 1 teaspoon after a meal, adults can drink half a glass immediately, but better before going to bed.

Laxative for babies
Prune puree is a great way to prevent constipation in young children. It can be given to children, starting from 8 months. Take 5 to 10 pcs. prunes, rinse under running water, soak for half an hour in clean water. Softened fruits, pour over boiling water and again put in clean water for 12 hours. This is best done at night. In the morning, prunes should be boiled for several minutes in clean water, peeled from them and twisted in a meat grinder. The result is a wonderful smoothie that you can give your child. Start introducing it into the diet gradually, with one coffee spoon. The maximum amount of mashed potatoes regulate yourself, based on the age and condition of the intestines of the child.

Contraindications to the use of prunes

Despite its enormous benefits for the body, in some cases, prunes should be discarded. First of all, it is contraindicated for diabetics, because it has a high sugar content in its composition. Do not abuse prunes and hypotensives, because it helps lower blood pressure. In cases of individual intolerance, the use of prunes can manifest as an allergic reaction.

How much prune can I eat per day?

The optimal daily intake of prunes is 5-6 pieces. Since it has a laxative effect, an excessive amount in the diet can provoke problems with stool. In addition, this is a high-calorie product - 230 grams per 100 grams.

How to choose natural prunes

Of fundamental importance when choosing any dried fruit is the technology of its drying. Not only the quality of the product, but also its safety for humans depends on the method chosen by the manufacturer. It could be:

Drying in the shade
An ideal way to harvest prunes, since it does not involve the use of any auxiliary means. Plus, the fruit retains all its beneficial properties, and the taste becomes even brighter. The only drawback of this approach is the large time costs.

Drying in the sun
A valid way, but not the best. Prunes dried in this way are safe for the body, it contains vitamins and minerals, but all the moisture and juice are evaporated from it, so it tastes solid compared to dried prunes in the shade.

Chemistry Drying
This is the worst and most common way of harvesting dried fruits. We often find prunes on our market that are smoked with sulfur dioxide and dyed. It looks more beautiful than prunes, dried in the shade, insects do not sit on it and it can be stored for years. But the reason for this is the abundance of chemistry that makes dried fruit simply plastic.

Sometimes prunes are “smoked” with liquid smoke, which, despite the claims of manufacturers, is a carcinogen. It extremely negatively affects the condition of the intestine and the regular consumption of foods processed by it, threatens oncology. In most civilized countries, it is prohibited.

Some quirky companies use caustic soda to process plums. Unripe fruits often have very hard peels, which is why they dry for a long time. To speed up this process, plums are dipped in a solution of non-food soda, which destroys the skin and drying is faster. But in the end, prunes made in this way become a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, because any microorganisms easily leak through the skin into it.

Properly dried prunes have a matte, black color. He is not bitter, and he does not have a rich smoked aftertaste.Its natural taste is sweet with a neutral sourness.

If prunes have a rich brown color, then they were placed in boiling water before softening to soften them. There is nothing particularly wrong with this, but it is of no use. Dried fruit, which was dipped in non-baking soda, has the same shade.

Prunes, which in appearance resembles coal (has graphite hues and a glossy surface), are covered with a layer of glycerin. This is done to improve its presentation and make it more palatable.

How to check the quality of prunes? Very simple - soak it and set it aside for a while. Natural in some places will turn slightly white, unnatural will remain "ideal".

It is also better to buy a prune with a stone. According to Eastern philosophy, the “soul” has been preserved in it, respectively, and the taste of such a fruit is very expressive. And Western experts, based on laboratory research, argue that such prunes have more vitamins and minerals.

Do not forget that dried fruits must be thoroughly washed, even if they seem to be perfectly clean in appearance. This will allow not only to clean them of dirt, but also to wash off at least some part of the chemistry from them. For these purposes, it is very useful to soak the prunes in hot water. It will soften the fruits and absorb some of the harmful substances.

How to prepare prunes at home

If you are not ready to expose your health and the health of loved ones to potential risk, you can dry the prunes at home. To do this, stock up on fresh plums and choose the technology that suits you best. Before drying, the fruit must be thoroughly washed and left to dry under natural conditions. As a last resort, they can be wet with a paper kitchen towel.

In the oven
In order to quickly dry the plums in the oven, while preserving all the useful properties in them, you must first cut them in half and remove the bone. Otherwise, the rough peel of the whole plum will not allow it to dry well and you will have to dip it in boiling water. Drying in the oven itself consists of three stages:

1. Preheat the oven to 50 ° C and put plums in it for 5 hours. After this time, pull them out and leave to cool to room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to 70 ° C, lay the plums on the other side and again leave to languish in it for 5 hours. After they are pulled out again and left to cool.
3. We heat the prunes to 75 ° C and leave in the oven to “reach” to maximum readiness. The final stage usually takes several hours.

Prunes dried by this technology have a very rich taste and are completely healthy.

With an electric dryer

How to store prunes

You can store prunes in enameled dishes, a glass jar or a rag bag. The container must be made of natural materials and must be closed.

Prune is an affordable dried fruit, the addition of which in the diet will enrich it with nutritional components. Even the simplest dish can be made more expressive and original with its help. And prune infusion is a safe alternative to pharmacy laxatives, even for children.

Video: the benefits of prunes