Prunes - useful properties and contraindications

Prunes are dried plum fruit. Like other dried fruits, it is used to prepare compotes and pickles, as well as in desserts, salads and sauces. It goes well with meat, adding to it a characteristic sweet note. But besides the expressive taste, prunes are distinguished by a rich composition of vitamins and trace elements. It has a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes the secretion of bile and improves the overall condition of the body.

In some cases, prunes are good for health, and in which it is better not to eat? How to choose the dried fruit and how to dry the plums at home?

Useful properties of prunes

1. The composition of prunes is dominated by pectic substances that are considered natural anti-inflammatory and cleansing agent for the digestive tract. In combination with plant fiber, which is also present in it, it perfectly stimulates the intestines and is a prophylactic combination in combating constipation.
2. Prunes are rich in B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9). Vitamin B1 is necessary for the nervous system, B2 stabilizes fat and protein metabolism. Vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of all essential trace elements, as well as the absorption of glucose by the cells of the nervous system. Without vitamin B9 (folic acid) it is impossible to complete the work of the circulatory and immune systems.
3. Due to the presence of iron, prunes helps with anemia. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.
4. Vitamin A contained in prunes restores vision. It also belongs to the antiviral category, so its addition to food will help in the fight against seasonal infections.
5. Indispensable prunes in the struggle for youth. Performing the function of an antioxidant, it effectively fights free radicals, improves the overall condition of the body and increases the potency.
6. The addition of dried fruit will help satisfy hunger.This wonderful product will not only make the taste of the dish richer, but also saturate. Therefore, it is often added to the energy bars. It can be given to children, especially active teenagers involved in sports.
7. Experts recommend to pay attention to prunes for people suffering from problems with blood clotting. Vitamin K as part of the dried fruit does an excellent job with this problem.
8. Toning vitamin C is important for the immune system, optimal functioning of the connective and bone tissue.
9. Prunes are used as cancer prevention. This feature of a dried fruit is derived 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 fall on the intestines. It has an antibacterial effect, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microflora: staphylococcus, salmonella and Escherichia coli. And due to the natural stimulation of the muscles, the digestive tract helps with the normalization of stool and natural detoxification.

How to use prunes as a laxative

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

Infusion of prunes
Take 12 units. prunes, rinse well, soak for 15-20 minutes in clean water, separate the flesh from the seed. Put them in a convenient container and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Cover the container with a lid and infuse for 10-12 hours. Children give 1 teaspoon after a meal, adults can drink half a glass at once, but it is better before bedtime.

Laxative for babies
Prune puree is a great way to prevent constipation in young children. It can be given to children from 8 months. Take from 5 to 10 pcs. prunes, rinse under running water, soak for half an hour in clean water. Soften fruit pour boiling water and again put in clear water for 12 hours. Optimally do it at night. In the morning, you need to boil the prunes for a few minutes in clean water, peel them off and twist them in a meat grinder. The result will be a great mashed potatoes that can be given to the child.Start to enter it into the diet gradually, with one coffee spoon. Adjust the maximum amount of mashed potatoes themselves, 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, since it has a high sugar content. Do not abuse prunes and gipotonikam because it helps to reduce pressure. In cases of individual intolerance, the use of prunes can manifest itself in the form of an allergic reaction.

How many prunes can be eaten per day

The optimal daily consumption of prunes - 5-6 pieces. Since it has a laxative effect, excessive amounts in the diet can cause problems with the stool. In addition, it is a high-calorie product - 230 kcal per 100 grams.

How to choose natural prunes

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

Shade drying
The ideal way to harvest prunes, because it does not involve the use of any aids. 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 under the sun
A valid way, but not the best. Dried prunes in this way are safe for the body, it contains vitamins and trace elements, but all the moisture and juice is evaporated from it, so it tastes hard compared to dried prunes in the shade.

Drying with the use of chemistry
This is the worst and most common way of harvesting dried fruit. We sell most often prunes smoked with sulfur dioxide and painted with dyes. 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, which makes the dried fruit simply plastic.

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

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

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

If the prunes have a rich brown color, then before packing it was placed in boiling water for softening. There is nothing particularly bad about it, but it does not bring good either. The same shade and in the dry-nuts, which are dipped in non-soda.

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

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

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

Do not forget that the dried fruits should be thoroughly washed, even if they appear to be perfectly clean. This will not only cleanse them of dirt, but also 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 fruit and absorb some of the harmful substances.

How to prepare prunes at home

If you are not ready to put your health and the health of your relatives at 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 in natural conditions. In a pinch, they can be blotted with a paper kitchen towel.

In the oven
In order to quickly dry the plums in the oven, while retaining all the useful properties in them, first they need to be cut in half and remove the bone. Otherwise, the coarse skin of the whole plum will not allow it to dry well and you will have to dip it into boiling water. The drying in the oven itself consists of three stages:

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

Dried prunes using this technology have a very rich taste and are completely healthy.

Using electric dryers

How to store prunes

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

Prune is an available dried fruit, adding it to the diet will enrich it with nutritional components. Even the simplest dish can be made more expressive and original with it. And the extract of prunes is a safe alternative to pharmacy laxatives, allowed even for children.

Video: the use of prunes