What's wrinkly, sticky and makes you poo?
October 18th 2007 00:15
Prunes of course. What did you think I was going to say?
When my family and I were travelling up to Queensland from Victoria recently we stopped off for a couple of weeks at my husband’s parents’ house … “the in-laws’ place” as it shall be known.
Anyway, at the in-laws’ place my children discovered prunes.
Yes, prunes, dried plums with … um … a very interesting reputation.
They were given a couple for breakfast every morning and really seemed to enjoy the taste and texture (slimy, sticky and wrinkly as it was) in their cereal. Whether or not the prunes did the job they are purported to do … well, I honestly don’t know. I didn’t ask.
Personally, I can take them or leave them (or pass them, if it comes to that), prunes aren’t my favourite fruit by any stretch of the imagination but my children, especially my daughter, seem to truly enjoy them.
So, that begs the question … what are these prunes really doing to my children?
Well, prunes, as I said, are just dried plums, generally dried versions of the Prunus Domestica species of plum.
These fruits are a good source of the important antioxidant vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene, which works to prevent free radicals from damaging our cells. It can prevent the build-up of cholesterol in our arteries and can help to prevent or slow down the mutation of cells which can result in cancer. By causing damage, free radicals can be responsible for internal inflammation, a way for the body to dispose of unhealthy cells, resulting in a higher incidence of other conditions. Prunes, through their high levels of beta-carotene, can potentially be helpful in preventing or slowing down the progression of conditions such as atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, and colon cancer.
Prunes can also potentially assist in reducing the severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The good old, fun-loving prune is also high in potassium, a mineral reputed to be essential in heart health, maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Their extremely low levels of sodium also reinforce the heart health message.
Potassium has also been shown to promote bone health by counteracting the loss of calcium through urine, experienced by many westerners due to diets high in salt. This can then assist in the prevention of conditions such as osteoporosis.
Prunes are high in soluble fibre which assists in the normalisation of blood sugar levels and increases insulin sensitivity which could be helpful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The fibre also makes you feel full for longer after a meal by slowing the rate at which food leaves the stomach … good news for all those weight loss fanatics out there.
Something that most of us have heard at some point in our lives is that prunes can prevent constipation and promote bowel regularity. As well as providing bulk and pushing the waste out of our bodies faster, decreasing the risk of colon cancer and haemorrhoids, prunes' insoluble fibre provides food for the "friendly" bacteria in the large intestine, maintaining a healthy colon. These good bacteria also create two other fatty acids, propionic and acetic acid, used as fuel by the cells of the liver and muscles.
The insoluble fibre helps to maintain larger populations of friendly bacteria than would otherwise be present. In addition to producing the useful fatty acids, friendly bacteria protect the intestines by crowding out pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria and preventing them from surviving
There is even research to show that plums and prunes can potentially assist in the absorption of iron into the body, probably due to their levels of vitamin C.
So there you have it … a brief overview of prunes. They’re not just a pretty face … um … oh, er … OK, so they don’t have such a pretty face. Well … um … they’re not just a slimy, sticky thing, they really do have many excellent reasons for sticking up their hands and saying “pick me, pick me!”
Trust me … their reputation for being good for your intestines has been proven in our house …
Piccys courtesy of Wiki
When my family and I were travelling up to Queensland from Victoria recently we stopped off for a couple of weeks at my husband’s parents’ house … “the in-laws’ place” as it shall be known.
Anyway, at the in-laws’ place my children discovered prunes.
Yes, prunes, dried plums with … um … a very interesting reputation.
They were given a couple for breakfast every morning and really seemed to enjoy the taste and texture (slimy, sticky and wrinkly as it was) in their cereal. Whether or not the prunes did the job they are purported to do … well, I honestly don’t know. I didn’t ask.
Personally, I can take them or leave them (or pass them, if it comes to that), prunes aren’t my favourite fruit by any stretch of the imagination but my children, especially my daughter, seem to truly enjoy them.
So, that begs the question … what are these prunes really doing to my children?
Plums just waiting to be dried
Well, prunes, as I said, are just dried plums, generally dried versions of the Prunus Domestica species of plum.
These fruits are a good source of the important antioxidant vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene, which works to prevent free radicals from damaging our cells. It can prevent the build-up of cholesterol in our arteries and can help to prevent or slow down the mutation of cells which can result in cancer. By causing damage, free radicals can be responsible for internal inflammation, a way for the body to dispose of unhealthy cells, resulting in a higher incidence of other conditions. Prunes, through their high levels of beta-carotene, can potentially be helpful in preventing or slowing down the progression of conditions such as atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, and colon cancer.
Prunes can also potentially assist in reducing the severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The good old, fun-loving prune is also high in potassium, a mineral reputed to be essential in heart health, maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Their extremely low levels of sodium also reinforce the heart health message.
Potassium has also been shown to promote bone health by counteracting the loss of calcium through urine, experienced by many westerners due to diets high in salt. This can then assist in the prevention of conditions such as osteoporosis.
Prunes are high in soluble fibre which assists in the normalisation of blood sugar levels and increases insulin sensitivity which could be helpful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The fibre also makes you feel full for longer after a meal by slowing the rate at which food leaves the stomach … good news for all those weight loss fanatics out there.
A prune (what more can I say?)
Something that most of us have heard at some point in our lives is that prunes can prevent constipation and promote bowel regularity. As well as providing bulk and pushing the waste out of our bodies faster, decreasing the risk of colon cancer and haemorrhoids, prunes' insoluble fibre provides food for the "friendly" bacteria in the large intestine, maintaining a healthy colon. These good bacteria also create two other fatty acids, propionic and acetic acid, used as fuel by the cells of the liver and muscles.
The insoluble fibre helps to maintain larger populations of friendly bacteria than would otherwise be present. In addition to producing the useful fatty acids, friendly bacteria protect the intestines by crowding out pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria and preventing them from surviving
There is even research to show that plums and prunes can potentially assist in the absorption of iron into the body, probably due to their levels of vitamin C.
So there you have it … a brief overview of prunes. They’re not just a pretty face … um … oh, er … OK, so they don’t have such a pretty face. Well … um … they’re not just a slimy, sticky thing, they really do have many excellent reasons for sticking up their hands and saying “pick me, pick me!”
Trust me … their reputation for being good for your intestines has been proven in our house …
Piccys courtesy of Wiki
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
A gel suppositary???
I do love prunes...in moderation. Prunes and a just right brie...yum!
DDH likes prune juice...unfortunately, one hot Summer night, the eldest crawled to the fridge in the middle of the night...we suspect heavily under the influence of a social lubricant...and reached for the first thing that quenched his thirst.
I was laughing too much to get mad that he drank, not only from the bottle, but the WHOLE bottle.
Let's just say he got a very fast detox!
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Great story, although I'm sure your eldest won't thank you for sharing it.
By the way ... the gel suppositary post is planned for next week!!
Only kidding!
xxxx
Comment by Toni
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
James has got a point, I love prunes, but dried figs...oh yum.
Very informative post, thanks.
Lilla ...
Comment by David
Then I thought maybe it was one of those homosexual Orble bloggers advocating safe organic sex with fruit, as a bit of a break from ranting about bullshit.
I'm glad it was just a post about real prunes.
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Prunes are definitely packed full of goodies.
Thanks for stopping by.
A.
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Hate to tell you this but I've never tried Dried Figs, soomething to add to the list, I guess.
Thanks for dropping in.
A.
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Glad I could be of assistance. It's always good to know whether what you're eating is doing you good or not.
Take care
A.
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Glad I didn't disappoint you. Safe organic sex with fruit, hey? Hmmmm ... why do I get the idea that you'd have liked a post about that?
Be well, friend.
A.xx