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By Sheila Barnhill on July 5th, 2011
Plums are Another Healthy Snack
Plums have so many vitamins and minerals.
Plums are such a wonderful tasty treat on a hot summer day. The small plants are very widely cultivated in the United States, Japan, and Europe. Each plum is about the size of a medium tomato. There is a central depression where the stem is and the pulp is very juicy. The colors of the pulp range anywhere from creamy yellow, crimson, light blue or green in color. In the center is a single seed which is very hard and inedible.
Plums have both a sweet and tarty taste. Perfect for snacking. Plums are also low in calories and fat. Healthy compounds found in plums are dietary fiber, sorbitol, and isatin. These help to regulate the functions of the digestive system and help constipation conditions.
Also, plums are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant. Vitamin C helps the body fight infections, free radical cell damage and counter inflammation. The yellow Mirabelle plums are an excellent source of vitamin A which is vital for vision and for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Vitamin A also helps protect from lung and mouth cancer.
Plums also help promote flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin in large amounts. These compounds literally eat oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species that play an important role in aging and various diseases. Zeaxanthin is absorbed into the retina where it helps filter light and provides antioxidant protection.
Plums are also rich in potassium, flouride and iron. Iron is necessary for red blood cell formation, potassium is vital for cell and body fluids that help regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
There are also b-complex vitamins in plums such as niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These play a key role as co-factors to help the body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats. They also have 5% of the required amount of vitamin K, which is important for clotting of the blood, and in bone metabolism. Vitamin K also helps reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.
By Sheila Barnhill on July 5th, 2011
Plums are Another Healthy Snack
Plums have so many vitamins and minerals.
Plums are such a wonderful tasty treat on a hot summer day. The small plants are very widely cultivated in the United States, Japan, and Europe. Each plum is about the size of a medium tomato. There is a central depression where the stem is and the pulp is very juicy. The colors of the pulp range anywhere from creamy yellow, crimson, light blue or green in color. In the center is a single seed which is very hard and inedible.
Plums have both a sweet and tarty taste. Perfect for snacking. Plums are also low in calories and fat. Healthy compounds found in plums are dietary fiber, sorbitol, and isatin. These help to regulate the functions of the digestive system and help constipation conditions.
Also, plums are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant. Vitamin C helps the body fight infections, free radical cell damage and counter inflammation. The yellow Mirabelle plums are an excellent source of vitamin A which is vital for vision and for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Vitamin A also helps protect from lung and mouth cancer.
Plums also help promote flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin in large amounts. These compounds literally eat oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species that play an important role in aging and various diseases. Zeaxanthin is absorbed into the retina where it helps filter light and provides antioxidant protection.
Plums are also rich in potassium, flouride and iron. Iron is necessary for red blood cell formation, potassium is vital for cell and body fluids that help regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
There are also b-complex vitamins in plums such as niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These play a key role as co-factors to help the body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats. They also have 5% of the required amount of vitamin K, which is important for clotting of the blood, and in bone metabolism. Vitamin K also helps reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.
