Hi there viewers! The summer harvest is always flavorful
and delicious. If you are a fan of peaches, apricots, nectarines, and tangerines then try
having plums for a change. They are vibrantly colored, juicy, and jam-packed with nutrients.
This extraordinary fruit definitely makes the list of superfoods. Plums are a must-have summer fruit!
In today’s video, we’ll be discussing how you can get oodles of benefits from plums.
Can they help in bone formation? What about great skin and hair?
Wait a minute, can they actually make you sharper? We’re discussing all that and more…
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But first, let's delve into the history of plums.
China was the first country to grow plums thousands of years ago. Chinese culture
believed plums to symbolize good fortune. This stone fruit, later on, traveled to Japan and then
got introduced to the rest of the world. Today there are almost 2000 varieties of plums being
cultivated globally. It's no surprise that it's the second most cultivated fruit in the world.
Plum also refers to the color of the fruit which is quite a misnomer.
Because plums are available in purple, reddish-purple, yellow, green, red,
and even white. Plums are the sister fruits of apricots, peaches, apples, cherries, raspberries,
almonds, and strawberries. They all belong to the Rosaceae family. It's completely edible
except for its pit. It can grow as large as a baseball and sometimes be as small as a cherry.
Want to know why you should be eating this fruit? Then stick around!
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Firstly, they guarantee beautiful skin.
Plums are a great source of vitamin E and beta carotene.
These two vitamins fight the early signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Plums are
a great source of antioxidants that protect the membranes of the skin cells from free radicals.
They have mild anti-inflammatory effects that keep acne and pimples at bay.
Another thing that plums do is boost the production of collagen and maintain skin
elasticity. Whether you are having fresh plum juice or raw plums in your salad,
it is just going to make your skin look younger. One plum has almost 10% of your recommended
daily intake of Vitamin C. This helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and scar marks.
It's an effective tool to fade blemishes promoting new skin formation.
But that is not all. This beauty buddy can actually be applied to your skin in a face mask.
All you have to do is pulp a few plums, mix them with 1 tbsp of Barley flour and add 2
to 3 drops of rosewater. This DIY face mask is basically for every skin type. It will hydrate
your skin and keep it nourished. The topical application can help you get rid of freckles also.
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Plums work magically against constipation.
Are you having a tough time on the toilet? Then this home remedy will do wonders.
You can try prunes or prune juice to relieve chronic constipation. Prunes are dried plums
that have saturated fiber. The majority of it is insoluble and does not combine with water.
It is responsible for adding bulk to your stool and pushing things ahead.
Plums also contain fiber. But one prune will have double the amount of fiber than one
plum. A study showed people who ate 2 Oz of prunes daily for about
three weeks experienced freedom from constipation.
Additionally, a natural sugar alcohol called sorbitol present in prunes acts as a natural
laxative. This has been an age-old remedy for infants above 9 months as well as adults. Remember
to stay within limits while consuming prunes. Having more than half a cup can cause diarrhea.
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Trying to get a slimmer waistline?
Plums are definitely one of the fruits that can give you a defined waist.
It's all about making smart swaps. A small plum has just 30 calories. It's perfect for snacking
and much healthier than a slice of pizza or sweet treats. You
will automatically lose weight when your body enters a calorie deficit.
Plus the fiber from the fruit is bound to keep you full for longer and stop you from overeating.
Eating natural foods can do miracles for your body. In fact, a study showed overweight people
who ate prunes and plums every day for 12 weeks lost 4.4 pounds of weight and an
inch from their waistline. Are you running to your fridge to grab a plum already?
Then hold on, we have a bunch of more benefits coming right up.
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Ever heard about macular degeneration?
This is a serious medical condition that can lead to vision loss if not detected early.
It is difficult to maintain good eyesight with constant UV radiation targeting your eyes.
If you are already seeing dark spots or if your
vision is becoming hazy then it could be macular degeneration.
Vitamin A and beta carotene can prevent this condition. Nutrients crucial for great eyesight
like carotenoids are already present in plums and can give you great eyesight as you age.
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Moving along plums safeguards your heart health.
Do you have high blood pressure or just want to prevent it in the future?
Then having plums regularly can clean up your arteries and normalize elevated blood pressure.
The right food and a little exercise can help you to even go off your medication.
If you are not watching what you eat then the cholesterol buildup in your arteries
can decrease the blood flow to your heart eventually causing shortness of breath,
coronary artery disease, and ultimately a complete blockage.
The easiest way to stay away from heart attacks is by eating plums.
One animal study found mice who were fed dried plum powder and plum juice
had lower bad cholesterol and higher good cholesterol. We would all agree that plums
make a gorgeous addition to any fruit basket. You might as well eat them to reap maximum benefits.
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Next up, plums can eliminate anemia.
Are you constantly exhausted without doing significant physical work? Chances are you could
have low hemoglobin levels or iron deficiency anemia. Wondering why that should be of any
concern? Well, Iron from the blood binds with oxygen. When your system receives oxygenated blood
you feel energized and lively. This condition is more harmful than it sounds if neglected.
Severe anemia causes hair loss, insomnia, muscle cramps, dizziness, and heart problems.
Average hemoglobin in adult men is 14 to 18 grams per deciliter while in women it is 12
to 16 grams per deciliter. You can have iron-rich foods to up your hemoglobin level. Vitamin C from
plums can help in the better absorption of iron and help to get rid of anemia quickly.
Vitamin K and copper also assist in red blood cell formation and ensure healthy blood circulation.
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Looking for luscious hair?
Then just pop in a few plums. If you are experiencing your hair partition
growing wider or thinning out of hair near the temples then it could be alopecia.
Male pattern baldness can cause thinning of hair too.
Plums stimulate your hair follicles to grow new hair. They also help to maintain proper
hormonal balance and reduce adrenal gland fatigue that causes hair loss. As they reduce anemia,
blood circulation to the scalp also improves thereby giving you thicker and strong hair.
Vitamin E strengthens the hair roots and protects the follicles of the scalp.
If you are suffering from dandruff then vitamin C from the plums can stop the flaking of your scalp.
There is little scientific evidence for this but beauty experts say that
eating super pigmented foods like plums can help to maintain your natural hair color.
So if you want to avoid premature graying and get a healthy mane then plums might help.
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Want to control your blood sugar naturally?
Ditch the high glycemic foods and enjoy a snack of plums without any fear.
Let's go into a few facts. 1 plum contains 7 grams of sugar.
Research shows regular plum consumption significantly reduces the risk of type 2
diabetes. The fiber from the fruit also manages blood sugar spikes effectively. Moreover,
the amazing nutrients present in plums slow down the uptake of sugar through the gut wall.
Plums contain carbs but they are not bad carbs.
They will in no way contribute to causing diabetes.
Once you normalize your blood glucose you don't have to worry about insulin resistance, headaches,
low energy levels, and infertility. So diabetics, don't be afraid to have this fruit in limits.
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Searching for tips to make your bones strong?
Then plum juice is what your joints need. Bone loss begins in your mid-thirties.
Postmenopausal women also have depleted calcium stores.
The phenolic compounds and flavonoids can help to preserve bone density.
Boron, vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium from the fruit can strengthen your
Bony framework. Prunes also can protect you from osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Strong joins assure improved mobility and a wider range of motion while you work out.
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Another reason to eat more plums is their antioxidant benefits.
The reddish-purple pigment in plums can soak up the free radicals and reduce
inflammation. Usually, dark-colored foods have a positive effect in stopping cancer progression.
They also have an overall immunity-boosting effect on your system. Prunes and plums have
been studied to combat the cell damage from breast and liver cancer. So they are especially
important for women. Make your diet colorful with plums and get the best antioxidant benefits.
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Before we wrap up, how about improving cognition?
Age-related neural degeneration does not have a treatment.
The medical world has still no treatment for Alzheimer’s to reverse it fully.
Taking good care of your brain right from an early age remains your only option.
While there is a lot that you can do to stay sharp in your old age,
eating plums can also help. Studies have shown prunes and plums to reduce
inflammation of your central nervous system and improve memory in animals.
Other trace elements present in plums can also improve your brain functions.
Fruits and vegetables are nature's gifts that can bring the most amazing transformation to
your bodies. But not all of them are equal. Have I caught your interest?
Let's keep the conversation going with a couple of more fruit and vegetable-related videos, shall we?
Watch eight healthy fruits you should be eating and eight you shouldn't
or 8 healthy vegetables you should be eating and 8 you shouldn't.
Go ahead Click one or better yet watch both and learn more about eating healthy.
How often do you eat plums? Let us know in the comments below.