Benefits of plums

These beautiful fruits must be in season, they are everywhere - and quite cheap!

Plums are a member of the drupe fruits family (think peaches, almonds and cherries). Drupes are fruits that have a hard pit at the centre of their fleshy insides. Granted, they may sometimes not be very sweet, but they are very healthy and for just a handful going for Kshs 20/- there is really no reason why you shouldn't make this your daily snack for the season!

1. Fresh plums are a good source of several vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, magnesium and vitamin B. A good cup of plums supplies you with your recommended daily intake for vitamins C,K and A. Vitamin C is good for you on several levels. Vitamin C is beneficial in the prevention of colds and flus,boosts your immunity levels, essential for the growth, maintenance and repair of bodily tissue including the skin and many more. Vitamin K is essential in blood coagulation while Vitamin A found in especially the Mirabelle (yellow) plums is essential for good vision, together with beta carotene.
2. Plums are sweet. But their sweetness has no effect on your blood sugar! This is good news for diabetics as they are low in calories and they will not mess with your sugar levels, making them an excellent snack.
3. Like mentioned above, they are low in calories and have no saturated fats making them a good snack for those seeking to lose weight. Buy a few on your way home, clean them and pack them into your bag for the office, you can nibble on them all day long without increasing your waistline.
4. Prunes have been used as a laxative as they contain significant levels of insoluble fiber, the type that softness of stools while quickening material through the intestinal tract. So the next time you are feeling a little constipated, have a few of these and see what happens...
5. High in antioxidants that fight free radicals that damage our skin and organs keeping us looking youthful and radiant. Plums have six times the antioxidant potential than other fresh fruits. Only berries beat plums in antioxidant levels (more about berries)
6. Research has shown that plums boost bone health especially for post menopausal women as it reverses bone loss as it has a higher bone mineral density in the spine and forearms while also improving your body's overall bone density.
7. Plums contain a good amount of folic acid and calcium, necessary for pregnant women.

A point to note however, plums contain measurable amounts of oxalates, a naturally occurring substance found in plants, animals and in human beings. When these levels are too concentrated, they build up in the body fluids and cause health problems. If you have an existing kidney or gall bladder problems, speak to your doctor before having any.