Eating Prunes Every Day May Help You Protect Your Lungs
Prunes pack a powerful punch and those who eat them every day may even get some degree of prune-protection from certain lung illnesses.
A 2005 study published in European Respiratory Review demonstrated that a diet rich in polyphenols, the antioxidants found in prunes, may decrease one’s risk of developing COPD, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This may be because the good-for-you chemical compounds found in prunes work to neutralize oxidation, and subsequently can potentially stop damage caused by smoking or other environmental factors.
Of course, that’s not to say that smokers can counteract their unhealthy habit with prunes. Nevertheless, while more extensive research is certainly needed, there is early evidence that prunes as well as other foods high in antioxidants can possibly offer the lungs some level of protection from life-threatening diseases like emphysema or lung cancer. Hey, it’s worth a shot.
Prunes: Good For More Than Constipation Relief
Prunes slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach, helping dieters feel full sooner and for longer periods. Theyre also fat free and, even with their natural sugars, only a mere 11 calories each. Prunes contain good amounts of potassium and iron, and antioxidants, including lutein. With these nutrients, you could find benefit for your eyes, skin and hair, and even some help in the battle against osteoporosis.
Your Good Health: Prunes End Constipation Reader Says
Dear Dr. Roach: Several months ago, you had an article in the paper about an 82-year-old man who had a constipation problem. You mentioned a couple of medications to take. I am an 82-year-old man, and just shortly after that article I became constipated for a couple of days. My wife told me to take ex-lax I took it for two or three days, and it worked. Three days later, I had it again, so I took another ex-lax or two, and it worked again.
I was sitting in my recliner a couple of days later when I remembered when I was in my late teens and had the same problem. My mother told me to eat some prunes wow, does that work. Wouldnt eating prunes be more healthy than taking drugs? My wife and I have been eating three or four prunes every evening since then, and I have had no problem. We read that eating prunes every day also makes our bones stronger. Is this really true, and how many should a person eat daily?
R.F.P.
Some over-the-counter constipation drugs used to contain phenolphthalein, which is not safe for long-term use. Occasional use of senna or docusate is fine.Prunes are a very effective treatment for constipation for many people. They are a fruit, but being dried, are higher in sugar than many others. Three to four prunes a day seems reasonable to me, and is effective for many people to treat constipation.
P.N.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to.
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Butter And Prune Juice To Get Rid Of Constipation
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
You can drink orange juice if you do not have any apple juice available.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this in the morning to relieve constipation.
Why This Works
This is a very effective remedy for those who suffer from chronic constipation or have not had bowel movement for 2 to 3 days. It kickstarts bowel movement even if you are suffering from a particularly severe case of constipation .
Does Kiwifruit Help Chronic Constipation
A gastroenterologist teams up with his son to find out if kiwifruits measure up to prunes and psyllium when it comes to combatting chronic constipation.
While many people associate constipation with discomfort, they might be unaware that it isnt a disease. Instead, its a symptom often associated with another health problem. And according to the National Institutes of Health, constipation occurs in all ages and populations throughout the United States, with nearly 16% of adults showing signs of the condition.
William Chey, M.D., a professor of gastroenterology and nutritional sciences at Michigan Medicine, teamed up with his colleague, Shanti Eswaran, M.D., an associate professor of gastroenterology, and his son, Samuel Chey, MPH, who is a clinical research manager for the Michigan Medicine division of gastroenterology, to present their research on several fruits, including kiwifruit, as effective therapies for chronic constipation at this years American College of Gastroenterology virtual meeting.
While psyllium, which is a type of fiber made from the seed husks of the Plantago ovata plant, and prunes have both been proven effective as treatments for chronic constipation, several Asian studies have shown that fresh kiwifruit can also help individuals with this condition, says Samuel. And many patients are interested in natural therapies. So, our study addressed a very common problem.
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Prunes And Prune Juice: A Natural Remedy For Constipation
Eating prunes, or dried plums, can alleviate constipation. According to a study in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, dried plums and their derivatives, such as prune juice, can prevent constipation and may prevent colon cancer. The nutrients found in prunes may also help control obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Research also shows that using prunes and prune juice can be more effective than other constipation-relieving methods. One study in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics states that prunes work even better than medications containing psyllium. Another study says that prunes should be used as a first-line therapy for constipation.
Eating Prunes Every Day Could Cause Diarrhea
Prunes have plenty of health benefits. However, eating a handful of these dried plums every day could have you running to the bathroom more than you’d probably like.
If you’ve ever tried to naturally relieve an infant’s constipation with a baby food pouch full of pureed prunes, then you know this fruit is effective perhaps even too effective. When consumed in excess, the sorbitol in prunes which has a natural laxative effect can backfire, causing diarrhea and possibly even dehydration, as noted by LiveStrong.
Even if this sugar alcohol ingredient doesn’t result in loose stools, you may still find yourself experiencing other awkward tummy troubles if you chow down on too many prunes. While fiber is good for your digestive tract, it can sometimes lead to gas, bloating, and discomfort . This is especially true for those people who are not accustomed to eating high fiber foods, per LiveStrong. With that in mind, consider gradually introducing prunes into your daily diet. Pace yourself, and your digestive system will thank you.
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Why Do Prunes Help With Constipation
constipationPrunespruneprune
. People also ask, why do prunes act as a laxative?
Dried plums are considered to be very good for your overall health. Prune juice is filtered, so it doesn’t have the high fiber content of dried prunes. Still, both are laxatives because of their high sorbitol content. sugars combined with soluble fiber, which provides sustained energy.
are prunes a good laxative? Often called “Nature’s Remedy,” prunes contain sorbitol, which has a natural, laxative effect in the body. Dried plums are also high in disease-fighting antioxidants and have both insoluble and soluble fiber. One cup of pitted, uncooked prunes contains 12 grams of fiber.
Keeping this in view, how many prunes should I eat to help with constipation?
The results of the study suggested that drinking 125 milliliters, or about half a cup, twice a day works as an effective laxative, at least in cases of mild constipation. When it comes to eating prunes for digestive issues, many studies base their findings on eating 100 g, or approximately 10 whole prunes, each day.
How many prunes should you eat per day?
Four to five prunes is considered one serving of prunes. It is perfectly safe to consume two to three servings of prunes a day, however everyone is different so we’d suggest you start with one serving a day and see how you feel.
Your Meds Could Be A Cause
Fact. Some drugs for pain, depression, high blood pressure, and Parkinson’s disease are linked to constipation. Tell your doctor whatâs going on. You may be able to take something else. Calcium and iron supplements, especially if you also take something else that affects your stool, can also cause problems.
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Eating Prunes Daily May Help You Lose Weight
Eating prunes every day could be the key to shedding unwanted pounds.
A 2010 study in Appetite observed how various snack items satiate hunger and affect glucose and hormone response. In the study, 19 female participants ate snacks with the exact same amount of calories ranging from white bread, to low-fat treats, to prunes all on different days, with the most significant nutritional variations being sugar and fiber content. After eating each snack on its respective day, the women rated how they felt in terms of satisfaction every 15 minutes for two hours. The result? The women all reported feeling more satisfied after eating prunes.
To put it simply, prunes are a stay-slim snack that will keep you feeling fuller for longer. Still, it’s important to remember that moderation is key. Eaten in excess, prunes could make you pack on those pesky, unwanted pounds. As noted by Healthline, a handful of six prunes has 137 calories and 21.7 grams of sugar so be sure to exercise portion control while snacking away on prunes, or while using them to make your cereal more filling.
Why Prunes Are Ideal For Constipation
With all this in mind, there are several reasons that constipation is so effectively treated by prunes.
For starters, prunes offer a great source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is the type that is most active in the body and will actually stimulate a kind of wave of contractions as it passes through the system. These contractions are located in the intestinal muscles , which in turn are responsible for moving food through the digestive system.
At the same time, the fiber will also break down the stool and this combination is enough to provide a two-pronged solution for combating constipation. Very often, this is enough to dislodge uncomfortable blockages.
What makes prunes especially good in this regard though, is that prunes are also a source of insoluble fiber. This is the type of fiber that doesnt get absorbed into the body . This is the type of fiber that is most effective at directly breaking up stool and encouraging movement through the digestive system and bowels.
Another great advantage of prunes for constipation, is an active ingredient called sorbitol. Sorbitol is a substance that draws in and absorbs water. By consuming prunes, this encourages water to be drawn back into the colon and into the stool where it increases the lubrication and helps it to pass through. This process is also further supported by the inclusion of potassium, which is an electrolyte that similarly draws in water.
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- Be sure to take enough fluid along with increasing your intake of fiber or else you will increase your risk of becoming constipated. Drink more water and include other liquids in your diet for better results.
- Prune juice is effective, but eat prunes whenever you can because they provide you with a good amount of fiber and sorbitol.
- Do not take prune juice or prunes when you have a kidney or gallbladder condition because the oxalates in prunes can affect the way your body absorbs calcium.
- Do not exceed the recommended dosage or you may end up dealing with stomach cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
How To Add Prunes To Your Diet:
“There are plenty of different ways to enjoy the prune as part of your diet: from smoothies to salads and soups to savory dinner dishes. Prunes can even be used as a sugar and fat substitute in baked goods,” Dr. Hooshmand shares.
Enjoy this yummy dried fruit by itself or try it in a variety of different ways:
- Use prunes alongside your favorite variety of nuts in a healthy homemade trail mix
- Add chopped prunes as a topping to oatmeal or yogurt
- Incorporate prunes in stews or tagine for a sweet savory twist
- Add a prune or two to your morning smoothie
- Toss chopped prunes into salad alongside your favorite veggies and vinaigrette
- Use prunes for natural sweetness and fiber in energy bites
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How Do You Soften Prunes
Put your dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain the fruit and discard the water. The fruit will be plumper, juicier, and softer. To give your fruit some extra flavor, swap the water for fruit juice or a liquor, like rum, bourbon, or brandy.
Why You Should Travel With Prunes
Prunes make a great on-the-road snack they dont require refrigeration and arent messy to eat. You can take them anywhere. You can even get them through TSA, Clemens adds.
And thats particularly useful for people who find themselves afflicted with travelers constipation, which may affect 40 percent of people who travel. Lots of factors can cause travelers constipation, ranging from the psychological and physical . And thats just considering domestic travel add in different time zones, exotic foods, and a new environment, and of course things are going to get out of whack. As we travel internationally, peoples gastrointestinal irregularities change. could be something that could assist you in maintaining good GI health, Clemens says.
This all sounds good in theory, but dont take sciences word for it. Take mine!
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Can Cause Intestinal Gas And Bloating
Prunes contain complex carbohydrates and sugars that do not completely break down in the digestive tract . So, when the sugars reach the colon, the bacteria start feeding on these undigested carbohydrates.
These bacteria are responsible for intestinal gas and bloating. This can also lead to farting. You can take alpha-D-galactosidase before eating prunes as it reduces intestinal gas by breaking down the complex carbohydrates before they reach your gut.
How To Get Rid Of Constipation With Prunes
June 18, 2016 By Sruthika
If youre having any trouble with regular bowel movement then it is termed as constipation. It is a very common digestive disorder affecting people of all ages that causes difficulty in passing stools along with bloated abdomen, acidity, loss of appetite, depression, headache, ulcers .
Poor diet, not drinking enough of water or fluids, stress, usage of certain medications, laxative abuse, lack of any physical activity, etc. are some causes of constipation. However, the problem is very embarrassing and frustrating aside from discomfort. There are many natural remedies available at your home to treat this problem whenever you suffer from it.
Prunes are one of the effective natural remedies that widely used for treating constipation and keeps you stay regular by helping the body to function properly. Here we are presenting the various benefits of prunes to know how it works for preventing constipation.
Now, we are going to know about 5 best and effective methods of using prunes for constipation. Lets get started.
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How Effective Are Prunes As A Laxative
Prunes as a laxative are considered highly effective. The laxative effect comes from the prunes’ ability to draw water into the intestines, the fruit’s high concentration of insoluble fiber and a compound they contain called dihydrophenylisatin. When consumed in a reasonable serving size, prunes as a laxative are typically safe and have minimal side effects.
There are three reasons for the efficacy of prunes as a laxative. First, these dried plums are concentrated with the simple sugars fructose and sucrose. These sugars are not easily broken down in the digestive tract and, as a result, the undigested sugars pull water from the body and concentrate it in the stool. The extra water softens the bowel movements and eases the passage of fecal matter.
The insoluble fiber prunes contain increases the bulk of a bowel movement, which helps to move the fecal matter more quickly through the body. The high fiber content also helps to improve the regularity of bowel movements. The dihydrophenylisatin contained in prunes serves as a compound that promotes the contractions in the intestine needed to pass fecal matter.
Which Apricot Brand Is The Best
Look for organic apricots that have no added sugar, sulfur dioxide or any preservatives. They usually dont look as pretty pink-orange as non-organic ones, but you are sure youre getting the highest quality without toxins. A great example are Gerbs Dried Apricots, available on :
Nothing but great apricots full power preserved
Warning: do NOT eat papayas when youre pregnant.
Why papayas are good overall
Papaya, and especially green papaya are fantastic for your digestive tract. Papaya has a large amount of fiber and is stuffed with a digestive enzyme called Papain. The greener the Papaya, the more Papain. These combined benefits of the large fiber count and the digestive enzyme make Papaya a perfect fruit for relieving constipation and straightening out your digestive tract.
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