Maybe you used to make fun of your grandma for eating her daily serving of prunes, but as as it happens, she may have been onto something. Packed with nutrients that protect your bones and enhance your all around health, prunes may be probably the most important foods for healthy aging.
If you didn't know, prunes are in fact just dried plums. Though they have a decent quantity of sugar, they're also packed with fiber which slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Quite simply, it's not necessary to be worried about prunes spiking your blood sugar levels, since the fiber protects that!
The fiber can also help combat constipation along with other digestive conditions like hemorrhoids, that are common in older adults. It may also help increase beneficial bacteria within the gut, that could contribute to weight loss and it has been proven to advertise satiety, making you less likely to overeat. Just 1/2 cup serving of prunes contains six grams of fiber, which is a hefty dose! They're also full of other vital nutrients like potassium (which will help with digestion and blood pressure level), as well as other key vitamins like vitamin A, K, B6, niacin, and iron!
When you are looking at the health of parts of your muscles and bones, prunes are a good accessory for your diet simply because they contain boron, a mineral that is necessary for building bone and muscle. In a single study, consuming prunes showed to avoid lack of bone mass in postmenopausal women prone to osteoporosis. Even more impressive was that to see results, they only had to eat five to six prunes each day. Another study also demonstrated that consuming prunes reduced the results of radiation on bone mass, so if you're in treatment, get some prunes in your diet, ASAP! Eating this dried fruit every single day may also lower heart disease risk over time, which makes it among the healthiest go-to snacks.
Because they're loaded with iron, prunes have many beauty benefits, too. Iron deficiency, which is common in older women, causes oxidative harm to the skin, resulting in more wrinkles, wrinkles, and a dull appearance. Not to mention, hair thinning. Add iron into the diet by noshing on the few prunes and the antioxidants in the fruit will send oxygen to damaged skin cells and follicles of hair. Consume a few prunes a day and you'll notice healthier locks and more radiant skin!
The good thing about prunes is that you can reap all of their benefits really easily. In fact, most of the studies mentioned only required eating less than five prunes daily to determine changes. You can eat them straight up, add them to baked goods, puree them to use as a jam, or add these to smoothies. The choice is yours! For your healthiest bet, choose prunes that do not contain added sugars or preservatives. We like these from Sunny Fruit (Buy on Amazon, $7.99).
