Plums: health benefits and harms

Since the advent of such a fruit as plum, scientists have discovered all its beneficial and harmful properties. This plant was obtained several thousand years ago in the territory where Turkey is now located. The culture arose as a result of crossing plum and blackthorn. The fruits turned out to be successful: they had the taste of cherry plum and acquired resistance to cold, which is characteristic of blackthorn. In addition, the product has acquired a number of positive properties of the tern. The result is a fruit that combines a set of positive qualities of two plants.

Types of plums

There are many varieties of plums. The most common of these are the following types:

1. Home plum. The tree can reach a height of 15 meters. Fruits come in different colors - yellow, blue, red, purple. All of them are used as food. The age of the plant can be 25 years, and it bears fruit for 10-15 years.
2. Prickly plum (thorn) is a small shrub that has thorns. It can grow up to 4-5 meters. The fruits are small, blue in color, coated with plaque, have one bone. This fruit has a sour, tart taste, is widely used in folk medicine.
3. Chinese plum - a tree 10-12 meters high. Fruits are yellow, pear-shaped or oval in shape, with a diameter of up to 5 cm, have a purple and red color. This type of plum is rarely grown.
4. Portuguese Lavrovishnya is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1 meter. The plum shape resembles an egg. The fruits are characterized by a bitter-sour taste, have one bone.
5. Sea plum is another type of plant that grows only on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean on the continent of North America. It is a shrub of small height, only 2-4 meters. The fruits are small, up to 2 cm in diameter, also have one seed.

What is the difference between cherry plum and plum

1. First of all, these varieties of fruits differ in color. Cherry plum most often has a yellow-red color, while plum is characterized by a dark blue color.
2. These two products differ in chemical composition and nutritional value. So, plum contains more sugars and less calcium compared to cherry plum.
3. Cherry plum grows in the southern regions, especially in the Caucasus. This is due to the fact that the plant does not withstand low temperatures. Plum is found in all areas with moderate climatic conditions.
4. Cherry plum fruits ripen by the end of summer - the beginning of autumn, plum bears fruits much earlier. Cherry plum begins to bear fruit two years earlier compared to plum trees.
5. Plums are much easier to dry, resulting in prunes. In cherry plum, the bone does not separate. In addition, this species is less susceptible to pests, undemanding to soil. Under our natural conditions, growing special plums does not require any special means. Due to this, the product is environmentally friendly. Plum is exposed to disease and is not resistant to pests.

Composition and calorie content

Plum is a nutritious summer fruit with a very juicy and sweet flavor. The fruit is rich in a wide variety of components that bring significant benefits to the human body.

1. So, plum contains vitamin A, which is involved in the biochemical processes of the immune system, increases the protective function of the body, and is also useful for vision. In addition, the product contains vitamins PP, group B, ascorbic acid, tocopherol. Vitamin K reduces inflammation and increases insulin sensitivity.
2. Fiber in the plum tree is important for the digestive tract. In dried fruits it is much more.
3. Plum also contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that reduce the risk of developing tumors. It is these substances that regulate the acid content and are responsible for the smell and color of the fruit.
4. Iron ensures the normal functioning of the circulatory system of the body.
5. Of the micro and macro elements in the plum, there are substances such as magnesium, calcium, sodium and others.

Calorie content of the product is quite low, only 49 kcal per 100 g.

What are the benefits of plums

General benefit

1. Plums help maintain heart health. Dark fruits contain more antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces the likelihood of cell damage.
2. Fiber helps establish bowel function.
3. Anthocyanins, which are the reddish-blue pigments of the fruit, protect the body against cancer by eliminating free radicals. In addition, it is known that vitamin A in plums prevents the development of oral cancer. Also, this substance protects the eyes from damage due to exposure to ultraviolet light.
4. The presence of plums in the diet strengthens the skeletal system. Boron as part of the product helps maintain bone density.
5. Plum provides absorption of iron in the body. This is due to the high content of ascorbic acid in the culture. Iron is necessary for the formation of red blood cells, improves blood circulation and prevents the development of anemia.
6. Low glycemic index of plum allows you to control the level of glucose in the blood.
7. Potassium helps maintain optimal blood pressure.
8. Antioxidants in the composition of plum fruits slow down the aging process, promote skin rejuvenation, eliminate traces of wounds and ensure their speedy healing.

For women

1. During menstruation, a decrease in hemoglobin levels is often observed in the female body. Plum contains iron, which prevents the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia.
2. These fruits are responsible for the rapid regeneration of the skin. Therefore, the product can be used for acne marks, cuts and microcracks.
3. Fruits are important for women who struggle with extra centimeters at the waist. Regular consumption of plums can cleanse the body. Dietary fiber in the product allows you to speed up the metabolism. As a result, food is absorbed faster and ceases to be deposited in unnecessary places.
4. The rich antioxidant composition of the culture allows you to protect the body from the harmful effects of radionuclides and toxic components. These components are the prevention of cancer of the uterus and breast.
5. In addition, the fruits of plum tree are widely used in cosmetology. This fruit is an ingredient in most cosmetics that provide collagen production and have a rejuvenating effect.

For men

1. It is believed that the use of plums in food additionally provides the synthesis of testosterone and improves the functioning of the prostate gland.
2. It is known that the male body is more likely to encounter high cholesterol in the blood, which leads to heart pathologies. Plum cleanses blood vessels and removes cholesterol plaques from their cavities. This is the prevention of atherosclerosis, thrombosis.
3. Plum fruits can improve the psycho-emotional environment. This is especially important for people who periodically experience various stress factors. It is enough to eat five fruits a day to be calm and sleep soundly.
4. Plum is also useful for men who abuse alcohol, it can cleanse the liver from the effects of ethanol in time. In this case, excess "bad" cholesterol is excreted along with an excess of bile.
5. In addition, this product helps maintain optimal blood pressure and prevent its jumps.

During pregnancy

The question regarding the use of plums during gestation and during breastfeeding is still open. The rich vitamin and mineral composition of the product is very useful for the body of a woman and a baby, but the high activity of some substances in the plum can cause discomfort and even lead to serious disorders.

1. During pregnancy, the product is useful in that it contains folic acid, which is necessary for the proper formation of the unborn baby.
2. Potassium contained in the fruit can eliminate the swelling that pregnant women often face.
3. Dietary fibers found in fruits stimulate the functioning of the digestive tract, as a result of which you can get rid of constipation and discomfort in the abdomen.
4. Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system. Regular consumption of plums during the period of gestation helps to regulate blood pressure.

The product is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance. Overuse can lead to diarrhea, flatulence. It is not recommended to eat unripe fruits. This can provoke the occurrence of pain in the digestive tract.

When breastfeeding

When breastfeeding a newborn baby, a young mother should not consume plums. This can cause constipation or diarrhea in the baby. To introduce such a product into the diet of a breast-feeding woman is possible only after two months from the date of birth. Moreover, this should be done gradually, while controlling the reaction of the baby and the woman's body.

For children

Nutritionists recommend introducing plums into the children's diet no earlier than they reach the age of six months, and only if the child has already tried other vegetable and fruit foods. At the same time, the fruit should not be given in its pure form, but as a compote prepared from dried fruits. Plum puree can be included in the children's menu no earlier than 1 year. This is due to the fact that the product is characterized by a high degree of allergic reaction.

In rare cases, you can use a decoction of prunes from 4 months, when the baby suffers from constipation. However, the dose should be minimal. Before using such a tool, you should consult a pediatrician.

Plum contains many vitamins and minerals that ensure healthy growth and development. It is recommended to give the child plum compote and fresh fruits during the cold season. Such a drink will help strengthen the protective function of the body. Fruits have the ability to gently cleanse the intestinal tract, increase appetite and normalize weight.

Also, plums should be given to children in whom helminths were found.

If the treatment of the child proceeds with the use of various medications, you can prepare a decoction of prunes. This method will improve the effect of drugs and cleanse the baby's body of toxins.

Is it possible to eat plums when losing weight

Plum is characterized by cleansing properties. Therefore, it can be used in weight loss. In addition, there are even several diets that are based on this product. For example, the well-known plum diet, which consists in days of fasting using plums. Such unloading can be carried out no more than twice a week. This will allow you to get rid of a couple of extra pounds in a few days. The diet is strict because only one product is used.Along with this, you can drink non-nutritive fluids, such as mineral water or tea.

During the day, it is necessary to consume about 1 kg of plum, one and a half liters of water and up to 1 liter of green or herbal tea. For such purposes, ripe fruits should be selected, the selected variety should have a low sugar content. Also, fruits should not be very acidic.

The fruits must be washed, dried and divided into five parts. Each part of the product must be eaten at an equal interval of time. The same should be done with the indicated amount of fluids. Tea is recommended to drink half an hour before plum, and water - half an hour after eating fruit.

Instead of plums, you can use 1-2 times a day squeeze from these fruits. After a fasting day, it is important to adhere to the rules of nutrition, that is, to exclude sweet and flour dishes, alcoholic beverages, reduce the consumption of fried foods.

For the best effect, it is recommended to replace the last meal with fresh plums, washed down with water, as on a fasting day.

The benefits and harms of plum juice

Plum juice has the same positive and negative properties as the plum itself. When removing the solid part, the concentration of a number of substances that are present in the fruit increases. This leads to the fact that there are restrictions on the amount of juice consumed. So, at one time you can drink no more than 100 ml of the drink.

As for the plum compote, such a drink also repeats all the properties of a raw product. However, due to the addition of sugar and heat treatment, calorie content is twice as high as that of fresh plum.

Plum bones: benefits and applications

The seeds contain oil, which is used for ascariasis, but without special treatment that cannot be done at home, they should not be used. They found many salts of hydrocyanic acid, which are called cyanides.

To get the healing effect of such an oil, it must be ingested in sufficient quantities. Along with this, cyanides that are hazardous to health will accumulate. For this reason, eating bones and self-pressed oil from them is contraindicated. To protect yourself from the effects of lethal substances, you can use only plum seed oil, which was obtained industrially.

The benefits of plum leaves

Plum tree foliage is used to obtain infusions and decoctions that help in the treatment of various injuries. For example, a decoction treats periodontal disease, wounds that have purulent discharge and heal for a long time, and inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder.

To prepare a decoction, it is necessary to brew about 200 g of leaves in a liter of boiling water for half an hour. Then the liquid should be filtered, cooled and used as directed.

Plums in medicine

Plums are widely used in medicine. So, with the help of this fruit you can get rid of high body temperature and fever, eliminate the symptoms of seasonal vitamin deficiency. Also, this product normalizes the liver, treats diseases of the digestive tract, improves appetite and helps to reduce weight. Also, the fruits of the plum plant are used for inflammation in the oral cavity, hormonal disorders.

With diabetes

Patients with diabetes can eat about 100-150 g of raw fruits per day. If the plum is dried, that is, in the form of prunes, the norm is reduced to 40 g per day. This is due to the high calorie content of such a product.

Important: the glycemic index of plums is 22 units.

With pancreatitis

It is allowed to consume 3-4 ripe plums per day, but without peel. You can only include such fruit in your diet after a meal. If the diagnosis was made several years ago, even with exacerbation, you can eat a couple of fruits without a peel. In the early years of pancreatitis during an exacerbation, the use of plum is contraindicated.

With gastritis

Acceptable consumption of 3-4 ripe fruits. You can drink plum juice, but it should be diluted in a ratio of 1: 2 with water.During exacerbation, any plum-based products are prohibited.

For the intestines

Fresh or dried plums, drinks based on it, have a mild laxative effect, as a result of which the intestinal tract is cleansed. The product also contributes to an increase in the number of beneficial bacteria, because there are dietary fibers in the sink that stimulate their production.

In addition, the product stimulates intestinal motility, eliminates parasites that multiply in the intestine, and also prevents putrefactive formations due to the presence of pectin components.

For constipation

To eliminate constipation, mix dried plum with oats in a ratio of 3: 1. The resulting mixture must be poured with boiling water and insisted for an hour. Next, strain the composition and consume 100 ml 3 times a day.

With gout

With this disease, you can eat no more than 4 fruits per day, and this can be done only after eating.

For the liver

Plum can protect the liver from various injuries, strengthen it by removing toxins from the body and purifying the blood.

The components of the fruit protect the liver from the negative effects. The product contains elements that contribute to the unloading of the body. In addition, the fruits of plums provide the activity of the biliary tract, which leads to the removal of toxins from the body.

Plum-based traditional medicine recipes

Raw fruits contribute to the normalization of bowel function, cleansing the body and improving overall well-being. To do this, it is enough to eat fruit several times a day between main meals.

A decoction of plum tree leaves is used to treat wounds, as well as the prevention of diseases of the upper respiratory organs. To prepare it, you need to take 20 g of crushed plum leaves and pour a glass of boiling water. The mass should be put on fire for half an hour, and then strain. Take the finished product three times a day, 50 ml each.

Dried plums are an excellent treatment for corns. To do this, pour 50 g of dried fruit in a glass of milk, bring the mass to a boil, remove from heat and leave for 10-15 minutes. After this, prunes should be applied to the area with corns for 20 minutes.

Plums in cosmetology

Due to the rich chemical composition, the fruit is an indispensable tool for strengthening curls and restoring the skin. The easiest way to use a plum mask is to apply crushed fruit pulp to your skin for 20 minutes.

To prepare a cleansing mask, it is necessary to mix the crushed pulp of several plums with a tablespoon of onion juice and garlic. Apply the resulting mass to a steamed face and hold for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.

To prepare a hair mask, squeeze the juice of six plums and add a teaspoon of honey and starch and 0.5 teaspoon of yogurt. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply on hair for half an hour. Wash off the mixture with shampoo.

Harm and contraindications

Plum is characterized by many useful properties, but, despite this, it has some side effects that can cause discomfort and even harm human health. Contraindications to the use of such fruits is overeating by patients with diabetes. Plums may contain up to 10 percent sugar, so excessive consumption in this disease is contraindicated. You should also abandon this product with urolithiasis, gout in advanced form, renal failure. Urinary tract diseases, such as obstruction or prostatitis, are also a limitation on the use of plums in the diet, since the fruits of this plant have a diuretic effect.

Allergies or individual intolerances may also occur. Such symptoms are quite rare, but can occur in children.

The use of a large number of plum fruits can lead to the destruction of the upper layer of tooth enamel.

How to pick and store plums

When buying, you should purchase plums that do not have mechanical damage, have a smooth surface, without darkened spots. The smell of fruit can be felt through the peel, it should not have a tart aroma and resemble a liquor. Ripe fruits are usually resilient, their stalk is dry, brown, may fall off when dried. The color of the fruit should be uniform.

Unripe fruits are stored at room temperature, but away from direct sunlight. Do not use plastic bags for storage. If, nevertheless, the fruits are placed in a bag, it is important not to tie it or tie it, having previously pumped all the air out of it using a special device. You can use cardboard egg trays to store fruit in the refrigerator.

After the purchase, plum should be used as soon as possible for food, as over time the product loses its flavor and aromatic properties. Fruits can be stored at room temperature for several days, in the refrigerator - up to two weeks.

Is it possible to freeze

In the frozen state, plum fruits can be stored for a year. You can freeze them only once. Before placing them in the freezer, it is necessary to rinse the fruits, remove the stone from them, pack them in a plastic wrap or bag. Also, a container is suitable for freezing.

Is it possible to dry

Plums are easy to dry. In this form, they can be stored for several months. The preparation of the fruits consists in washing them, bringing them to ripen at room temperature and then blanching in a solution of drinking soda. After that, the fruit can be placed in the oven for several hours. The temperature should be 45 degrees.

How to eat plums

Before eating, rinse the fruit under running water, rinse with boiling water and rinse again under running cold water.

You can not eat unripe and especially green fruits. This can cause indigestion.

How much can you eat per day

When using plums in the diet, it is important to consider that the product is characterized by a laxative and diuretic property. It must be remembered that the daily rate is calculated individually. On average, an adult can eat about 250 g of fruit.

Can I eat at night and on an empty stomach

It is allowed to eat several fruits at night, but you should not do this less than 3-4 hours before bedtime. The night may become sleepless due to rumbling in the abdomen and possible gastrointestinal upset.

On an empty stomach, plum fruits should be consumed by people who suffer from constipation. In other cases, plum can be used after the main meal.

Can I eat bones

Few people know that you can’t eat plum seeds, since they are poisonous. They contain a lot of amygdalin, which, when it enters the stomach under the influence of hydrochloric acid, forms hydrocyanic acid. In large quantities, such a substance leads to poisoning, the symptoms of which are bright pink spots on the skin, the smell of almonds from the victim’s mouth, vomiting and diarrhea, respiratory failure and coordination of movement, speech confusion, dilated pupils.

Excessive consumption of plum seeds can lead to convulsions, which are accompanied by involuntary urination and defecation. After this, the victim may fall into a coma. If you do not provide medical assistance on time, everything ends with death.

What can be made from plums: recipes

Plum is very beneficial for the human body, but it is not absolutely necessary to consume fresh fruits. In winter, when it is impossible to find high-quality fruits, you can use summer preparations.

Compote

Preparing such a drink is very simple. After cooking, it can be cooled and served. So, you need 1 kg of plum fruit, 2 liters of water and a glass of sugar. The first thing to do is peel the fruit.Next, bring the water to a boil, then immerse the peeled and sliced ​​fruits in small pieces. Cook the mass for 15 minutes. After this, remove the compote from the heat and add sugar to it. Mix the mixture until the sweetener dissolves. Compote is ready.

Jam

To obtain plum jam, you need 3 kg of fruit and 2 kg of sugar. First you need to thoroughly rinse the fruit, remove the stalks and seeds. In order for the plum to give more juice and then better soak, it is necessary to shift the cleaned plums into a basin and fill it with granulated sugar. In this form, the jam blank should stand for 10-12 hours, periodically can be mixed so that all the pieces are immersed in syrup. After the specified time, put the mass on a small fire and wait for the boil. After that, reduce the fire so that the jam languishes in syrup for 5 minutes. If necessary, remove the foam.

The resulting dessert can only be packaged in sterile containers, rolled up with lids and allowed to cool at room temperature. After this, the blanks can be taken to the cellar for long-term storage.

Tkemali

Upon receipt of tkemali, 1.5 kg of plum fruit, a head of garlic, 9–10 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of salt, a teaspoon of “suneli hop” seasoning and 50 g of vinegar are required. Fruit must be washed several times, remove the seeds. Peel and rinse the garlic. Next, drain the plum with garlic through a meat grinder. Add sugar, salt and spices to the resulting mass. Next, put the mixture on a slow fire. During the first few minutes, the dish must be constantly mixed so that it does not burn. After this, the sauce will let the juice flow, and frequent mixing will not be necessary. Tkemali is boiled for an hour. For this period of time, the container should be prepared: wash it with a solution of baking soda and sterilize.

Add vinegar a few minutes before cooking. Ready sauce must be put in jars and rolled up. When serving, sprinkle tkemali with chopped parsley and dill.

Adjika

You can make adjika from plums. To do this, you need 1 kg of plums, a glass of sugar, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, 2 peppers, 100 g of garlic and 2 teaspoons of salt.

The drain must be washed, divided into two parts and remove the stone. Pepper should be cut and with a knife to remove all seeds. It is recommended to use gloves to avoid burns on the skin. Garlic cloves also need to be peeled.

Grind these ingredients in a meat grinder or use a blender. Transfer the resulting mass to a pan, and then add the remaining components. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. While adjika is boiling, rinse and sanitize the cans.

In a hot form, put the dish in banks and roll up. Adjika should cool at room temperature, after which it can be stored.

Wine

To get wine from plums, you need 10 kg of plum fruit, water at the rate of 1 liter per 1 kg of fruit pulp, sugar - at the rate of 200-300 g per 1 liter of juice.

The collected fruits must be ripe, for several days they need to be held in the sun so that they slightly fade. Plums should not be washed; if necessary, you can only wipe them with a dry towel. During exposure to the sun, the peel of the fruit is covered with a layer of fungus and bacteria, which are wild yeast. They lead to the production of wine. Therefore, if plums are washed, then the drink will not ferment.

Next, remove the seeds, crush the pulp until a homogeneous mass is obtained. The resulting pulp is mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 1 and kept for two days in a dark and cool place. Mix every 6–8 hours. After 2 days, when the skin with pulp begins to separate from the liquid part, and the surface is covered with bubbles and foam, it means that the fermentation process has begun.Now the mass needs to be filtered to get rid of the pulp.

Now it's time to add granulated sugar. For a dry and semi-dry drink, 100–200 g of sugar per liter of liquid will suffice, and 300–350 g of a sweetener per liter of plum juice will be needed to produce a semi-sweet and sweet alcohol product.

Sugar is recommended to be added in parts. Send the juice for fermentation in a dark place, while care should be taken to install a water shutter. Every 5-6 days you can add 1/4 of the sugar. This should be done as follows: remove the water lock, drain a small amount of juice, dilute sugar in it and pour the ready-made syrup into the dishes with wine.

Fermentation is carried out for 9 weeks. Plum wine matures for several months.

Paste

To prepare the pastille, you need to prepare 1 kg of plums, a glass of honey or sugar and a lemon. Sprinkle the peeled fruit with sugar and leave for a while to isolate the juice. If desired, add lemon zest. Boil the mass over low heat until the fruit is soft. Next, grind the mixture using a blender. Boil plum puree for about 3 hours until a thick consistency is obtained. Spread the resulting mass in a thin layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment. Dry the pastille in the oven, heated to 110 degrees, for 4-4.5 hours.

Pickled plums

Ingredients needed for making pickled plums: 0.5 kg of fruit, a tablespoon of vegetable oil, 5 teaspoons of sugar, 3 tsp each. salt and vinegar, 6 cloves and 2 bay leaves.

For such a dish, it is advisable to choose a small plum of dark color. Next, lay the fruits in disinfected jars, pour boiling water, cover and leave for 5-7 minutes. After this, drain the liquid from the can and dissolve the salt with sugar in it, add vinegar and bring to a boil again. Add spices to the fruit, then bring the brine, brought to a boil, again pour into the container. In each jar you need to add 1 tbsp. oils. It remains only to roll up banks, turn over and wrap up. After cooling, the workpieces can be stored.

Is it possible to give animals plums

Plum is a source of vitamins and various minerals. Often, pet owners do not give fruit to their pets, fearing that they may have allergies or intoxication. As for plums, they can weaken the intestines of the animal. But this does not mean that this product should be excluded from the diet of the animal. It is important only when choosing a plum to give preference to such a variety as "Hungarian", as it least affects the stool of a pet. Veterinarians recommend giving large dogs plums. However, in any case, it is necessary to monitor the number of fruits consumed by the pet.

Interesting Plum Facts

1. In China, plum is a symbol of winter.
2. You should not plant tomatoes and potatoes near the plum tree, as these vegetables attract a fungus that is deadly to the fruit crop.
3. In the Balkan countries, in ancient times, there was a custom according to which a person had to plant a plum tree along the road for the remission of sins by him. It is for this reason that many plums are now growing in those regions.

Photo plums