If you’re looking to achieve good health, adding prunes into your diet may provide good health benefits. Prunes are an incredibly healthy food providing multiple good health benefits. People have consumed this healthy food for years as a remedy for constipation; however prunes have many additional good health benefits that you may not know of. This healthy food has been found to have antioxidant, anticancer, anxiolytic, mild laxative and anti-hyperlipidemic properties.
What are Functional Foods?
Functional foods are foods that are consumed as part of a regular diet and have demonstrated to have good health benefits and/or have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic disease. Functional foods contain bioactive compounds. Because of all of the good health benefits that prunes have, prunes are included in the list of healthy functional foods.
Prunes as a Healthy Food
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Prunes only contain 30 calories and provide an array of good health benefits. The effects of this healthy food include:
1. Antioxidant Effects – the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of prunes is higher than other dry fruits including raisins, dates and figs.
2. Laxative Effects – Prunes contain high levels of sorbitol which has been shown to have a laxative effect by helping to stimulate the colon. Prunes also contain a high level of fiber. Fiber cannot be digested by the body and therefore remains in the colon where it absorbs water and helps to soften stool, helping to relieve constipation.
3. Weight Loss Effects – eating prunes may help to decrease weight and help to prevent obesity if they are eaten instead of a higher calorie food, such as junk food. Snacking on this delicious fruit is a good option for that mid-day hunger that you may be feeling.
Eating healthy food and regularly consuming functional foods, including prunes, as part of your diet will provide you with many good health benefits and will help to protect you from serious health conditions.
