The consumption of prunes in excess can have detrimental effects on your gut health. It may cause gas, bloating, or darken your stools. Usually, prunes are consumed for their natural laxative effects, however, one can become dependent on them and this may result in many complications.
Hooshmand says how many prunes you should eat in a day depends on the size of the prunes themselves, but current research recommends 50 grams of prunes per day which is equal to about 5 to 6 prunes.
Eating too many prunes and other dried fruits, like raisins and figs, can lead to or worsen diarrhea due to their high fiber and sorbitol content. Both can have a laxative effect on the body.
Eating prunes led to two positive benefits: less oxidative stress/inflammation and stronger bones. Specifically, clinical trials found that eating about ten prunes (100 grams) daily for an entire year improved bone mineral density within the forearms and lower spine.
Osteoporosis, or loss of bone mass and density, afflicts many people, especially people over 50, leading to an increased risk of breaks and fractures. A new randomized controlled study finds that eating 5-6 prunes a day can preserve bone mass and density, arresting the development of osteoporosis.
Feren says prune lovers are advised to eat around 30 grams, or three to four prunes, a day. That is equal to one serve of fruit – adults are encouraged to have two daily serves of fruit.
Prunes are a good source of fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Eating prunes before going to bed is connected with lower blood pressure, as they decrease plaque buildup and bad cholesterol and limit inflammation in your body.
Eating a handful of prunes a day may help to prevent bone loss in later life, a study suggests. Researchers at Penn State University found women in their 60s who ate the dried fruits had significantly less bone loss at their hips in a year compared to non-eaters.
Additionally, it is best to avoid prunes if you are taking certain medications; prunes are high in potassium, so if you are taking medications to reduce your blood potassium levels, prunes should be avoided.
Prunes have fiber as well as fructans and sorbitol, fermentable sugars that can have a laxative effect.
In traditional medicine, prune juice has been used to treat hepatitis — a liver disease. When there are problems with your liver, it produces harmful chemicals. Prune juice vitamins and antioxidants reduce these chemicals, helping to maintain liver health and fight disease.
A serving size of 5 to 6 prunes per day is a good amount. Yet, like any dried fruit, they are high in natural sugars, so eating too much can be detrimental.” says Eva.
Their findings suggest that prunes are an effective food for preventing and reversing bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Increasing evidence from 10 studies suggests that, in addition to antiresorptive effects, prunes exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Prunes. The nutrients in dried plums — vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium, to name a few — help make melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Use prunes as a whole-grain toast topping, mix them into trail mix, or eat them on their own about 30 minutes before bedtime.
In a 2022 study , 84 people with chronic constipation took 54 grams (g) of either prune juice or a placebo each day. After 8 weeks, those who took the prune juice had softer stools and more frequent bowel movements than the other group.
Some people find stewed prunes more effective than prune juice, while others find the opposite. Second, it depends on how you're using them. If you're looking for a natural laxative effect to help with constipation, stewed prunes are a better option than prune juice because they contain more fiber.
Use of prune is cardiovascular protective by reducing blood cholesterol and light density lipoproteins. They have added blood pressure lowering effects. Prunes reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure that is not different from placebo.
Prunes are loaded with soluble fibre called pectin, which is known to keep your gut health intact. It helps to clear out the intestinal tract, which helps in better bowel movements. It is also considered as a natural laxative.
According to a study published in the Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, prunes reduce your risk of heart disease by bringing down your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Prunes can help to prevent Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as helping to lower your cholesterol.
How Fast Does Prune Juice Work for Constipation? After drinking prune juice, you can get the urge to go in 1-3 hours. If you're severely constipated, it could take up to a day or longer to relax your digestive tract and start a bowel movement.
How To Eat Prunes? Ayurveda recommends consuming prunes that were soaked in water for at least 2 to 3 hours, for better absorption of the nutrients by the digestive tract.