Prune Powder
Prunes have a high antioxidant capacity that is captured in the freeze dried
powders. Whole prune powder is an excellent source of high pectin fiber. It also
stimulates the peristalsis and the elimination of waste. Prune powder also rich
in natural benzoic and quinic acids.
The fresh version (plums) and the dried version (prunes) of the plant
scientifically known as Prunus domestica have been the subject of
repeated health research for their high content of unique phytonutrients called
neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acid. These substances found in
prunes and plums are classified as phenols, and their function as antioxidants
has been well documented. These damage-preventing substances are particularly
effective in neutralizing a particularly dangerous oxygen radical called
superoxide anion radical, and they have also been shown to help prevent
oxygen-based damage to fats. Since our cell membranes, brain cells and molecules
such as cholesterol are largely composed of fats, preventing free radical damage
to fats is very important.
Prunes' ability to deter oxygen-related damage to our cells is also related
to their beta-carotene content. Prunes emerged from our food ranking system as a
good source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene). Beta-carotene acts as a
fat-soluble antioxidant, eliminating free radicals that would otherwise cause a
lot of damage to our cells and cell membranes. Only after cholesterol has been
oxidized by free radicals does it pose a threat to artery walls. Free radicals
can also damage cellular DNA, causing mutations which, if serious enough, can
result in the formation of cancerous cells. In addition, by causing damage, free
radicals contribute to inflammation, which is one way the body clears out cells
or other substances that have been damaged. In this way, free radicals increase
the severity of a number of different conditions. This is why beta-carotene,
which shuts down free radicals, has been shown in studies to be helpful for the
prevention of a variety of diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetic heart
disease, and colon cancer, and why it has also been found useful for reducing
the severity of inflammatory conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis, and
rheumatoid arthritis.
Prunes' insoluble fiber also provides food for the "friendly" bacteria in the
large intestine. When these helpful bacteria ferment prunes' insoluble fiber,
they produce a short-chain fatty acid called butyric acid, which serves
as the primary fuel for the cells of the large intestine and helps maintain a
healthy colon. These helpful bacteria also create two other short-chain fatty
acids, propionic and acetic acid, which are used as fuel by
the cells of the liver and muscles.
The propionic acid produced from prunes' insoluble fiber may also be
partly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering properties of fiber. In animal
studies, propionic acid has been shown to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an
enzyme involved in the production of cholesterol by the liver. By lowering the
activity of this enzyme, propionic acid helps lower blood cholesterol levels.
In addition, prunes' soluble fibers help to lower cholesterol by binding to
bile acids and removing them from the body via the feces. Bile acids are
compounds used to digest fat that are manufactured by the liver from
cholesterol. When they are excreted along with prunes' fiber, the liver must
manufacture new bile acids and uses up more cholesterol, thus lowering the
amount of cholesterol in circulation. Soluble fiber may also reduce the amount
of cholesterol manufactured by the liver.
Iron Absorption
The ability of plum and prune to increase absorption of iron into the body has
also been documented in published research. The ability of plum and prune to
make iron more available may be related to the vitamin C content of this fruit.
History
The process of drying plums to make prunes is thought to have originated
thousands of years ago in an area near the Caspian Sea, the same region where
the prune-producing European plums originated. They spread throughout Europe
with the migration of different cultures and civilizations.
The process of drying plums to produce prunes took hold in California, now
the leading producer of prunes worldwide, in the mid-19th century when Louis
Pellier planted grafted plum tree cuttings brought back with him from his native
France. Among these trees were those belonging to the Agen variety, the type of
plum that is extremely well suited to be dried to make prunes.
Home
Contents
Grandma's Herbs Products
Miracle Products
Roex Products
Shipping Policies
* These statements have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is nutritional in nature
and should not be construed as medical advice. This notice is required by the Federal
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Copyright © 2010 Mindbodyhealth All rights reserved
Last modified:
July 22, 2011
