Prunes (dried plums) are extremely nutritious. They contain unique antioxidants, many vitamins, minerals and fiber offering variety of health benefits.
Great as a snack. Chopped prunes can replace raisins or dates in oatmeal or baked goods. You can make a prune paste by boiling prunes till soft and pureeing. The paste is great on a toast or a pancake. Or you can find a prune paste in a store to use instead of jam.
Incredible health benefits of prunes:
Powerful antioxidant
have ORAC rating of 5,770 for 3.5 ounces; which makes them one of the top antioxidants (1)
ORAC – Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity – measures the ability of a particular food to fight free radicals
contain manganese, iron and plant phenolics that function as antioxidants
neutralize free radicals and protect against cell damage
” Prunes top the list with more than twice the level of antioxidants than other high-scoring fruits such as blueberries and raisins. (…) While antioxidant vitamin supplements have grown in popularity, it may be the combination of the nutrients in the foods that have the greatest effect. (…) This isn’t the first research indicating prunes, which are dried plums, are high in antioxidant compounds. Researchers at the University of California, at Davis, found that prunes contain high amounts of neochlorogenic acid, a phenolic compound, and a strong antioxidant. In addition, prunes are fat and cholesterol-free and are a delicious way to add fiber, vitamins and minerals to meet your dietary requirement of five fruits and vegetables a day.”