Plum: benefits and harm

The plum appeared a long time ago, as a product of crossing cherry plum and sloe. Now you can see many different varieties and species of this plant. Plum fruits have different shapes and colors, and different tastes. They have found worthy application in folk medicine and cosmetology.

Benefits of plum

Juicy plum fruits contain a large amount of minerals and vitamins. They contain a lot of pectins, which are useful for removing carcinogens and radionuclides from the body. Black plums contain a lot of B vitamins, which are good for normalizing protein metabolism and strengthening the nervous system. In addition, plums contain special substances called coumarins, which are useful against the formation of blood clots. Plum fruits contain a lot of saccharides and dietary fiber, but they are surprisingly low in calories - only 49 kilocalories per 100 grams of pulp.

Frequent use of plums in food is very useful for normalizing cardiac activity, for removing harmful cholesterol and as a blood pressure lowering agent. Plum fruits are useful to eat to normalize the functioning of the nervous system. They are wonderfully calming and help eliminate the effects of nervous tension and stress.

Everyone knows that plum has a laxative effect. Therefore, it is recommended to use it to gently relieve constipation. In addition, these berries have a slight diuretic and choleretic effect. This allows us to use the plum to remove excess salts and fluid from the body, which relieves us of swelling. It is useful to drink juice from plums and eat berries for stomach diseases, getting rid of heartburn, for treating ulcers and gastritis.

Damage to plums

Not all people can eat plums often. For example, if you have the following diseases, you should not eat these fruits:

• For diabetes, since plum contains a lot of saccharides and can act as a real carbon “bomb”.
• For rheumatism and gout due to its diuretic effect, which will only worsen the patient’s condition.
• It is not recommended to consume plums in children due to the weakness of the digestive system.
• When breastfeeding, since plum can cause colic in the baby.
• If there are stones in the gall bladder, since plum has a pronounced choleretic effect and can provoke an attack.

Plum treatment

Plum is often recommended for people with digestive problems, namely to relieve constipation. There is no need to prepare this fruit in any way. It is enough to eat about ten plums in the morning on an empty stomach. You can then eat plums as snacks throughout the day, separate from other foods. Compote and plum juice, as well as dried plums, have a mild laxative effect. For this purpose, it is often recommended to eat prunes.

Plum compote contains a lot of potassium, so it is useful to drink for high blood pressure and kidney disease. Freshly prepared juice It is useful to drink with pulp to remove excess fluid from the body. The same juice will effectively cleanse the body and normalize the acidity of the stomach.

To combat bad mood and depression, eat 200 grams of berries every day.

If you have kidney stones, it is useful to use the resin of the plum tree, which is called gum. It is enough to eat a small spoon of resin daily or prepare a tincture from it. For the tincture, pour 100 grams of gum into a liter of white wine. Once the resin has completely dissolved, the tincture can be used for treatment.

If your lower back hurts, make a rub out of plum kernels. To do this, chop 25 grams of kernels and pour a glass of vodka. Leave for a week in a shaded place in a glass container.

Plum during pregnancy

It is known that while expecting a baby, many women suffer from digestive problems, and they are often bothered by constipation. In this case, plums will provide invaluable help. Just a few fruits in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before bed will improve your intestinal function in just a few days.

Plum contains many valuable substances necessary pregnant woman. These include vitamin E, folic acid, potassium, iodine and iron. These substances are especially valuable for the expectant mother. They are responsible for the proper development of the fetus, eliminate signs of toxicosis, anemia and the risk of placental abruption.

Plum is an excellent preventative against bleeding gums and helps preserve teeth. Plum fruits perfectly cleanse the body of free radicals and protect against the harmful effects of the environment.
But despite all the benefits during pregnancy, you should not eat plums thoughtlessly. Follow these simple guidelines:

• Do not eat unwashed or unripe fruits.
• Don't eat too many plums. It is enough to eat about 150 grams per day.
• Do not eat fruit if your blood glucose levels are high.
• Remember that fresh fruits bring more benefits. Therefore, do not heat-treat fruits unnecessarily.

Is plum good for children?

As we noted above, children At an early age, the digestive system is still poorly developed. Therefore, in babies it very quickly causes bloating and diarrhea. Plums are starting to be introduced into children’s diets as complementary foods. In this case, the child must first get acquainted with other fruits - apple and pear. Usually by this time the child reaches 8-9 months. First, the child is prepared with puree from light varieties of plums and it must be subjected to heat treatment. In this regard, it is more convenient to use ready-made baby food containing plums. If you decide to make the puree yourself, be sure to boil the fruit for 10 minutes before doing so. Then remove the seeds and skin and prepare a homogeneous mass in a blender. If the puree turns out to be very sour, you can add a little fructose.

Children over one and a half years old can be given all varieties of plums, but only those that have undergone heat treatment. This could be compote or plum jam. You can use plums for filling pies.