Prunes are essentially dried plums, just like; raisins are dried grapes. To manufacture prunes, the plums need to be dehydrated at ninety degrees Celsius, in hot air, for 18 hours.

This dry fruit offers amazing health benefits, right from enhancing gastro-intestinal health and maintaining normal levels to warding off osteoporosis

Nutritional Benefits and Facts of Prunes: Prune’s Nutrition and Health Benefits

Prunes supply phenolic compounds and pro vitamin A in liberal quantities. They also provide vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamine, potassium, boron and fiber

Importantly, prunes are packed with potent anti-oxidants that prevent oxidative damage to the DNA of the cells.

Health Benefits of Prune Juice: Benifits of Prunes

10 prunes supply, on an average, 240 calories, 0.4 grams of fat, 2.2 grams of proteins, sixty three grams of carbohydrates and seven grams of dietary fiber. The most significant health benefits of prunes are as follows:

Prunes boost GI health. Principally, the fruit treats the most stubborn case of constipation. Prunes provide lots of fiber. The fiber adds volume to the stool, softens the stool and helps in its speedy elimination from the bowel. It brushes the bowel off all built up noxious matter and accumulated sludge, and greatly assists in body detoxification. Moreover, prunes help preserve a good equilibrium between the friendly bacteria, and the damaging and disease-producing bacteria in the gut.
Prunes help decrease serum cholesterol level appreciably. The powerful antioxidants present in the dry fruits stave off free radical oxidative damage to the cells of the body. Anti-oxidants prevent oxidation of LDL or low density lipoprotein or harmful cholesterol, and consequently shield the heart from damage, and ward off the occurrence of cardiac ailments.
Prunes manage symptoms linked to menopause effectively. Osteoporosis is strongly linked to menopause. Research states that, when menopausal women consume ample amounts of prunes everyday, it boosts the presence of specific growth-factors and enzymes that generate bone mineralization.

Recipes using Prunes: Add Prunes to Your Everyday Menu

When you buy prunes, make sure the fruits have a black-blue skin and are free of any blemish. You can incorporate prunes in to various dishes, both savory and confectionary, and they make the dish delicious and wholesome.

The following recipes are very easy to make and enhance the nutritive quality considerably:

Add prunes to smoothies, for a mid morning snack.
Prunes may be incorporated in to cakes, cookies and breads.
Prunes make a scrumptious filling for poultry as well.