Top health benefits of plums

The first mention of plums in recorded history was way back in 479 B.C. It is unclear in which area of the world plums first originated, but unique species of plums have been documented coming from China, Europe and North America. Greatly prized by the Romans and Greeks alike wild plums were found already growing in the new world when European settlers first arrived.

Nowadays, in modern times plums are the second most cultivated fruit in the world, this is not only due to their sweet yet tangy taste, but also the large array of health benefits regular consumption of plums can offer our bodies:

The top 5 health benefits of plums and prunes:

• Plums are packed full of powerful antioxidants - Antioxidants help to protect our bodies from free radicals (unpaired electrons that cause oxidative stress throughout our bodies) By regularly eating plums we can help to reduce the number of free radicals and help to slow the visible signs of aging.

• Rich in dietary fiber - Plums are a great source of dietary fiber, when plums are dried, they become prunes, dried prunes contain even more fiber than fresh plums this makes them a great choice if you are looking for an easy way of becoming for regular with your bowel movements

• Plums contain essential minerals - Our body needs a steady supply of most dietary minerals in our diet and they cannot be stored, eating plums is a great way to keep your body in supply of minerals including potassium.

• Improved eye health and vision - Our eyes are very useful, plums help to protect our eyes from macular degeneration and keep our eye sight sharp, this is due to the high levels of vitamin K found in plum flesh and skin.

• Strong bones - According to a number of recent studies regularly consuming plums can help increase bone mass throughout our bodies, this can be especially helpful for people suffering from conditions such as  osteoporosis.

What time of year is best to buy plums?

Most plums ripen during the summer months the exact time depends on the variety and the climate, but here in the UK you can expect to see native plums available from early July through to late October. It's always good to buy locals, seasonal produce if possible as many imported fruits and picked before reaching their nutritional prime and furthermore coated with waxes and chemicals to preserve freshness.

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