Plums - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Plums are related to apricots, peaches, and nectarines, but that's about all they have in common. In fact, plums have a lot more varieties than any of the other stone fruits. Plums can be purple, yellow, orange, and red in colour, and they can be big or small.

Plums are called Aloo Bukhara in Hindi, and they are grown mostly in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. This sweet fruit is a great source of minerals and potassium. It is also full of antioxidants, which protect the body from free radicals that damage cells. Plums don't have many calories, so they won't make your blood sugar go up. Here are some of the ways this super fruit is good for your health.

What are plums? 

Plums are a type of fruit that has a pit or stone. People call them prunes when they are dried. Plums are small fruits that come in a lot of different kinds. In the United States, there are more than 140 different kinds of plums. They are green, red, yellow, and purple, among other colours. Most plums have either yellow or red flesh.

Plums are a type of fruit with a stone. Stone fruits, also called drupes, are fruits with a stone or pit inside. The fruit's seed is inside this stone. Around the stone is a fleshy layer that you can eat. Peaches, apricots, and nectarines are all stone fruits that are like plums.

Origin of plums:

Plums were first grown in China many, many years ago. From there, they were taken to Japan, the United States, and some parts of Europe. Today, there are more than 2,000 different kinds of plums grown all over the world.

Origin of the word plum: 

The word plum comes from the old English word "plume," which was used for the plum tree itself. The Latin word "prunum," which came from the Greek word "proumnon," gave rise to the English word "plume." In the 1800s, the word "plum" was also used to describe something that people wanted.

Early use of plums: 

It is believed that plums were grown in China 2,000 years ago. The first written record of the fruit is from 497 BC.

Plums have been talked about in Chinese poetry since at least the 11th century. It wasn't just called a tree or a flower; it was called more than that. By the 6th Dynasty, it was given to friends and family as a gift or an offering.

Plums were put in the tombs under the Pyramids so that the dead would have something to eat in the afterlife. People have used plum paste to help heal wounds and scars.

Today, we have plum moisturisers that help the skin look fresh and healthy again.

How do plums work?

Plums have properties that help fight inflammation, improve memory, and fight free radicals. They have antioxidants called phenols in them, especially anthocyanins.

Plum consumption is linked to better brain health, bone health, and heart function. They also have a low glycemic index, which means that eating them probably won't cause your blood sugar to rise quickly.

They can be bought from May to October, and there are different kinds. Black plums, greengage plums, mirabelle plums, , red plumsplucots, pluots,  yellow plums, and umeboshi plums are some of them (staple in the Japanese cuisine).

Health benefits of plums:

1. Helps your heart stay healthy

Plums are good for your heart because they are full of antioxidants. Free radicals can cause heart disease and stroke, but antioxidants fight them off. Antioxidants stop cholesterol from oxidising and help keep the heart in good health.

2. Relieves constipation

Plums have isatin and sorbitol, which help with digestion and get rid of constipation. It also keeps the intestines in good shape. Plums and prunes, which are dried plums, can help with constipation and other digestive problems.

3. Keeps you from getting cancer

The pigment anthocyanins gives plum skin its reddish-blue colour. This pigment also fights free radicals. Plums can also help prevent breast cancer, cavities, and oral and throat cancer.

4. Makes the blood flow better

Plums make it easier for the body to take in iron. Iron, which is needed to make blood cells, is also found in the fruit. If you eat plums, your blood will flow better.

5. Healthy for the skin

When you eat plums, your skin gets firmer and clears up. The fruit makes your skin look younger and less wrinkled. Drink plum juice for younger looking skin.

6. Helps your bones

Several studies show that eating plums is good for your bones. Boron, which is found in plums, is important for keeping bone density and bone health. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which stop bone loss, are also found in large amounts in the fruit.