Some Say Prunes, Some Say Dried Plums
Either way, this is one wrinkle you want in your morning oatmeal.
Why? To give heart troubles a one-two knockout punch. Fiber-rich oatmeal protects your heart by helping control blood fats, and it seems dried plums have heart-friendly attributes, too.
Plum Choice
You might know dried plums best for their ability to get your bowels moving. But they can help your heart and arteries work better, too. They're chock-full of antioxidants (phenols) that have a reputation for stopping bad things from happening in your arteries -- like plaque ruptures that could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
How high -- or low -- is your heart attack risk? Find out here.
More to Love
Prunes also abound with fiber (which helps stop this), potassium, and boron and copper (both help keep your bones strong). The sugars in prunes also appear to be safe for blood-sugar watchers.
Recipe Corner
Dried plums aren't just for breakfast. Try them in this Wild Rice Salad, a tasty recipe from EatingWell.
RealAge Benefit:
Getting 3,000 milligrams of potassium daily from food can make your RealAge 2.3 years younger.
Chemical composition and potential health effects of prunes: a functional food? Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis, M., Bowen, P. E., Hussain, E. A., Damayanti-Wood, B. I., Farnsworth, N. R., Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2001 May;41(4):251-286.
