Ellen Campbell -Grizzle
THE UNITED States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved a name change for prune. It is now 'the dried plum'. Prune producers wanted to boost the image of the prune from a food for the elderly to a daily snack for the young and healthy. Market surveys show that the name change has caught on and the advertisements touting the value of the prune have mushroomed.
PRUNES FOR CONSTIPATION
Prunes have long had a popular image as a natural laxative because of a substance called diphenlylisatin and fibre. They help to keep you regular as they rev up the sluggish bowels. Staying regular is a big part of staying healthy. Prunes also contain iron that will benefit the anaemic and potassium that is important for a healthy heart and strong bones.
The old prune is generating a lot of excitement in health circles these days. Pharmacists continue to recommend it as a reliable alternative to relieve mild constipation. Remember, if your bowel movements are infrequent, difficult and seemingly incomplete with hard and dry stools, there can be several causes for your distress. These include diet, stress, dehydration, anxiety, illness, drugs and minimum physical activity. Also, recent travel can cause constipation because it interfered with your diet and normal daily cycle. Here are some useful tips:
Eat more fibre.
Drink adequate amounts of water.
Take regular exercise.
Obey your body's signals for bowel movements.
The squat position is still the best one for releasing the bowels.
Remember, breastfed babies are less likely to be constipated. Here are some important symptoms with constipation for medical attention:
Weight loss greater than 10 pounds and not dieting.
Minor bleeding from the rectum that is recurrent.
Unable to have a bowel movement without the use of laxative, suppository or enema.
Unexplained constipation linked to new medication.
Constipation is a recurrent problem (less than three bowel movements per week or straining greater than 25 per cent of the time).
ANTIOXIDANT STATUS
Researchers have found that prunes are packed with antioxidants, free radical fighters that are the key to keeping young and avoiding cell damage. Researchers at Tufts University in Boston tested the prune for its Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). At 5,770 ORACs per three and half ounce serving, it registered twice as many antioxidants as the next highest food, the raisin.
Researchers in the Department of Nutrition at the University of California are now testing the prune for its cholesterol-lowering effect. Their results have shown promising results and LDL-cholesterol, the kind you want to keep low, was significantly lower in a group of men who consumed 12 prunes each day for four weeks.
WONDERS OF THE DRIED PLUM
In the coming months, we are likely to hear more about the wonders of dried plum. The fruit has acquired celebrity status and is being promoted aggressively. The present claims are that it slows ageing, prevents constipation, lowers cholesterol, boosts memory, promotes weight loss and protects against heart disease.
We know that prunes are a good, healthy source of important nutrients. However, be a wise consumer and do not gorge on the prunes. Watch and monitor bowel movements, especially those of new-borns, toddlers and young children. Remember, dried plums in moderation, please!
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information and Research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
