“It helps stimulate digestion by helping to move water into the large intestine,” she says. Get it daily. For an adult one-half cup of prune juice is enough. Another nutrient prunes are rich in is magnesium, which is linked to better sleep; one serving has 41 milligram. Vitamin K works in conjunction with beta carotene to fight the signs of aging by helping reduce bone loss and improving circulation. Read up on how to avoid bloat when eating a high-fiber diet. Since all of our cell membranes, as well as our brain cells, are largely made up of lipids which contain fat, these are important phytonutrients to have in the diet. And if you need more recipe inspo, try adding prunes to one of these plant-based breakfasts. Prunes are known to relieve constipation and may help protect against disease.

Prunes may lower the risk of colon cancer. And why are prunes good for constipation?

After all, excess of anything is stored as fat in your body.

You probably already know that these humble fruits are good for the bowels, but exactly how do prunes relieve constipation? Let’s talk sorbitol, a sugar-based alcohol. Subscribe To Our Newsletters — And Kick Your Health Into High Gear. Antioxidants are compounds that help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that result from normal cell metabolism, smoking, pollution and UV irradiation. 5 Healthy Reasons You Need To Eat More Prunes Prunes are known to relieve constipation and may help protect against disease. The soluble fibre we just spoke of also helps to lower cholesterol by soaking up excess bile in the intestine and then excreting it.

Soluble fibre also increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Gorin notes research that found eating a serving of prunes daily helped slow bone loss in postmenopausal women with low bone density. But the sweet, chewy, wrinkly truth is that prunes—or dried plums, if you want—are little nutrient and fiber bombs. There’s some scientific evidence—at least with rats—showing that eating prunes on a regular basis could lower the risk of colon cancer. In addition to hydroxycinnamic acids, prunes and plums are rich in anthocyanins, flavonoid pigments with strong antioxidant properties.

Those women that were asked to eat 100 grams of dried plums per day had improved bone formation markers after only three months, compared to a control group who were eating 75 grams of dried apples. A serving size of five prunes clocks in at under 100 calories, can help quell appetite, and packs a punch of healthful components.