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PLUMS Benefits
There are more varieties of plums than any other species of stone fruit - about 2000 in all. Plums contain Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage caused by Free Radicals, and may help to retard some effects of ageing, such as wrinkling. When plums are dried they are known as Prunes. In this form, when most of their water content has been removed, they are a more concentrated source of nutrients, although only potassium and iron are present in really useful amounts. Some health-food shops stock plums pickled in brine, called umebushi, which has long been used as a traditional medicine in Asia. There they are used to treat digestive problems, such as stomach upsets, nausea and constipation. |