Sweet, juicy dry prunes
The legends say that prune is one of the first fruit trees that attracted human attention. The European prune is first mentioned in the 7th century BC Archilochus's work „Pollux “. Theophrastus (4th century BC) mentions the name „Prumnon“ and the Romans changed the name Prumnon into Prunum. Plinian (1st century) reports on many different types of this fruit in yellow, red, purple, black and white color.
There is also proof that prune was started to be cultivated in the time of late copper age in the area of the Balkans. Alexandr of Macedonia carried to the space of the Balkans the commonest type – Požegača. The Romans brought some types of noble prunes from those parts into the territory of the modern-day Italy and from then on it started prune cultivation all around Europe.
In China the native plant P.salicina was cultivated even 3000 ago, and in Japan it was introduced in the 17th century. That's why it is called „Japanese prune" and it later its culture expanded across the subtopic and tropic highlands before finally reaching USA around 1870.
Good for your health
Dried prunes are an excellent source of minerals potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, phosphorous, natrium, zinc, copper and manganese. They are rich in fiber and vitamin K and A. They also have vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B3 and B6 in smaller quantities.
Dried prunes contain a lot of natural sugars, so they are not recommended for diabetics so it's best to combine them with low glycemic index foods such as walnuts or low-fat milk which can help in regulating blood sugar levels. Thanks to the natural sweetener sorbitol and fructose dried prunes are an ideal food to curb appetite and they are a real energy bomb.
The best traditional medicine against constipation is dried prune compote. You can even cook dried prunes. You put them in a small pot and then over them with boiling water. Let it simmer until te liquid thickens and becomes like syrup. By then the prunes will have expanded and soften. Eat them every couple of days and don't forget to drink the juice too!
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