Dried Plums for Healthy, Filling Snack
Snacking on dried plums could be more effective as an appetite suppressant than other low-fat snacks.
About 87% of women snack twice a day, which led researchers from San Diego State University to identify satiating, or filling, snack foods that could be eaten as part of a weight management program.
In presenting their findings at the recent 2009 Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans, scientists reported that dried plums curbed the appetite more than a "similarly sweet, low-fat cookie snack". In fact, the feeling of fullness was significantly higher for those who ate the dried plums versus those given low-fat cookies.
The study participants also had their blood analyzed, and it was found that the dried plums led to lower levels of plasma glucose and insulin than the low-fat cookie. This keeps blood levels steady until the next meal, rather than causing a spike and crash as many sugar-laden snacks do.
Consistent consumption of dried plums also improved blood lipids, which may be due to the high amounts of antioxidants found in plums. These antioxidants, or phenols, can help keep your arteries free from the plaque that could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Dried plums, otherwise known as prunes, are best known for their ability to get the digestive tract moving, and that result was also found in this study. Dried plums appeared to ease bowel movements in comparison to commercially processed snacks.
Plums offer up additional nutrients, such as potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber, and vitamin A, boron and copper. So add this sweet, fiber-rich fruit to your diet for a filling, healthy snack.
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