The initial prescription by a physician for treating constipation often contains no medication at all. Instead, a physician will ask a patient to try supplement his or her diet with the addition of extra fiber. The extra fiber may come from natural sources, or from supplements that are derived from natural sources.
Most people have heard of products like metamucil which contain a high content of psyllium-derived fiber. Metamucil is a supplement agent manufactured by the big American firm Procter and Gamble. However, many people don't know that there are natural high fiber sources too. Prunes are one such source. But more interestingly, prunes have something else besides fiber that can aid constipation.
Plums, from which prunes are derived, belong to an ancient dietary tradition. Archaeologists have found prune pits in prehistoric waste deposits dating back thousands of years. As in ancient times, the process for making prunes remains similar. Plums are harvested and then laid out in a moderately cool oven (around 185 degrees Fahrenheit) for 18 hours. The prunes are then collected, after which further work converts them into other prune-like products.
The chemical composition of a prune is actually quite complicated which is what makes it an ideal food that acts as a natural laxative. Even though we can analyze its chemical composition, our understanding of how each chemical acts in relieving constipation is somewhat unclear.
The things we do understand regarding its anti-constipation properties are two folds. First, we know that the high fiber content of prunes means that eating it helps bulk up foods in the way traditional fiber supplements aid digestion. Two, we also know that prunes contain a lot of sorbitol which is a sugar-like substance that retains water and makes stool softer and therefore faster-moving in the gut.
On top of ingredients with laxative properties, prunes are a high energy source. The high energy is derived from its mix of both simple and complex sugars such as glucose and fructose. People who eat prunes get a quick energy boost as well as a sustained one from digestion of complex sugars.
There are many other compounds in prunes that we don't fully understand but believe to be of benefit to health. For example, phenolic compounds might synergize with the natural laxative action. Potassium in prunes and prune juice are hypothesized to be good for heart health. Prunes seem certainly like a wonder food.
There is no special preparation needed for eating prunes; they may be eaten plain. However, some studies have shown that prunes can mixed with other ingredients to form highly effective home recipes for natural laxatives. An example of this is the famed Beverley-Travis recipe.
Most people have heard of products like metamucil which contain a high content of psyllium-derived fiber. Metamucil is a supplement agent manufactured by the big American firm Procter and Gamble. However, many people don't know that there are natural high fiber sources too. Prunes are one such source. But more interestingly, prunes have something else besides fiber that can aid constipation.
Plums, from which prunes are derived, belong to an ancient dietary tradition. Archaeologists have found prune pits in prehistoric waste deposits dating back thousands of years. As in ancient times, the process for making prunes remains similar. Plums are harvested and then laid out in a moderately cool oven (around 185 degrees Fahrenheit) for 18 hours. The prunes are then collected, after which further work converts them into other prune-like products.
The chemical composition of a prune is actually quite complicated which is what makes it an ideal food that acts as a natural laxative. Even though we can analyze its chemical composition, our understanding of how each chemical acts in relieving constipation is somewhat unclear.
The things we do understand regarding its anti-constipation properties are two folds. First, we know that the high fiber content of prunes means that eating it helps bulk up foods in the way traditional fiber supplements aid digestion. Two, we also know that prunes contain a lot of sorbitol which is a sugar-like substance that retains water and makes stool softer and therefore faster-moving in the gut.
On top of ingredients with laxative properties, prunes are a high energy source. The high energy is derived from its mix of both simple and complex sugars such as glucose and fructose. People who eat prunes get a quick energy boost as well as a sustained one from digestion of complex sugars.
There are many other compounds in prunes that we don't fully understand but believe to be of benefit to health. For example, phenolic compounds might synergize with the natural laxative action. Potassium in prunes and prune juice are hypothesized to be good for heart health. Prunes seem certainly like a wonder food.
There is no special preparation needed for eating prunes; they may be eaten plain. However, some studies have shown that prunes can mixed with other ingredients to form highly effective home recipes for natural laxatives. An example of this is the famed Beverley-Travis recipe.
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