The Plum Truth

Summer time is one of the best times of the year for fresh fruits vegetables and loads of sunshine. Some fruits may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults,The garden time of year is perfect to enjoy some of the foods that help maintain our vision as well as our over all health. Plums are a good source of vitamin-A..

One of my favorite delights of the summer is Plums..I even enjoy the plums that grow wild along side the road..Now I find not only do they taste good they are also good for you!!

There are over 2,000 varieties of plums, and over 100 are available in the United States alone. So, if you enjoy a juicy, sweet tasting fruit available in a variety of colors, try plums.

Plums are classified into six general categories-Japanese, American, Damson, Ornamental, Wild and European/Garden-whose size, shape and colors vary. Although usually round, plums can also be oval or even heart-shaped. The skins of plums may be found in red, purple, blue-black, red, green, yellow or amber, while their flesh comes in hues such as yellow, green and pink and orange-.

Plums belong to the Prunus genus of plants as they are relatives of the peach, nectarine and almond. They are all "drupes,"( fruits that have a hard stone pit surrounding their seeds.) Dried plums are the fruit you may be familiar with, known as prunes.

Nutritionist recommend one consume 3 or more servings of fruit per day .It is suggested in recent studies fruit may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily. Plums qualify as a good source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin B2, dietary fiber and potassium.

We have the pilgrims to thank for the introduction of the european plums as they introduced then to the united states in the 17^th century.

Japanese plums were not introduced in the unites states till the late 19^th century.The United states,Russia,Romania and China are among the main commercial producers of grown plums..

Research proved that by consuming the right quantity of the plums in our daily diet it will significantly increase the dietary fiber, helping us in achieving the dietary goal. It will prevent bone loss associated with estrogen loss at menopause, and prevent the rise in total of non-HDL blood cholesterol levels.

One should always consult with a physician or health practioner before trying any suggestions.

While there are many varieties of ornamental plum trees, they are not just a "pretty face."