Prunes. Never tried them. Maybe I should give them a shot!
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=43423
US: Dried plums may cut appetite cravings
Here’s a shocker: a study conducted by scientists from San Diego State University confirms that dried plums are more effective at suppressing the appetite than low fat snacks are.
To clear up any confusion, dried plums are indeed what your grandmother used to call “prunes.” Several years ago, the California Plum Board requested a name change, as the connotations surrounding prunes are about as appetizing as castor oil.
Back to the study. The team leading the research presented their findings at the 2009 Experimental Biology Meeting in New Orleans. The study was conducted by taking a group of women who had previously fasted, and providing them with a 238 calorie snack. One subset ate dried plums, one had low fat cookies, another had 238 calories’ worth of white bread, and the final group was given water. Two hours after the snacks, the women were presented with a meal and told to eat until they were satisfied.
Satiety was significantly greater among the dried plum group versus the cookie group. In a similar trial, the scientists studied the effects of dried plums vs. cookies when it comes to lipids and bowel activity. Those who consumed the plums had healthier lipid and triglyceride levels, as well as healthier bowel habits. This is important, because by keeping the bowels working efficiently, harmful materials don’t adhere to the intestinal wall long enough to cause long term damage (WebMD.com).
The researchers believe that dried plums work as an appetite suppressant by lowering glucose and/or by releasing appetite controlling hormones, both key aspects of appetite control.
Not only are dried plums good for suppressing the appetite, they provide a concentrated amount of phenols, which are phytochemicals that help fight disease. Prevention.com reports that dried plums actually have higher phenol levels than fresh plums; a serving of fresh plums contains 150 mgs of phenols while their dried counterparts provide 528 mgs.
And while the calories of dried plums are more concentrated than are those of fresh plums, the satiating factor newly associated with them seems to make up for that.
It turns out that one of the healthiest snacks available is not only packed with nutrients, but is also an effective appetite suppressant, portable, and pretty tasty to boot.