Plums as Potential Dietary Agents to Prevent Obesity and Obesity-Related Disorders

Obesity is a serious issue in both developed and developing world. The obese people are often hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertensive and therefore, are pre-disposed to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is generally known that eating fruits and vegetables can prevent body weight gain and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Recent research has identified several kinds of fruits and vegetables that are important in reducing inflammation and preventing metabolic syndrome. However, the sugar content of fruits can be problematic for obese patients with diabetes. Plums and prunes (dried plums) are rich is fiber and have low glycemic index. Consumption of plums (prunes) helps growth of beneficial gut bacteria, reduces fats deposit in tissues, improves lipid and glucose metabolism, and reduces inflammation. The consumption of plum or prunes causes modulation of cellular pathways that are deregulated in obesity. In conclusion regular consumption of plums or prunes can potentially be very helpful in preventing and/or managing obesity and obesity-related disorders.