Plums (Prunus domestica)

They contain many vitamins and minerals, in addition to fiber and antioxidants that may help reduce your risk of several chronic diseases. Plums have plenty of antioxidants. These substances protect the body against the cell and tissue damage that can lead to diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer. The vitamin C in plums helps your body heal, build muscle, and form blood vessels. It's great for your eyes, too. Heart disease. Phytochemicals and nutrients in plums lower the inflammation that triggers heart disease. Anxiety. A plum a day may keep anxiety away. When your antioxidants are low, anxiety can be high. Constipation. Plums, like prunes, can also help keep things moving through your system. They have a lot of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that acts as a natural laxative. High blood pressure and stroke. The potassium in plums is good for blood pressure control in two ways. It helps your body get rid of sodium when you pee, and it lessens tension in the walls of your blood vessels. When your blood pressure is lower, your odds of getting a stroke go down.