Herbie J Pilato is the author of several books about pop culture including THE 12 BEST SECRETS OF CHRISTMAS: A TREASURE HOUSE OF DECEMBER MEMORIES REVEALED, MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY, TWITCH UPON A STAR, GLAMOUR, GIDGETS AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, DASHING, DARING AND DEBONAIR, and NBC & ME: MY LIFE AS A PAGE IN A BOOK, among others. He's also a TV writer/producer, and has worked for Reelz, Bravo, E!, TLC, and hosted THEN AGAIN WITH HERBIE J PILATO, the hit classic TV talk show (which premiered on Amazon Prime in 2019).

According to NaturalFoodSeries.com, when fresh, the fruit is called a plum; when dried it's a prune when dried. But, it's "scientifically categorized as Prunus Domestica – the mouth-watering plums belong to the Subgenus Prunus family. The fruit has American, Japanese, European, and Damson varieties and is consumed widely across the world."

In general, NaturaFoodSeries.com documents that the health benefits of plums are vast, including "promoting weight loss, supporting a healthy pregnancy, promoting blood flow, preventing macular degeneration, promoting cellular health, fighting cancerous cells, preventing influenza, maintaining psychological health, boosting metabolic rate, helps absorb iron, helps balance electrolyte, promote flawless skin, and restore hair shine."

NaturalFoodSeries.com also documents that the consumption of organic plums on a daily basis can provide numerous other benefits. "The cancer-preventing properties are what distinguish this wonderful fruit from others. A single serving of tangy-flavored plums is also essential to give your energy levels a quick boost."

According to WebMD.com, plums have Vitamin C, which "helps your body heal, build muscle, and form blood vessels. It's great for your eyes, too."

WebMD.com says other health benefits of plums are as follows:

As WebMD.com went on to explain further, "You'll find plums in the grocery store and at farmers markets from May to October, though their peak season is July to August. Look for firm plums that have a slight 'give' when you squeeze them gently. If your plum ripens before you're ready to eat it, put it in the fridge."

"If you need it to ripen quickly," WebMD.com documents, "keep your plum in a paper bag at room temperature overnight or up to 3 days. Plums freeze well. Just remove the pit first."

According to WebMD.com, plums are also "great raw, roasted, poached, grilled, or sautéed." The website also offers these other ideas with regard to plums:

Herbie J Pilato is the author of several books about pop culture including THE 12 BEST SECRETS OF CHRISTMAS: A TREASURE HOUSE OF DECEMBER MEMORIES REVEALED, MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY, TWITCH UPON A STAR, GLAMOUR, GIDGETS AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, DASHING, DARING AND DEBONAIR, and NBC & ME: MY LIFE AS A PAGE IN A BOOK, among others. He's also a TV writer/producer, and has worked for Reelz, Bravo, E!, TLC, and hosted THEN AGAIN WITH HERBIE J PILATO, the hit classic TV talk show (which premiered on Amazon Prime in 2019).

More from Herbie J Pilato

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