Japanese Plums & Arthritis

Japanese plums and arthritis pain relief may go hand-in-hand. The super powers of these wonder plums are being touted as surpassing those of the mighty blueberry. Although blueberries remain an excellent choice for fighting disease and those nasty free radicals, plums are more affordable and still pack the same, if not more, antioxidant punch. Most people tend to eat only a few blueberries at one time--sprinkled on their cereal or added to a batch of pancakes--whereas consuming an entire plum can result in extra disease-fighting benefits.

History

• Close relatives of the plum include the cherry, nectarine, peach, almond and apricot. Dried plums are commonly known as prunes. The European plum (Prunus domestica) is mainly used for making prunes, and the Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) is the familiar fresh fruit. The European plum came from western Asia, while the Japanese plum originated in China and was mentioned as far back as 479 BCE by Confucius. Prunus salicina was taken to Japan first before being introduced to other areas of the world; thus the name Japanese plum. The plum tree symbolizes great age and wisdom in Chinese mythology.

Types

• There are a number of varieties of plums, ranging in size and shape from small to large, elongated or round. Plums can be purple, black, red, green, blue or yellow. Plum plants can be spreading shrubs or sturdy trees with delicate or heavy leaves. The two main types of plums, the European and the Japanese, offer several varieties within each type but the two types cannot be cross-pollinated.

Features

• Japanese plums are a plentiful source of dietary fiber, citric acid and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). They are also rich in vitamins E, B1, B2 (riboflavin), B6 and provitamin A. Plums provide a source of potassium, thiamin and boron which is believed to help in the prevention of osteoporosis. A number of trace elements and minerals can be found in plums: magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorous, sodium and manganese. Japanese plums are low in fat and calories and high in carbohydrates, antioxidants and citric acid.

Significance

• When the human body burns food for energy it results in the production of lactic acid. If the blood becomes too acidic due to an accumulation of lactic acid, it will contribute to chronic diseases like arthritis, rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis. A build-up of lactic acid can also be a factor in diseases of the liver, diabetes and cancer. Citric acid converts lactic acid into water and carbon dioxide for effective elimination from the body.

Benefits to Arthritis

• Citric-acid-rich Japanese plums and arthritis patients make for a compatible pair. As people age, metabolism slows, causing aging of cells and less efficient food-to-energy conversion. The high citric acid content found in plums helps control the body's levels of lactic acid and improves metabolism. A plum's plentiful supply of phosphoric acid can also play a role in improved metabolism and prevention of cell aging. Although the Japanese plum is highly acidic, it is an anti-inflammatory food and has an alkalizing (less acidic) effect when consumed, to help alleviate the pain of stiff and inflamed arthritic joints.

Warning

• There are certain foods that have been found to have exacerbated or even brought about arthritis. Since the chronic pain and discomfort associated with arthritis can be made worse when the blood becomes too acidic, it is best to steer clear of highly acidic foods such as tomatoes and tomato sauces. Refined or processed white flour and its by-products like bread and pasta should be avoided, as white flour converts to sugar when ingested, and sugar is known to aggravate arthritic conditions. The same goes for any form of sugar, red meat, peppers, eggplant and potatoes.