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Plums new superfood

By Suzannah Ramsdale on Friday 30 January 2009

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Plums, super foods, health news, Marie Claire

Plums are being heralded as the new 'superfood' because they have similar, if not higher, levels of antioxidants than blueberries, say scientists.

Researcher Dr David Byrne, of AgriLife Research, said tests revealed one plum contains about the same amount of antioxidants as a handful of blueberries.

Antioxidants are molecules that can slow down or prevent the production of free radicals, which can lead to the damage of bodily cells leading to diseases like cancer.

Dr Luis Cisneros, who was also involved with the research, said: 'Blueberries have some stiff competition.

'People tend to eat just a few blueberries at a time - a few on their cereal or maybe as an ingredient mixed with other fruit in a fruit salad. But people will eat a whole plum at once and get the full benefit.'

Catherine Collins, principal dietition at London's St George's Hospital, welcomed the research.

She said: 'Plums are very good for us and because they tend to come in punnets for about £1 they are fairly cheap.

'If everyone was eating two or three small plums a day that would be great. Many of the healthy chemicals and antioxidants in fruit and vegetables are in the different colour agents and so people should try to eat a rainbow of different coloured fruit.

'Plums are also low in calories and fat free. The important thing is not to peel your plums - you must eat the skin because that's where many of the colour agents and antioxidants are.'

Want to know more about the detoxifying qualities of superfoods? Then check out our round-up of the 10 best superfoods, the 10 best skin-perfecting superfoods, the 10 best mood-boosting superfoods and the 10 best energy-boosting superfoods.