Victoria Plums
The most popular plum in the UK is also one of the tastiest. Plums are extremely nutritious as well and have lots of delicious uses..
TRY ME I’M GOOD IN…
A cinnamon scented plum jam, a plum and preserved lemon chutney, a plum clafoutis and a plum and amaretti semifredo.
FACTS
· The Victoria Plum has yellow flesh with a red/purple or mottled skin.
· The flesh is quite rough and, in full development and maturity, is sweet and tasty.
· As the name suggests, Victoria Plums date from the Victorian era but not much is known about its origins.
· It was introduced in the 1840s and rapidly became a popular garden and commercial variety - a position it has maintained ever since.
· Genus: Prunus Species: Prunus domestica Family: Rosaceae
WHY ARE THEY SO GOOD?
Nutritional highlights – Victoria Plums can provide:
Vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant that is essential for skin health and immune function and can help support the stress response.
Vitamin A - and β–carotene that are essential for good eyesight, supporting the immune system and bone health.
Copper - helps develop and maintain bone, connective tissue, the brain and heart, and with iron, it enables the body to form red blood cells.
Fibre - maintains the health of our gastrointestinal system and to help our microbiome to flourish and can bind and remove toxins and fats that the body is trying to excrete.
Phytonutrients - these compounds help deal with free radicals and oxidative damage that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
Main health benefits [INFOGRAPHIC THE BELOW PLEASE]
May help with blood sugar control - despite being fairly high in carbs, plums do not appear to cause a substantial rise in blood sugar levels, which can be attributed to their potential to increase levels of adiponectin, a hormone that plays a role in blood sugar regulation.
Help prevent oxidative damage – as they are particularly high in polyphenol antioxidants this is helpful for reducing inflammation and protecting your cells from free radicals.
May have a protective effect on heart health - for their potential to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and is likely due to their high content of fibre, potassium and antioxidants.
Plums may relieve constipation - helping things move through your system, partly due to the high amount of fibre and as they have a lot of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that acts as a natural laxative.