What are the health benefits of eating plums?

This fruit earns a “plum” spot on the USDA list, with the black variety ranking fourth and standard plums fifth in antioxidant activity per gram. French scientists found that one of the antioxidants in plums—chlorogenic acid—decreased anxiety-related behaviors in mice, possibly by combating the kind of oxidative stress that can induce anxiety and depression in humans. Note: Italian scientists have demonstrated that organically grown plums contain higher concentrations of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E than conventionally grown varieties.

Plums and prunes are often used for their laxative effects. However, prunes are more effective than plums in this capacity. Plums are also good sources of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acid, two related compounds classified as phenols that have well documented antioxidant and anti-cancer effects.