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If you have wondered the difference between prune juice and plum juice, today is the day to differentiate them. These two juices confuse a lot of people since they look the same and made from the same fruit. In this article, I’ll compare prune juice vs plum juice for a clear difference.
The main difference between prune juice and plum juice is the way the juice is made.
Prune juice is made from plums that are dried naturally — a prune is generally a dried plum. On the other hand, the plum juice is extracted from fresh plums. The difference in preparation method brings out the different tastes, concentration, health benefits among others.
Prune Juice vs Plum Juice
There are many types of plum in the same genus Prunus but not all plums can be prunes.
You can find plums in two major varieties of either freestone or clingstone. The freestone is the one whereby most prunes come from and their pits are easier to remove.
Clingstone varieties are great for fresh eating but the pits are harder to remove than the freestone varieties.
When juicing, the pits have to be removed before or you can opt to buy pitted prunes at the store.
Plums have different colors that range from red to light purple. Prunes become dark blue or purple when ripe.
How Is Prune Juice Made
As I mentioned, prune juice id made from dried plums and juicing dry ingredients is not possible unless other methods are involved.
The dried plums are hydrated by using boiling water to help it fall apart and then extracted using a centrifugal process or masticating process. Once all the juice is extracted, it is filtered to reduce the concentrate.
Prune Juice vs Plum Juice: Comparison & The Differences
Taste
Due to the different methods of preparation, prune juice tastes different than plum juice. The prune juice has a sweeter taste than plums. Plum juice has a tangy-sweet taste and natural sugar content like other fresh fruit juices.
If the taste of either prune juice or plum juice doesn’t feel good, you can alter the taste by adding sweeteners or other ingredients to suit your taste.
The Texture
Prune juice has a heavier texture than plum juice that has a lighter texture. The higher fiber content in prune juice makes the juice thicker hence the texture.
Nutrients
Plum juice is made of fresh plums that contain lots of nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins. The process of making prune juice destroys some of the vitamins like C and concentrate the other nutrients into a dense pact.
Plum juice is full of vitamins A, C, K, and B as well as riboflavin, potassium, iron, calcium, and thiamine.
Prune Juice has a high concentration of Vitamin A and K as well as potassium and iron. It is rich in dietary fiber which helps in the digestive process.
| PLUM JUICE | PRUNE JUICE |
|---|---|
| Calories: 30 Carbs: 8 grams Fiber: 1 gram Sugars: 7 grams Vitamin A: 5% of the RDI Vitamin C: 10% of the RDI Vitamin K: 5% of the RDI Potassium: 3% of the RDI Copper: 2% of the RDI Manganese: 2% of the RDI | Calories: 67 Carbs: 18 grams Fiber: 2 grams Sugars: 11 grams Vitamin A: 4% of the RDI Vitamin K: 21% of the RDI Vitamin B2: 3% of the RDI Vitamin B3: 3% of the RDI Vitamin B6: 3% of the RDI Potassium: 6% of the RDI Copper: 4% of the RDI Manganese: 4% of the RDI Magnesium: 3% of the RDI Phosphorus: 2% of the RDI |
Sugar Levels
Plum juice contains higher sugar levels than prune juice despite the sweetness it has. The natural sugar levels are good for the body but if they are added, then it’s not great especially for weight loss.
The real sugar difference is that prune juice has about 42g of sugars, whereas the same amount of plum juice has about 30g sugars.
So they are close but plum juice is the winner here to save calories or if you need a lower-sugar diet. Since prune juice is already higher in sugars, make sure you’re also choosing a no-sugar-added prune juice.
Antioxidants
The high concentration of nutrients in prune juice also offers high amounts of antioxidants — even 6 times more than fresh plum juice. Antioxidants are great for keeping the body healthy.
Health Benefits
Consuming both prune juice and plum juice contributes to overall health. For instance, plum juice has plenty of vitamin C that is beneficial for healing the body, good for the bones and skin among other benefits.
Prune juice has a good amount of calcium which is a great addition to bone health and also reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
The health benefits are not that different but the level of vitamins and minerals contribute to the difference in health benefits.
Juicing your own plum or prune juice gives you full control to obtain natural and healthy juice without added sugar.
Vitamin K, A, and minerals like potassium, iron are very beneficial to the body.
Boosts Digestive Health
Prune juice is great for digestion as it can relieve someone from constipation problems. The high fiber content in prune juice is good for the digestive system.
This fiber benefit helps lower the risk of colon cancer and bowel syndromes.
Plum juice contains fiber but not the same as the dried one and can be also good for the digestive process. Both juices have the laxative sorbitol essential for a smooth digestion process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you buy plum juice?
You can plum and prune juice in many places like health food stores and supermarkets. An online retailer like Amazon has a variety of plum juice with great reviews from consumers.
What is plum juice good for?
Plum juice and prune juice are good for many health benefits due to their rich vitamins and mineral content. They can reduce cholesterol levels since they have good HDL cholesterol levels.
The vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals provide a wide range of health benefits.
Is prune juice good for detox?
Prune juice contains a high amount of fiber and Vitamin A as well as a natural laxative that helps digestion and relieve issues like constipation. You can include prune juice as part of detoxing since it boosts the digestive system and bowel cleansing.
Also, prune juice can be added as an ingredient to a daily routine detox recipe that helps cleanse lymphatic and bowel systems.
Are Plums good for weight loss?
Yes, plums are part of stone fruits which are low in GL, low calorie and rich in fiber, nutrients like Vitamin C and A. This makes plum good for weight loss
Is it OK to drink prune juice every day?
Yes, there is no problem with drinking prune juice or plum juice every day. The body needs to be hydrated and prune juice will help keep the body hydrated and provide health benefits to the body.
The body requires a lot of water, 8 glasses every day and including prune juice is a great combination.
Can you freeze plum juice?
Yes, it’s okay to freeze plum juice to store it and preserve its freshness.
How long does prune juice last once opened?
Prune juice can last for one week or 10 days while stored in the refrigerator. Prune juice is thicker and concentrated unlike other juices like apple or orange juices, therefore, it doesn’t separate quickly.
Can I make my own prune juice and plum juice at home?
Yes, you can.
For prune juice, put 1-2 dozen prunes in a glass jar and add 1 cup hot water. Soak the prunes for about an hour, then blend with a few cups of water. Strain out the pulp and squeeze out the last drops of the good stuff.
For plum juice, wash some firm plums and remove the pits. slide your plum chunks into a juicing machine and enjoy!
Is homemade prune juice or plum juice better than store-bought juices?
It can be hard to find pure, 100% juices at the stores these days that don’t have added sugars or other fruit juices mixed in. If you’re willing to compromise on some nutrition for the mixed stuff, go ahead, especially if you don’t have the time to make your own juice at home. If you’re a purist, making your own is the only true way to ensure what does and does not go into your juices.
Conclusion
So, prune juice vs plum juice, which is better? Each has its own benefits that lead to you deciding what you want to achieve.
Whichever the reason to drink the juices be either weight loss, detox, hydration, etc, both plum juice and prune juice are a healthy choice with lots of benefits.
If you have constipation problems, you may have to drink prune juice because it provides the most relief.