What are plum benefits and side effects? Are plums vegan? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Low fodmap? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are plum pros and cons: all the info on plums that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on plum benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about plum benefits and side effects. This will include plum benefits for your health and potential risks, plum water footprint and plum carbon footprint, plum sustainability, if plums are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if plums are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about plum benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Plum Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Plum benefits may include:
- lowered blood sugar
- constipation relief
- hydration
- digestive health
- bone health
- detoxification
- heart health
- lowered cholesterol
- lowered risk of osteoporosis
- inflammation reduction
- lowered blood pressure
- reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and several chronic disease
- reversed bone loss
- weight loss
Plum health side effects may include:
- diarrhea (when consumed excessively)
Additionally, plums are…
- Acidic 6.5 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
- High-FODMAP (may cause gas, bloating & pain for some)
Environment
Water footprint: low, 2,180 liters of water used to produce 1 kilogram of plums / 261 gallons of water used to produce 1 pound of plums
Carbon footprint: low, 0.22 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh plums, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers
Destruction: low, plum production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Plums are…
- Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, plum production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, plum production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from plum production, buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Plums are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Plums…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
Where do most plums come from? 📍
The world’s top plum producing country is Turkey, followed by Uzbekistan and Iran.
The world’s top plum exporting country is Chile, followed by Spain, Hong Kong, South Africa, USA, Italy, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, Germany and Portugal.
In the United States plums may be produced domestically or they are imported from Chile.
Are plums nutritious? 🥗
Yes! Plums are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, folate.
Are plums alkaline or acidic?
Plums are mildly acidic.
What is the pH level of plums?
Plums have a 6.5 pH level once digested. Canned, dried and processed plums are acidic foods. Most fresh fruits are alkaline.
When you eat food, it is broken down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are found in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
Are plums gluten free?
Yes, plums are gluten free. Plums do not contain gluten when fresh. Plums are a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Are plums a common food allergen?
No, plums are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to plums but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Are plums low FODMAP?
No, plums are high-FODMAP, a food you should limit or eliminate if on a low-FODMAP diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Water footprint of plums?
Plums have a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
It takes 2,180 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of plums / 261 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of plums.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of plums?
Plums have a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 0.22 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh plums, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Are plums sustainable?
Plum production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
Are plums vegan?
Yes, plums are vegan. Plums are a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Do plums have human rights issues?
At this time there have been no major concerns associated with plum production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may be associated with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can face harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
Conclusion
Plum pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Plum cons include:
- acidic
- diarrhea (when consumed excessively)
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
This post was all about plum benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Plums – SNAP-Ed Connection – USDA
Plum Grades and Standards | Agricultural Marketing Service
