Dried plums for healthy, satiating snack: Study
Presenting their findings at the recent 2009 Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans, scientists from San Diego State University suggested dried plums curbed the appetite more than a "similarly sweet, low-fat cookie snack".
"Perhaps by lowering glucose or appetite-regulating hormones," added the researchers, proffering potential reasons behind the satiety role displayed by the dried plums.
Feelings of fullness, calorie control and metabolism control are all key facets incorporated into the burgeoning area of weight management. An area for which the food industry, in recent years, has cranked up research and innovation efforts to meet soaring consumer demand, and lucrative market opportunities, for foods that directly target weight loss.
Since about 87 per cent of women snack twice a day, said Mark Kern, lead researcher on the plum snack study, the thrust behind their research came from the aim to "identify satiating snack foods".
The plum study dynamics
Nineteen adult women, who had previously fasted, ate two 238-calorie snacks (dried plums or low-fat cookies), 238-calorie white bread, or water on separate days two hours prior to "being presented with a meal to be consumed until satisfied".
Study participants then completed hunger-related questionnaires, and researchers analysed their blood at regular intervals.
The researchers report that satiety - the feeling of fullness - was "significantly higher" for the dried plums versus low-fat cookies.
Dried plums, they claim, also elicited lower levels of plasma glucose and insulin than the low-fat cookie.
Kern also studied the influence of 100-calorie servings of snacks of dried plums versus low-fat cookies twice daily for two weeks on total energy, essential micronutrient, fibre and fat intake, and effects on serum triglycerides and bowel habits in 26 adult women.
The research team found that consistent consumption of dried plums improved blood lipids and diet quality and eased bowel movements in comparison to a commercially processed snack.
“Since appropriate snacking is likely important for optimal weight management practices, we were pleased that our research demonstrated the satiating power of a dried plum snack and its promotion of improved dietary intake and good digestive health,” said Kern.
Source: Experimental Biology 2009, 545.11"Snack selection influences satiety response in adult women" Authors: Furchner-Evanson A, Petrisko Y, Howarth LS, Nemoseck T and Kern M.
