Umeboshi
Easily detoxify with the ume fruit
© Kai Keisuke / Shutterstock
Umeboshi is considered a detox superfood in Japan – but it can also do a lot more. We explain why the Japanese plum is actually so healthy.
What is the umeboshi?
Umeboshi (“prune”) are ume fruits, which are pickled with salt. They are also known as Japanese plums or Japanese apricots. Umeboshi has been used as a remedy for various health ailments for centuries.
The ume fruit originally comes from China, but it is just as widespread in Japan – where it is often consumed with some green tea for breakfast. Ume liqueur is also offered in many Asian restaurants around the world. The umeboshi has the same meaning for the Japanese as an apple for us: One a day keeps the doctor away.
What can the umeboshi do?
The following The Japanese plums are said to have health effects:
- Purifies: Since they have a purifying effect on the body, the fruits are considered a detox aid
- Gently helps with stomach problems: Against nausea or constipation, it helps to take an umeboshi on an empty stomach in combination with a large glass of water
- Detoxified: The plum stimulates the liver and kidneys, which helps flush out toxins faster
- Has a basic effect: Umeboshi are alkaline fruits and thus help against over-acidification. Over-acidification is often associated with a poor complexion
- Stimulates: The regeneration of the body is stimulated by the plum
- Strengthens the immune system: The ume fruit is pickled for up to two months. The “lactic acid fermentation” used in this process creates more of the good lactic acid bacteria that strengthen the intestinal flora, which in turn supports the immune system
- Defeat the Cat: The sour-salty taste of the umeboshi helps in the morning after a night of drinking with lots of alcohol. The fruit refreshes and provides us with all the minerals we need against hangover symptoms such as tiredness and headaches
Why the fruit isn’t for everyone
As healthy as the umeboshi is – not everyone can taste it because the sour and salty taste is very intense. But: Umeboshi is also available as a paste (“Ume Su”), which is suitable, for example, for seasoning dishes and with which you can detoxify naturally.
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