The Share Plum: a Boost for Digestion

I do not know how it is for you, but when my digestion falls out of balance I feel unwell all over — physically and emotionally. That tells me that digestion working well, and a healthy gut, really do have a large effect on the whole body. Part of the reason is surely that our gut plays a central part in taking up the nutrients that every one of our body's systems depends on to run smoothly.

The gut is also home to a great many microorganisms (the gut flora) that fulfil important functions, such as supporting the immune system and producing certain vitamins. A healthy gut can reduce inflammation and improve the communication between gut and brain, which has a positive effect on our mood and our thinking too. Disturbances in the digestive system can therefore lead to nutrient deficiency, a weakened immune system, chronic illness and mood swings.

That is why it matters so much for our health to make sure our digestion works well. If you suffer from digestive complaints, there are many different ways to bring your gut back into balance. First among them is of course a balanced, gut-friendly diet. Without healthy eating it will be difficult to keep a healthy gut over the long term. In this article I want to introduce you to a small gem that can get your digestion moving again: the share plum.

The share plum is a fermented green umeboshi plum (umeboshi meaning fermentation), botanically more closely related to the apricot than to the European plum. The plum is coated with selected herbs and fermented over a long period. That is not a new invention but has been used in Asian culture for centuries. Umeboshi plums are valued in traditional Japanese medicine and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for their detoxifying and digestion-supporting qualities.

Fermenting with the herbs maximises the health benefits of the plum. It will hardly be news to you that fermented foods have a positive effect on our digestion. Fermentation produces probiotics and enzymes that support the gut flora and can thereby support general wellbeing.

The wild-growing plums are washed after harvesting and sometimes lightly crushed, to make fermentation easier. They are then fermented in their own juice for up to 30 months. The plums are coated with selected herbs (depending on the producer) and plant extracts (such as lotus leaf, mulberry leaf, green tea, hawthorn and carotene extract). During fermentation, microorganisms convert the natural sugars and other components of the plums and the herbs into organic acids, vitamins and enzymes.

Later in the process the fermented plums are gently dried, to make them keep longer without destroying the valuable nutrients. Before packing, the plums go through a strict quality check to make sure they meet the standards. They are then packed hygienically and airtight, one by one. Inside the packaging the share plum carries on fermenting. The exact production process can vary slightly from producer to producer, and some details are often trade secrets.

The share plum works through a combination of fermented ingredients and natural nutrients, which can have various positive effects on the digestive system:

• Fermentation and probiotics: the special fermentation process produces probiotic cultures — useful bacteria that support the gut flora.
• Enzymes: fermentation encourages the formation of digestive enzymes, which help break down nutrients such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. That can improve nutrient uptake and reduce digestive complaints.
• Organic acids: the share plum contains organic acids such as citric acid and malic acid, which can stimulate metabolism and regulate the pH value in the gut. That creates an unfavourable environment for harmful bacteria and supports the health of the digestive tract.
• Fibre: it is rich in soluble and insoluble fibre, which encourages gut movement and can help avoid constipation.
• Antioxidants and nutrients: the plum supplies antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that contribute to general health. Antioxidants can help reduce oxidative stress damage in the body.
• Added herbs: selected herbs are often added during production, which can offer further health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory qualities or support for liver function

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How it works, at a glance:

• support for the gut flora
• improved digestion (regular, smooth bowel movements)
• detoxification
• regulation of metabolism

The effect can differ from person to person and depends on various factors such as diet, way of living and general health.

If you suffer from constipation, the share plum could bring relief by getting the muscles of the gut working again. During a fasting cure, too, the share plum can help gently with emptying and detoxifying the gut.

One plum a day is enough to keep the bowels moving well. It is best to raise the dose slowly, to see how you tolerate it. Start with half a plum and gradually increase to a whole one, provided you tolerate it well. If a whole plum is too intense for you, there is a gentler variant: put the plum in water in the morning and in the evening drink only the water it has soaked in.

The share plum is ideally taken in the evening before sleep, because the laxative effect comes about 8 to 10 hours after taking it, so that the bowels can move first thing in the morning. It is best to start at a weekend, since you may well need the toilet more often in the first one to three days. Diarrhoea can occur in those first days too.

Please take care when chewing, since the plum contains a hard stone. Chew the fruit thoroughly and then drink 500 ml of body-warm water. Make sure you drink enough water through the day as well.

The producer of the Share Original plum recommends using the product for at least three months, to bring the gut back into balance for good. In my experience that length of time matters particularly if you have had digestive problems for a while. You will notice that after some time you have more energy and feel considerably better overall.

The recommended doses can vary from producer to producer, so do follow the instructions on the packaging.

Please do not use the share plum during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you fast regularly, the share plum is a genuinely valuable and, above all, gentle aid. During fasting, regular bowel movement matters a great deal, so that toxins can be carried out of the body and symptoms of poisoning such as headaches do not arise.

I like to take the share plum myself on the evening before a fast begins, so that I can start with an empty gut. If during the fast I feel my body would benefit from emptying again, I take another plum. Bear in mind, though, that with an already fairly empty gut the laxative effect comes much faster. Only do it when you know a toilet is nearby. If you take the plum in the evening, you will probably need the toilet during the night.

Please drink enough water, to support your digestion and detoxification and to offset the fluid you may lose through the laxative effect.

Although many people tolerate the share plum well, in some cases something like side effects — or symptoms of detoxification — can occur.

Here are the possible ones:

• headaches
• diarrhoea, soft stools
• abdominal cramps or bloating
• skin rash
• tiredness
• irritability, mood swings

These symptoms (signs of detoxification) normally fade after three to four days. So do not give up straight away. If you feel unsure, seek advice from your doctor or naturopath.

If you take medicines, please note that the laxative effect can impair how they are absorbed. Do discuss it with your doctor in that case. Please be careful if you are allergic to plums or related fruit, since allergic reactions such as rash, itching or swelling can occur. In that case too, please discuss it with your doctor.

As with any food, a best-before date has to be given for the share plum for legal reasons. Since the share plum is a natural fermented product, and fermentation is one of the oldest preserving techniques, the plum keeps for a very long time — possibly beyond the best-before date. The share plum is normally packed individually, to keep the product fresh, hygienic and effective for a long while. I have used plums myself whose best-before date had passed by a year. They were still perfectly fine. I think you can tell quickly from the look, smell, taste and texture whether a plum is still good.

The share plum is meant as a cure and is no substitute for a healthy, balanced diet. It is a simple and effective way to cleanse the gut and get digestion moving again.

Please note that the share plum can cause changes in the colour of stool and urine, particularly because of its fermented and possibly iron-containing or colouring ingredients. As long as these changes are mild and temporary they are generally harmless. Where they persist or are unusual, though, it is important to consult a doctor, to rule out serious health problems.

If you have serious health problems, then when in doubt have your doctor or naturopath accompany you through the share plum cure.