Health Benefits of Prune Juice

Medically Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, RD, LD, MPH on March 23, 2023
3 min read

Drinking juice is a way of getting the benefits of many fruits or vegetables in one serving. Juice is healthy, easy to make or buy, and simple to consume. Different kinds of juices contain different vitamins and antioxidants that your body needs in order to stay healthy. Prune juice is one type of juice that is beneficial for your health.

A prune is a dried plum — typically, a dried European plum called prunus domestica. Prune juice is made by extracting the water from these dried prunes.

But what does drinking prune juice do for your health? Learn about the health benefits of prune juice and why you should consider adding it to your diet.

The vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants in prune juice can be important for maintaining good health. For example, vitamin C is needed for the health of your immune system, which helps your body fight colds and sickness. Vitamin C also decreases the damaging effects of free radicals, which are molecules in the body that can harm cells. In some instances, free radicals can lead to the development of cancers and cardiovascular (heart-related) diseases.

In addition, prune juice can provide other health benefits like:

Digestive Health

Drinking prune juice is key for helping your digestive system work. One of its most common uses is to relieve symptoms of constipation. It is high in fiber and sorbitol (sugar alcohol), making it a natural laxative by easing digestion and making bowel movements more regular. People who drink half a cup of prune juice a day usually don’t have trouble with regular bathroom use.

Preventing High Blood Pressure

Prune juice is high in potassium and antioxidants. Potassium helps balance levels of sodium in the blood, and antioxidants help decrease the effects of free radicals in the body. Together they help lower cholesterol and reduce hypertension (high blood pressure), which is necessary for heart health and preventing heart disease.

Liver Health

In traditional medicine, prune juice has been used to treat hepatitis — a liver disease. When there are problems with your liver, it produces harmful chemicals. Prune juice vitamins and antioxidants reduce these chemicals, helping to maintain liver health and fight disease.

However, it should be noted that prune juice is not a cure for hepatitis, and if you have hepatitis you should talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Heart Health

The antioxidants and fiber found in prune juice have been shown to stop the harmful effects of chemicals that can lead to heart problems. Fiber also helps keep a healthy heart by lowering levels of cholesterol in your blood. If your cholesterol gets too high, it can lead to heart disease, stroke, or heart attack.

Prune juice is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, which work as a laxative and can help maintain a healthy digestive system along with preventing heart disease, strokes, and other health problems.

It’s also an excellent source of:

Nutrients per Serving

An 8-ounce serving of prune juice (the amount of about 1 cup, or a single serving) contains:

  • Calories: 182
  • Protein: 2 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Total Carbohydrates (including sugars): 44.7 grams
  • Fiber: 4 grams
  • Sodium: 10 milligrams
  • Sugars: 26 grams

Portion Sizes

Prune juice nutrients are a great addition to your diet. However, because one glass of juice has the sugars and calories of many fruits, it is important to keep daily portion sizes to about 1 cup. Too much sugar can counteract positive prune juice benefits.

Pure prune juice can be found in the juice section or the organic section of most grocery stores. You can also make prune juice at home.

To make your own prune juice, add some water to prunes and let them soak for 20 minutes. Mix the soaked prunes in a blender with some more water. (You can add some lemon juice and additional sugar if you prefer. However, keep in mind that prunes are naturally sweet so you don’t need to add too much.) Next, you can strain out the pulp, or you can leave it in for extra fiber.

Here are some ways to use prune juice:

  • Drink a glass a day
  • Mix it into smoothies
  • Add it to porridge as a natural sweetener
  • Add it to cookies or muffins as a sugar replacement