(Stephanie Brown/ Very Well Health) — Prunes, or dried plums, are a fiber-rich fruit that helps with bowel movement. But some emerging research suggests prunes might offer more than constipation relief.

Eating prunes every day can improve cholesterol levels while reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, according to two new studies presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s flagship conference in July.

The heart health benefits of long-term prune consumption were seen in men. In older women, eating prunes regularly had no negative effect on metabolic measures, such as total cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin levels.