Posted on 02/12/2022 9:07:47 AM PST by ConservativeMind
In a research review, the researchers found that prunes can help prevent or delay bone loss in postmenopausal women, possibly due to their ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to bone loss.
"In postmenopausal women, lower levels of estrogen can trigger a rise of oxidative stress and inflammation, increasing the risk of weakening bones that may lead to fractures," said Connie Rogers, associate professor.
"Fruits and vegetables that are rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolic acid, flavonoids and carotenoids can potentially help protect against osteoporosis," said Mary Jane De Souza, professor, "with prunes in particular gaining attention in previous research."
According to the researchers, bones are maintained throughout adult life by processes that continually build new bone cells while removing old ones. But after the age of 40, this breaking down of old cells begins to outpace the formation of new ones. This can be caused by multiple factors including inflammation and oxidative stress, which is when free radicals and antioxidants are unbalanced in the body.
Prunes, however, have many nutritional benefits such as minerals, vitamin K, phenolic compounds and dietary fiber—all which may be able to help counter some of these effects.
For their review, the researchers analyzed data from preclinical studies and clinical trials. Researchers found evidence that eating prunes helped reduce inflammation and oxidative stress and promoted bone health.
The clinical trials found that eating 100 grams of prunes—about 10 prunes—each day for one year improved bone mineral density of bones in the forearm and lower spine and decreased signs of bone turnover.
Additionally, eating 50 or 100 grams of prunes a day for six months prevented loss of total bone mineral density and decreased TRAP-5b—a marker of bone resorption—compared to women who didn't eat prunes.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I don’t give a crap about prunes.
10 prunes a day should provide plenty of exercise.
They are going to have to control for the use of Regular and Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi in their experiments. Group A is prunes and no Regular or Diet Coke or Pepsi, group B no prunes or Regular or Diet Coke or Pepsi. We’re talking cans and bottles of standard American formulations that use phosphoric acid as an ingredient.
You don’t have to get all wrinkled up over it.
How is my eating prunes going to protect old women from bone loss?
It’s the pits.
At least they won’t have to worry about “pinching out a pineapple”
I assume eating plums would have a similar result.
Once saw a sign at a farm, “Start a movement, Eat a Prune.”
Maybe I missed it. . . what about consuming prune juice instead?
I have read the article, and another article linked at the first one. Were people eating these untreated. I have seen packaged “softenized” prunes, and of course you can stew them. Otherwise it might be hard for elderly people with bad teeth to eat an untreated prune. Does boiling them hurt the nutrient content, or canning them? I suppose you could put then in a jar with water and store in the refrigerator for a few days? One would also need to brush teeth to get the sugar off. My Vitamin D, boron and calcium consumption may be doing the same job of preventing shrinkage. At 83 I have shrunk from 5’5”, to 5’3”, but that seems to have been stable for a few years. When my mother was my age she had really shrunk a lot more.
I prefer to think of them as “dried plums.”
I like prunes, what’s not to like? Prunes get a bad rap like fruitcake.
How much fibre do you think is in the juice?
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