A new study shows that prunes can prevent bone loss in women
Prunes are known to be excellent for your gut, but a new Penn State study reveals prunes can prevent bone loss in women. Researchers from the university discovered prunes to aid postmenopausal women by avoiding or delaying overall bone loss.
The Penn State researchers ran clinical trials that resulted in benefits from eating 100 grams of prunes each day for a calendar year. This showed that prunes can prevent bone loss by improving bone mineral density in the forearm and lower spine. Symptoms of bone turnover were also reduced.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak or brittle. According to the researchers, it can affect anyone at any age, though it’s most frequent in women over 50. More than 200 million women in the world are affected by osteoporosis, which results in over nine million fractures each year.
“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,” states Connie Rogers, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Physiology at Penn State University. “Incorporating prunes into the diet may help protect bones by slowing or reversing this process.”
As we age, our body continuously builds new bone cells while eliminating old ones. It’s a natural process to keep our bones healthy throughout adulthood. After the age of 40, the breakdown of the old bone cells outpaces the production of new ones. This can be due to a variety of factors including inflammation and oxidative stress, which occurs when there’s an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body.
Not only do they make a tasty snack, prunes have a number of vital nutrients and are high in dietary fiber, minerals, phenolic compounds, and vitamin K, all of which may assist to mitigate these side effects. Thanks to this study, we now know that prunes can prevent bone loss in women due to their ability to lower inflammation and oxidative stress.