Prunes May Prevent and Reverse Osteoporotic Bone Loss

Silica and Prunes for Breakfast

I read articles frequently about innovations and health discoveries that can improve or strengthen your bones.  Osteoporosis is a huge topic given the number of baby boomers in our population and it is an important one if we want to stay vital into old age.  Our bones give strength and structure to us and allow the daily activity it requires to maintain our lives in a normal functioning way.  If our bones start crumbling prematurely, we are in trouble.

This is the reason this particular study caught my eye.  It is so simple and commonsensical that ideally food contains (or should contain) the nutrients our bodies need to function optimally into old age.  My grandmother who was a hard working mid-western woman was bending and stooping and planting and canning well into her 70’s, and my aunt did the same thing into her 90’s.  The common thread between my ancestors and many of yours who lived in the earlier part of the century is that they ate prunes. Steamed, stewed or dried…they were an enjoyable addition to the menu.

Now we know that prunes not only can keep one ‘regular’ but they enhance the health of your bones. It is time to bring prunes back into vogue!  Try serving this healthy fruit as a a daily delicacy with breakfast, lunch or dinner or possibly all three. If you take your Silica every day and add prunes into your diet, your bones should certainly benefit and you will be jumping (even higher) for joy.

Read the study below:

Prunes May Prevent and Reverse Osteoporotic Bone Loss

These finding confirm the results of a series of earlier studies that suggested consumption of dried plums improved bone mineral density (BMD) by suppressing rate of bone turnover.1 Daily consumption of prunes should now be considered a valid strategy for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Hooshmand S, Chai SC, Saadat RL, Payton ME, Brummel-Smith K, Arjmandi BH. Comparative effects of dried plum and dried apple on bone in postmenopausal women. Br J Nutr. 2011 Sep;106(6):923-930