Prunes for bone density-anyone have success?

My understanding is that it is the boron in prunes that helps bone density. I belong to an osteoporosis forum where this was discussed. Also the quantity of prunes needed was said to be 100 grams per day. Per a bag of prunes each serving of 5 weighs 40 grams so you would need to eat 12-13 prunes per day. I am sorry I can't find the link in the other site but I'm sure you can search it.

You're welcome, aussieched.

Oh, ruthbru - the minute I saw this topic I thought of you!!!

One concern I have about prune therapy is the OTHER side effect of prunes... you know, when you take them for constipation?

Did they have that effect on you at all?

I don't want to end up in the bathroom all day....

You mentioned "colon health".... I call it The Big "D"

https://www.fsu.edu/indexTOFStory.html?lead.plums

Ruth:  have you seen this?   I thought of you when I saw it!  I'm eating my prunes!

Just ate my daily serving of prunes a few minutes ago. Always nice when advice I give is actually true!

How many prunes in a serving Ruthbru? Sounds like a good idea to try them. I have stopped eating dairy products and the dietician nearly had a heart attack! She seemed to think after a few years of such a diet I will have wrecked my bones.

It does seem like a win/win thing and I like prunes (dried plums because they sound better) well enough so I'll add them to my grocery list. Do any other dried fruits do this? I like dates, figs and dried apricots even more! LOL.

Here is a great article on bone health and prunes:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/307035.ph...

The only true downside to prunes is their high sugar content (as with all dried fruit). But you can counteract that by cutting back as far as possible on other sources of sugar (including simple starches). Also, of all the dried fruits, they also have the highest amounts of soluble fiber. And Dr. Bob (my cardiologist hubby) says that soluble fiber is one of the heart-healthiest nutrients you can consume, because it lowers LDL and thus total cholesterol. 6 prunes a day keeps the statins away?

ChiSandy

Thank you for posting about this. They took my cholesterol post chemo and it is 270? I have three months to try to correct it. My HDL is fine my LDL is high as are my triglicerites defenitly will do 6 prunes a day.

I found it (May 2015):

When it comes to improving bone health in postmenopausal women — and people of all ages, actually — a Florida State University researcher has found a simple, proactive solution to help prevent fractures and osteoporosis: eating dried plums.

"Over my career, I have tested numerous fruits, including figs, dates, strawberries and raisins, and none of them come anywhere close to having the effect on bone density that dried plums, or prunes, have," said Bahram H. Arjmandi, Florida State's Margaret A. Sitton Professor and chairman of the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences in the College of Human Sciences. "All fruits and vegetables have a positive effect on nutrition, but in terms of bone health, this particular food is exceptional."

Arjmandi and a group of researchers from Florida State and Oklahoma State University tested two groups of postmenopausal women. Over a 12-month period, the first group, consisting of 55 women, was instructed to consume 100 grams of dried plums (about 10 prunes) each day, while the second — a comparative control group of 45 women — was told to consume 100 grams of dried apples. All of the study's participants also received daily doses of calcium (500 milligrams) and vitamin D (400 international units).

The group that consumed dried plums had significantly higher bone mineral density in the ulna (one of two long bones in the forearm) and spine, in comparison with the group that ate dried apples. This, according to Arjmandi, was due in part to the ability of dried plums to suppress the rate of bone resorption, or the breakdown of bone, which tends to exceed the rate of new bone growth as people age.

The group's research, "Comparative Effects of Dried Plum and Dried Apple on Bone in Post Menopausal Women," was published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Arjmandi conducted the research with his graduate students Shirin Hooshmand, Sheau C. Chai and Raz L. Saadat of the College of Human Sciences; Dr. Kenneth Brummel-Smith, Florida State's Charlotte Edwards Maguire Professor and chairman of the Department of Geriatrics in the College of Medicine; and Oklahoma State University statistics Professor Mark E. Payton.

In the United States, about 8 million women have osteoporosis because of the sudden cessation of ovarian hormone production at the onset of menopause. What's more, about 2 million men also have osteoporosis.

"In the first five to seven postmenopausal years, women are at risk of losing bone at a rate of 3 to 5 percent per year," Arjmandi said. "However, osteoporosis is not exclusive to women and, indeed, around the age of 65, men start losing bone with the same rapidity as women."

Arjmandi encourages people who are interested in maintaining or improving their bone health to take note of the extraordinarily positive effect that dried plums have on bone density.

"Don't wait until you get a fracture or you are diagnosed with osteoporosis and have to have prescribed medicine," Arjmandi said. "Do something meaningful and practical beforehand. People could start eating two to three dried plums per day and increase gradually to perhaps six to 10 per day. Prunes can be eaten in all forms and can be included in a variety of recipes."

I wasn't sure from reading the above - can adding prunes to your diet help with bone density if you already have osteoporosis ? I'm afraid chemo, radiation and Femara are taking a toll on my middle aged bones.

Anastrazole has decreased my bone density. I will give the prunes a try. Thank you so much for this info.