Will Eating Prunes Reverse Bone Loss in PM Women?

Parent Cafe
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<p>This may be helpful information…</p>

<p>Could a handful of nutrient-rich dried plums each day help keep the doctor away by actually reversing bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis? A unique clinical study under way in the Florida State University College of Human Sciences means to find out.</p>

<p>FSU Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi is the principal investigator and a nationally recognized expert on the effects of “functional foods” (dietary components that may provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition) on chronic diseases. His previous studies found that dried plums?better known as prunes?restored lost bone in animal models of osteoporosis, and improved biomarkers linked to bone formation in postmenopausal women.</p>

<p>Expanding the range of effective treatment options for osteoporosis is critical: 10 million Americans already have the silent but debilitating disease; another 34 million are at risk. Postmenopausal women are particularly susceptible to fractures due to osteoporotic bone loss?and up to 20 percent of that loss can occur within just five to seven years after menopause.</p>

<p>Why prunes? “While drug therapies are available for the treatment of osteoporosis, they can be prohibitively expensive and are not without side effects; hence long-term adherence to these therapies is low,” Arjmandi said. “Furthermore, many women prefer to modify their lifestyle and dietary practices in order to prevent fracture due to osteoporosis.”</p>

<p>Chair of FSU’s nutrition, food and exercise sciences department since joining the faculty last summer, Arjmandi has spearheaded the current research with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</p>

<p>For the complete article, see: <a href=“http://www.fsu.edu/news/2007/01/11/osteoporosis.study/[/url]”>http://www.fsu.edu/news/2007/01/11/osteoporosis.study/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Prunes are so delicious, but an indulgence–way too much sugar!!!</p>

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<p>Wait a sec – someone named “mallomarcookie” is complaining about sugar?</p>

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<p>Guilty as charged!!!</p>

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<p>Prunes are also not without side effects.</p>

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<p>Aren’t those ‘after’ effects? ;)</p>

<p>Apres prunes.</p>

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<p>You build immunity to the side affects.
I got my trees trained to give better good affects and less of the side affects.
I dry my own.
I don’t care what other people think, and they are as old as me. </p>

<p>W needs more Prunes. Ever notice how he grimmaces, sensitive to any criticisms, and always seem to be uptight.</p>

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<p>Exercise is good for bone health.</p>

<p>Running to the bathroom constitutes exercise.</p>

<p>Eating prunes leads to increased running to the bathroom.</p>

<p>Therefore, eating prunes is good for bone health.</p>

<p>Who needs a formal study?</p>

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<p>Prunes are yummy.</p>

<p>I agree with itstoomuch; after eating one or two a day, you can then go on to eat two or three a day. And so on. You just need to build up. You can’t start with ten a day or you’ll be sorry.</p>

<p>Hell, I’ll try anything to keep osteoporosis at bay.</p>

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<p>Cool! I’m going to buy more prunes today! I have actually started eating them more recently <em>because</em> of their side effects – it turns out that now that I am my 50’s I have developed a need for more fiber in my diet for, ahem, reasons I don’t want to get too specific about… but it sure beats buying metamucil.</p>

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<p>Buy stock in prunes. . .</p>

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<p>I like the ones flavored with orange.</p>