Osteoporosis and Prunes

A Florida State University researcher published results of a study comparing post menopausal women who ate prunes vs those who ate dried apples. It looks like the prune eaters had denser bones when combined with Calcium and Vitamin D .I also have found a Podcast from Mayo Clinic that I am listening to on my computer

Here is a link to the article http://bit.ly/2jWiKzd
Here is the Podcast http://mayocl.in/2kidDuk

Since I like prunes, I just may pick some up on my next trip to the grocery store. Do you have any experience with bone loss?

I was wondering if what I asked (Osteoporosis and Prunes) sounded to wild to be of any consequence, but apparently there is some indication that it might be real. My osteopenia Dx was chanaged with my last DEXA scan to ostioporosis. Because of my Dx at Mayo in 2013 with Myotonic Dystrohy tyrp 2, I now have a walking project here at my retirement community and since Aug 13, 2016, I have walked 42 miles as of this past weekend. Beside trying to stay out a wheelchiar, I am hoping all my walking may slow down the develpopment of the oeoporosis. So glad I found that artice re prunes. Thanks. gailfaith

I really would like to thank you for asking the question regarding prunes and osteoporosis. At Mayo Clinic Connect we are here to share our experiences and thoughts. In doing so, we help each other while learning and developing relationships.
Walking that far is a terrific accomplishment @gailfaith ! I have some troubles walking as far as I'd like to due to my health issues. I have fibromyalgia, DDD, stenosis and bone spurs in my cervical spine. I try to exercise in the indoor pool at our recreation center, but sometimes the water is too cold.
Please keep me updated on your miles!
Jen

Hi. Jen, Since you mentioned how far I walk, what I didn't go into details is that when I finally getting done measuring all the possible routes to walk on the south campus of Landis Homes retirement community where I live, I will be taking my notebook now with 82 pages and counting !!!!!! with one route per page, to one of the VP's here and he will get my notebook copied and make the info available to all other residents here so they wil know how far THEY walk. I started Aug 13, but due to some construction that couldn't be finished before the frost, hopefully will be done in the spring. I think Colleen knows these details! @gailfaith here

Does anyone know if the benefit of eating prunes daily is restricted to eating only the dried prunes? I’m wondering if they might be stewed or would that compromise whatever it is that benefits bones? I can’t find any recommendations about doing anything with prunes other than eating them dried and raw.

Great question! Looking forward to any answer. I forgot about stewed prunes with lemons.

I hope stewing is still beneficial, because that's how I have been eating them! I read "somewhere" that as long as you also eat the liquid you're getting the benefits, but I can't find any reference to that this morning....

I don't think that cooking reduces the nutritional value though some might leach into the water. So, as @sonodeka mentioned, just consume the liquid as well for all of the benefits. Stewing prunes will make them more digestible and if you also happen to be more on the constipated side, stewing is beneficial over eating them dried.

Ask Dr Keith McCormick! From what I have heard he DEVOURs them!

I've read that heat can reduce the vitamin, but not mineral, content of food. Prunes are supposed to be loaded with antioxidants. When I want them stewlike, I boil some water, then pour it over them in a glass container and let them rehydrate overnight. Sometimes I flavor with lemon; other times with spices - cinnamon, cloves, ginger.
I buy a brand of California prunes online that are not too dry and moist enough to eat without rehydrating, but not moist to the point of being overly sticky.
I was also buying organic prunes for a while and they were pricey. I couldn't find any information about organic prunes being better than nonorganic so I switched.