A Surprising Superfood: New Bone-Boosting Benefits of Prunes Discovered

Prunes for Bone Strength in Women

Milk is not the only food linked to strong bones. Researchers at Penn State report that prunes can help postmenopausal women preserve bone structure and strength. Their study, published in Osteoporosis International, found that eating prunes every day may slow age-related bone loss and lower the risk of fractures.

“This is the first randomized controlled trial to look at three-dimensional bone outcomes with respect to bone structure, geometry and estimated strength,” said Mary Jane De Souza, distinguished professor of kinesiology and physiology at Penn State. “In our study we saw that daily prune consumption impacted factors related to fracture risk. That’s clinically invaluable.”

Aging and Bone Remodeling

Bone tissue constantly renews itself through remodeling. Specialized cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts remove old bone and replace it with new material. As people grow older, the balance shifts and bone breaks down faster than it can rebuild.