People at risk or living with osteoporosis are urged to add one 8p fruit to their daily diet in order to help reduce the risk of getting fractures, according to studies
When talking about keeping your bones strong and healthy, many people will automatically assume eating dairy products, such as milk or yoghurt, would be a great way to boost your bone health due to the amount of calcium found in these products. But studies have now found one fruit works even better in protecting bone health and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Over three million people in the UK have osteoporosis, with estimates from the Royal Osteoporosis Society suggesting the figure is closer to 3.5 million. The condition disproportionately affects women, especially after the menopause, but also impacts men.
Losing bone density is a normal part of the ageing process. Some people lose bone density much faster than normal. This can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures.
If you’re diagnosed with osteoporosis, or find out you have low bone density, you might be told to start taking prescription medication that will help strengthen your bones. Besides this, the best thing is to avoid high risk situations where you might get fractured.
However, one study published in 2022 showed adding one fruit to your diet every single day could help boost your bone density, and prevent any fractures from occurring.
Taking to TikTok to share these news, board certified occupational and environmental medicine physician, Dr. Ashley Ennedy, from San Diego, went on to explain the summary of the study, which looked at several patients throughout one year.
“Prunes to preserve mineral bone density. A recent study actually shows that they can help,” she said at the start of the video.
She went on to say that eating just 50g of prunes a day, which is the equivalent of five to six prunes, can help prevent the loss of bone mineral density in the hip in post-menopausal women. The study also suggested that prunes could be a natural, dietary way to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, though more research is needed to confirm these findings.
“This is especially significant for those women who are unable to take prescription medication,” she said, before saying it may also help reduce the risk of hip fractures.
What is osteoporosis?
Bones are dynamic tissues that constantly renew themselves. However, as we age, this process slows down, and old bone is broken down faster than new bone can be formed. This imbalance leads to conditions like osteoporosis.
While medications are available to treat osteoporosis, many women opt not to take them, making diet and lifestyle changes even more important.
A possible natural alternative to consider are prunes, which contain bioactive compounds like polyphenols. These compounds may help counteract inflammation in the body, a process linked to bone loss.