Pruning Up Your Bones

Who would have ever guessed that prunes – dried plums – are one of the healthiest foods you can eat?

Their antioxidant value alone makes these yummy little nuggets a stellar standout above other high-ranking foods like blueberries and raisins. The health benefits of prunes are huge, with their large amount of phenolics, they are particularly effective against free radicals that destroy your cells. But did you know they can slow down and reverse bone loss due to their high level of one important trace element – boron?

Women over 40 lose one percent of bone density every… single… year. And this loss becomes significant, especially in the years after menopause. It’s a concern for all women as we age, so minimizing the risk of fractures by increasing bone density is a top priority. The simple suggestion that eating a few prunes a day to decrease our chances of fractures might be hard to believe. Studies, however, show they work!

It is possible to stop bone loss from further increasing as we get older and this boron rich fruit can actually reverse bone loss back to normal density. In a study conducted on postmenopausal women who ate 4-6 prunes a day, the findings were impressive, showing significant increases in bone density in their hips and arms just one year later. Prunes may be especially helpful in combating radiation bone loss by reducing radiation’s effect on bone marrow. Boron is associated with the prevention of osteoporosis (bones that are brittle and fragile due to loss of bone tissue) and to osteopenia (reduced bone mass). And the beauty of it is, prunes are also rich in potassium and magnesium, other minerals that help support bone health, and they contain key vitamins like Vitamin K that helps to support our bones.

My friend Dr. Janet Zand shared an extraordinary testimonial from one of her fans about the power of prunes with their high source of bone-building boron: “I am now eighty-two and have had four bone density tests, which have told me I have the bones of a thirty-year-old. I’m told this is very unusual. One clinician told me that at the normal rate of bone loss, I will be a hundred and ten before I have osteopenia. Now I know why. For thirty-five years, I had a house with a plum tree and made prunes. I have continued daily use of four to six prunes for fifty years, thinking I was doing it for constipation. What a wonderful side effect to get these solid bones!”

I do recommend that you choose only organic, non-GMO brands, as always. There are plenty of good quality brands available today. And keep in mind, that the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA) available at Uni Key Health is a great way to get a glimpse at what is going on with our bones and the minerals that we need to keep our bone health strong. The TMA tests for 29 major minerals and 8 heavy metals, providing a complete analysis of your mineral levels and mineral ratios, as well as associated health and disease tendencies, including bone health.

Do you eat prunes every day? Have you been tested lately for osteoporosis?

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