The popular dried fruit stops the loss of bone mass

Results from a new study in mice show that a diet high in prunes completely prevents bone loss associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) and restores some of the bone tissue lost after SCI. These results support previous findings indicating a positive link between prunes and bone health.

Previous clinical studies have demonstrated a beneficial bone response to prunes in postmenopausal women, along with animal studies showing a similar positive reaction in those who were exposed to radiation, such as astronauts in space.

“We are observing a fascinating effect of prunes on bones,” says Dr. Bernard Halloran, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco. “In many unique studies, prunes are consistently associated with a favorable response to bone. No other compound seems to have the same positive effect.”