Reduce the chances of osteoporosis by consuming prunes daily

Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease, that is, the symptoms are less obvious and occur mainly in individuals just after middle age, with an emphasis on menopausal women. However, a study carried out in the United States showed that daily consumption of prunes is beneficial in reducing the chances of osteoporosis in women during the menopausal period. Check out more below!

Read more: How can food influence the relief of menopause discomforts?

Osteoporosis and menopause

Osteoporosis, which is little known by Brazilians, is a continuous reduction in bone density, usually detected at a later stage, only after the individual has suffered a fracture, for example.

This decrease is related to the lack of calcium in the body, which is a fundamental compound for strengthening bones, and the lack of vitamin D, whose function is to absorb calcium.

However, in women, menopause is a factor that increases the chance of developing this disease. This happens because the way hormonal imbalances occur during this period is exacerbated and lead to a decline in estrogen production in the woman's body.

Among other things, this hormone acts as a natural protection for women's bones. Thus, with this reduction, the bone is unprotected and bone wear accelerates. Therefore, women's health during and after menopause should always be monitored.

Plum consumption can be beneficial!

Prunes may be a promising nutritional intervention to prevent the rise of inflammatory mediators that are often seen as part of the aging process.

Previous research has shown that the polyphenols (substances that reduce inflammation) in prunes can promote reduced levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in osteoclasts, which is a type of cell bone.

Many postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density participated in this study that was conducted. Three groups were divided:

• The first group consumed six plums (50g) a day for 12 months.
• The second group ate twice a day for 12 months.
• However, the third did not consume any amount of fruit and remained in the control group.

Completion of studies

After the experiment, the researchers compared the levels of inflammatory markers present in blood samples taken from volunteers at the beginning and end of the study. Thus, all those who ate prunes showed significant reductions in inflammatory mediators.

Therefore, research suggests that consuming six to twelve prunes daily can decrease the mediators that cause inflammation and contribute to bone loss in women during and after menopause.