Stronger bones from prunes and plums

EATING five or six prunes a day can improve bone health, say researchers at San Diego State University.

They gave post-menopausal women, who are prone to weakened bones as a result of lower oestrogen, a 50g supplement of dried plums — the equivalent to five or six prunes — or a placebo for six months.

Results published in the journal Osteoporosis International suggest that those taking the supplement had stronger and more dense bones, possibly because they contain chemicals that block bone reabsorption, the process by which bone is broken down as we age.

A similar effect would be expected from eating plums, too.