Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/FsMAasSuz5o   If you’re a woman worried about post-menopausal bone loss, you may just want to stock up on boxes of prunes.  Penn State nutritionists now publish a meta-analysis of clinical and laboratory studies that demonstrate and explain the bone-sparing powers of the lowly prune.   Sixteen pre-clinical studies in rodents demonstrate that prunes and the polyphenols they contain inhibit the bone-dissolving effects of osteoclasts while also demonstrating potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.  Several clinical trials show wolfing down 6 to 12 prunes a day for at least 6-12 months will halt bone absorption while increasing bone density in post-menopausal women.   More studies are underway.  Meanwhile, dried plums, aka prunes, could help prevent women and men from shrinking as they age and make fractures less likely.  One other bonus: they will keep you regular.   https://academic.oup.com/advances/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/advances/nmab162/6492076?redirectedF