Have you heard the latest on prunes? Well, for one, they're no longer called prunes— they're dried plums. I guess someone decided "dried plums" sounded more appetizing than prunes.
He may be right, but that's not the big news… It seems prunes…err…dried plums aren't just for regularity anymore. According to a recent article, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, they may actually help combat osteoporosis as well. Osteoporosis is a disease, commonly afflicting postmenopausal women, that leads to a decrease in bone density—leaving bones weaker and more susceptible to breaks and fractures. Typical treatments include vitamin D and calcium supplements, which can be difficult to digest and absorb. As well as a highly toxic (and only marginally effective) class of drugs called bisphosphonates. But when researchers took mouse cells and introduced antioxidant substances from the dried plums, called polyphenols, results showed an increased production in the enzymes responsible for bone formation. Plus, they also found a decrease in the production of enzymes linked to bone loss. This could be great news for osteoporosis sufferers who are in search of less "toxic" options. In an effort to validate and further these findings, Florida State University researchers launched a similar study to examine the respective benefits of both dried plums and dried apples. They hope to isolate the exact compounds responsible for these bone-building benefits and use them to create a natural supplement. If successful, their work may provide an alternative solution, to the short list of options, to help fight against osteoporosis. In the meantime, if you ask me, whole foods are your best source for "good stuff." So, whether you're regular or not, whether you've got osteoporosis or not, dried plums are still extremely high in antioxidants and they're a great source of dietary fiber. Get yourself a box and enjoy! **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)
