How many prunes?: I'm 50 with... - Bone Health and O...

Bone Health and Osteoporosis UK

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How many prunes?

I'm 50 with Osteoporosis and understand there have been really positive studies completed on bone density improvement from eating prunes each day. However the suggested daily amount seems to vary.

I started eating them a few days ago & it certainly helps with the problem I was having going to the loo (since taking calcium tablets with vit D and alendronic acid).

Does anyone know how many I should eat though please and if it needs to be every day or would every other day be ok (don't want to overdo it!)?

Thanks

Tracy

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18 Replies

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Jule7777 years ago

I tracy like you I am not familiar with prunes but after being diagnosed at Christmas with Osteoporosis I have added 5 prunes a day and a glass of kifer also recommended.I decided not to take any medication at present so I consider these my meds.... lets see how it goes.

Julie

Tracy8343• in reply toJule7777 years ago

Thanks Julie ... what's kifer please? Not heard of that before 😀!

Tracy

poddysss• in reply toTracy83437 years ago

It's called kefir from polish shops

Tracy8343• in reply topoddysss7 years ago

Thank you 😀

Kaarina• in reply toTracy83437 years ago

Here are links to two past forum postings on Kefir:

healthunlocked.com/boneheal...

Tracy8343• in reply toKaarina7 years ago

Thanks Kaarina, that's really helpful 😀

Jessie1234• in reply toKaarina7 years ago

I have posted re kefir in the 2nd post above but reading back through those posts I realised that no one has mentioned that to keep the grains thriving they must be given full fat dairy, cows or goats milk, which also contributes to the vitamins and minerals which support bone health. Like Heron I believe a small glass daily, 6 days a week, is suffice. Full fat coconut milk fermented only gives probiotics. Shop bought kefir does not give the benefits home made does. Dr Susan Brown gives the research re dried prunes on her blog on the website Better Bones. She recommends 6 dried prunes daily as part of a good balanced alkaline/acid diet. Each meal 80% alkaline 20% acid with 2 prunes at each meal as they are acidic. An alkaline diet is mainly fruits and veg. I still need to get a grip on this myself!

Lilact• in reply toJule7777 years ago

Hi about 6 prunes a day is what they say and yes kefir is very good that's what I am talking along with alendronic acid

4 wks on AA a bit concerned whether I will have long term side effects on AA

Does anyone know

Kaarina• in reply toLilact7 years ago

Hi Lilact,

Unfortunately I cannot tell you if you may suffer any long term side effects from AA. I wish I had a crystal ball. I do not think anyone can tell you that. We are all different so what suits one person will not necessarily suit another person.

Quite a few OP sufferers start on the AA as that is what is offered to begin with and if they cannot tolerate it, they come off it, if they feel OK, they usually take it for a time.

We have to read up as much as we can about the few drugs on offer, weigh up the pros and cons for us personally and then hope for the best which ever path we decide to take. The OP drugs or not.

Kaarina7 years ago

Hi Tracy

I believe it used to be 10-12 prunes daily but now I think the magic number is 5-6 per day. I have heard it is better not to take them all at once (overload!) but stagger eating them throughout the day.

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

Tracy8343• in reply toKaarina7 years ago

Thanks Kaarina, that's exactly what I was after ...

From the link you gave me, there's loads more info on the latest research, plus a video on you tube which explains it all. Will stagger my 6 prunes out throughout the day as a little taste of sweetness after meals as she suggests .. might even stop me reaching for chocolate as much!😛

Tracy

Kaarina• in reply toTracy83437 years ago

Hi Tracy,

If you scroll down to the comments at the end of the link I posted there are a couple of other links you may be interested in too, although one is on her Better Bones, Better Body FB page.

7 years ago

I believe 5 in morning is okay unless you are prone to loose bowels, that is how I do it, its great for constipation as well, AA disagreed with me so back to walk cream cheese and my Rheumatologist suggested Actimel, Saw Keffir for sale but its expensive here

Tracy8343• in reply to7 years ago

Ahhh thanks Suzuki, that's really helpful 😀

HeronNS7 years ago

Kefir contains many beneficial bacteria, many more than yoghurt which has only one or two. It is considered helpful for gut health which we are learning has a great impact on the health of the entire body. As many of us have an unbalanced gut microbiome (due to antibiotics, diet, other life stresses) anything we can do to rebalance that part of our system is good. Kefir is supposed to be particularly good. There are even non-dairy forms for those who cannot consume dairy products. I haven't done it myself but it is possible to make your own. You buy the starter from a health food store, and away you go! it's best to avoid the kinds which contain a lot of sugar. We started with the sweet stuff, then I discovered the unflavoured and mixed it in, and now we are happy with the plain. You only need a small glassful a day.

Apparently taking your calcium supplement with a small helping of plain yoghurt makes the calcium dose more effective.

Prunes, I've heard five or six. They vary in size, as do we, so I think the number you eat can vary too. In the summer you could have a few plums for a change.

Tracy8343• in reply toHeronNS7 years ago

Brilliant!

Thanks so much for this detail and for explaining the link between Kefir and the calcium supplement .. will give it try 😀

7 years ago

Six.

Tracy83437 years ago

Thanks Lois 😀