My silly query for the day!

[Rosbud]

I religiously eat 6/8 prunes daily and my OH has just asked me why and what are they supposed to do for me , was it this site I read it on that they are good for my osteoporosis, please tell me I’m not going loopy in my old age , thanks for your help xxx

[Songbird69]

I have friends who do this to keep their bones strong. I keep meaning to do it myself! So you are definitely not loopy!! 🤣

[Rosbud in reply to Songbird69]

Thank you, do doubt myself sometimes x

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is said they are good for preventing osteoporosis - not so good for keeping pred weight down though!!! Bit carby ...

But backed up by study evidence:

newswire.ca/news-releases/a....

And another comment about the fact that they can even reverse loss of bone density - in mice and with 25% of their diet being prunes ...

scientificamerican.com/arti...

[Rosbud in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much , will read both of these again and hopefully take in all of it xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rosbud]

Give it to himself to read!

[Rosbud in reply to PMRpro]

I will , definitely x

[Marijo1951]

I started to do the same after reading research that showed that a few prunes per day can prevent bone loss in older women, as PMRpro mentions. This is the study that influenced me: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/269...

I should add that this was after I decided not to take allendronic acid or other bisphosphonates, but thought I should do something towards maintaining bone health.

[YuliK]

Four prunes (32 grams) contain 2 grams of fiber and about 7% of your daily requirements for vitamin A and potassium (5). Prunes also contain sorbitol, a type of sugar alcohol that your body poorly digests. It helps alleviate constipation by drawing water into the intestines, spurring a bowel movement .

Well those prunes must certainly keep your bowels moving. 👍

[Rosbud in reply to YuliK]

Haven’t noticed them helping but do notice i miss A couple of days !

[YuliK in reply to Rosbud]

A couple of days is too long. Boots the Chemist sell natural fibre tablets called senokot. ( non chemical)Worth checking them out.

As we get older, out bodies are inclined to be less active in that area, and it’s important to be a regular visitor to the bathroom.

senokot.com/laxatives/senok...

YuliK. 😷

[Rosbud in reply to YuliK]

Thanks , have lactulose from Dr if and when I need it x

[Constance13]

I agree with the other comments - also very good for keeping constipation at bay. I cook them and drink the water - having added two teaspoons of olive oil.

Also delicious as a desert with custard.💥

[Rosbud in reply to Constance13]

Oh I love them with rice pudding x

[Longtimer in reply to Rosbud]

Remember that at school!...

[Rosbud in reply to Longtimer]

Yes , I was A dinner lady for A while and the little darlings had it once A week x

[Longtimer]

Then we must be loopy together!....have often read 6 prunes a day to help with osteoporosis.....so they go on my breakfast....

[HeronNS]

Yes, boron, also found in other fruits and vegetables, and even coffee. Prunes supposed to be particularly beneficial.

[HeronNS]

This is interesting:

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/B...

[Rosbud in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks , I’ll catch up

On this later x

[Mstiles]

Could they be a problem if you’re trying to keep sugar levels down?

[Rosbud in reply to Mstiles]

Devil and the deep blue sea !

[HeronNS in reply to Rosbud]

Eat some protein at the same time you have something sweet, or really any carbs. This is supposed to help level out any sugar spike.

[Rosbud in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you for this , I’ve lost 21lbs and do try to keep sweet treats down but will remember this tip x

[HeronNS in reply to Rosbud]

Well, it's not like a prune is "empty" calories.

[cycli in reply to HeronNS]

I understand that there is a link between excess sugar in the blood and ability to break down and absorb the protein molecule. Apparently the free sugar molecules wrap the free protein molecules preventing the protein getting to the muscle and simply passing through the gut. The net effect is that however much protein you consume you won't get the benefit if the sugar level is too high. Maybe someone with more knowledge can correct or confirm this please.

[HeronNS in reply to cycli]

I had elevated blood sugar in my early days on pred and my daughter, a dietitian, told me to eat protein when I ate carbs. I also cut out most "white" carbs, but not things like root vegetables, and sweet things have always been a treat not a habit for me anyway. My blood sugar came down but did not become really normal until pred dose was lower, forget exactly where, might have been when I got to about 5 mg,

[cycli in reply to HeronNS]

interesting. I might start a thread on this as it interests me and is so relevant to our condition given the inducement to sweet things and diabetes through prednisolone absorption.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

I don't know off the top of my head - but I would suspect that it is probably only a potential problem for diabetics since insulin promotes protein anabolism.

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

that's the issue though, I don't know. It's a problem downline potentially and affects however we try to eat healthy wholesome food. Essentially we are flushing the goodness we should be enjoying straight down the pan. I don't like that thought.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

It is the sort of claim I would expect to see on rather less scientific sources - so I'd like some references.

[HanaleiBa]

So many benefits! They are considered a top superfood in terms of antioxidants, polyphenols, and fiber (food for your gut bacteria.) Seriously, they are ranked in the top of scientific studies in those areas.

[cycli in reply to HanaleiBa]

Try cherries then if you want a top super food. Fresh ripe cherries top every prunus fruit for me.

[HeronNS in reply to cycli]

You do know this thread is six months old?

I believe the dried fruits like prunes have much higher amount of boron and raisins, presumably because the drying concentrates all the nutrients. You'd need to eat a lot of cherries to get the same amount as in a few prunes or raisins.

[cycli in reply to HeronNS]

yes, but you replied. If relevant then still now . i'm still learning so useful to read back sometimes. Never know enough Heron.

[HeronNS in reply to cycli]

Only because I got an alert that you had replied to me. No one else in this thread will and as the prune stuff was really someone elses's topic.... Still, nice to chat with you! And I agree, some of the older threads are really interesting. One time I was able to go back to possibly my first post on a different forum, and discovered it was such an informative thread it covered nearly everything I would need to know for the rest of my PMR journey! Wish I'd printed it out.

[cycli in reply to HeronNS]

we live and learn how are you getting on with exercises?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

Studies have shown that prunes help against loss of bone density. Not so for cherries unfortunately

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

just bought some to refill our stores. Dog snaffled them off the table..now in naughty corner. have to buy some more. Waiting for the end result now 😰

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

I'll just have to eat the appropriate volume of cherries then, tough choice

[HeronNS in reply to cycli]

Umm, it'll be pounds of cherries every day to get the same amount of boron. It was actually hard to find a figure for cherries. Best I could do:

greenfacts.org/en/boron/too...

[cycli in reply to HeronNS]

brilliant. Thank you Heron. Wow. that's quite a packet for prunes. In my yoghurt now

[Pr0jection]

I've eaten Lidl's prunes for the last 10 years. I was eating 4 a day but they're rather small, so I now have one massive one each morning. Having read your comments I will up this to 2 massive ones each morning and then book my place at the small room!!!

[Croft9232]

I gently stew a whole bag and keep them in the fridge in a container and have 3/4 with my Greek Yogurt to take my Pred. I needed something a couple of years ago to aid constipation from my meds. Pleased to say they help, plus so Yummy,,!My Rhemie was really pleased with my Dexa Scan said it was better than for my age (66 ).

Margaret.

[Dambusters]

I don't manage to get on site every day but saw this query and am so glad I did.I read what others had to say in response

I shall try the prunes. I don't take Alendronic Acid - had side effects.

My father believed in a banana every morning and 4 dates with crackers for his supper and looked after himself into his 90s.

Although it was never diagnosed I think he probably had PMR. He was told he had rheumatism. I'm not sure his diet helped but it might have done.

[YuliK in reply to Dambusters]

Dambusters Hi there

Same with my Dad. He was only 60 when he was diagnosed with RA, but looking back today, I’m sure it was PMR.

He was in hospital for nearly a year, as he couldn’t walk or use his arms etc. All the symptoms of PMR.

He wasn’t given cortisone, but “indomethacin “ and aspirin.

That was in the mid to late 50s.

[LogansNan]

That French woman who never gets fat has 2 prunes several times a week with her breakfast as part of her "personal wellness programme". When I have porridge, I emulate her.

[Kath567]

My mom started eating prunes everyday awhile back for her osteoporosis. I wasn’t sure how I would handle them though. 6-8 sounds like a lot. I think anyone trying it should introduce them slowly in case they react to the sorbitol especially with any pre existing GI problems. I will give one a try to start and see if I tolerate them. Thanks for the information.

[Jane424]

good for constipation

[Hidden]

What a most excellent thread! I love prunes and dried apricots but limit both because of their comparatively high sugar content. However, I’ve just stewed some prunes to have with my morning porridge. Yum!

[cycli in reply to Hidden]

if you have the normal dried apricots they use sulphur in the process I was told. Try and get Hunza natural apricots dried . Smaller and brown. Much better.

[YuliK]

FYI...

Leaving prunes to soak overnight in a cup of hot water and drinking the water in the morning, is opening the bowels very quickly.

( without the olive oil Constance 😉)

[Constance13 in reply to YuliK]

It's good for the bones too. I think???😂

[YuliK in reply to Constance13]

What is good Constance, the prunes or the olive oil. ?

👍🌹

[Constance13 in reply to YuliK]

Both!

[seamaid]

I think I may have to start to eat some prunes, as I am intolerant to dairy ( other than a hard cheese - cheddar ) I am on the usual medication to try to protect my bones but would be nice to perhaps cut back on so much meds .