Recent Research turns out to be Prunes

There’s something called the California Dried Plum Board–who knew? And, they are out to help the USDA prove that eating prunes can improve bone density in postmenopausal women. Prefer to peruse the prune research paper personally? Here it is:

Here you can jump to Florida State University’s website to see a photo of the prune professor Dr. Bahram Arjmandi, head researcher in this project. Says Dr. Arjmandi, “all fruits and vegetables have a positive effect on nutrition, but in terms of bone health, this particular food is exceptional.”

Am I going to start recommending prunes to every patient who walks into Chiropractic Advantage? Yes. But not because of this article. Too few women participated in the study. Secondly, you have to be a little skeptical when the Dried Plum Board is involved in research about its own product. The Milk Advisory Board has been sponsoring its own research for years. We, the “consumers,” are very familiar with advertisements touting the benefits of milk. I am sure the California Dried Plum Board would like to hit us with a TV commercial telling us how prunes prevent osteoporosis, if only they had the big budget the Milk Advisory Board has. When we see these kinds of ads, it’s easy to throw up our hands and say, “now what? First they tell us to drink milk, now prunes?” Don’t let it sway you or confuse you. Stay with the basic principles: eat a varied, plant-based diet, and make it home-grown, local and organic when you can.

I would love to see the California Dried Plum Board and the Milk Advisory Board get in the ring and go toe to toe on the subject of bone density. If you have read any of my other blog articles, you know I would advocate fruits over dairy products any day. I am in the prune corner.

To your health, Sharon Martinez D.C. of Chiropractic Advantage, Rancho Cucamonga, CA