Posts Tagged “National Osteoporosis Foundation”
By Sunsweet
Studies suggest that one in two women and up to one in four men, age 50 and older, will break a bone due to osteoporosis.1 The good news is that a balanced diet, combined with regular exercise, can help to optimize bone health at all ages and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.2 Recently, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) issued a position statement specific to developing “peak bone mass,” which highlights the nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle factors recommended to optimize peak bone mass and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures later in life.
The position paper, published in the journal Osteoporosis International, is considered the first systematic review of its kind. In addition to supporting the positive effect of calcium and vitamin D intake on bone strength, the authors note that a variety of other nutrients, including dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C are also important for bone health.
“People often think of dairy foods for building strong bones, but a bone-healthy diet also includes fruits and vegetables, like prunes, oranges, kale and potatoes, fatty fish, like salmon, sardines and tuna, and calcium and vitamin D fortified foods,” said Taylor C. Wallace, PhD, senior director of science, policy and government relations at NOF.
Dr. Shirin Hooshmand, Associate Professor, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University, agrees as she has been conducting nutrition research on the bone health benefits of eating prunes.
“Our research suggests that the consumption of nutrients found in prunes, like potassium, magnesium and vitamin K, are important for bone health,” notes Hooshmand. “The new Peak Bone Mass Study is an exciting addition to the growing body of evidence of the role that nutrition can play in developing optimal bone health.”
Hooshmand’s recent study suggests that osteopenic, postmenopausal women who ate 50 grams of prunes per day (4-5 prunes) for six months experienced improved bone mineral density at the end of the clinical trial.3 Similar results were seen in an earlier study conducted by Hooshmand using 100 grams of prunes per day (10-11 prunes).
Sunsweet Growers is the world’s largest handler of dried fruits including prunes.