Q: How many people suffer from osteoporosis?
A: 1 in 3 older women will suffer from Osteoporosis! Over 10 million Americans suffer from it! We are in an epidemic of osteoporosis.

Q. Wow? What can actually help protect against osteoporosis?
A. Evidence from a variety of studies show fruits and vegetables help protect bone health, such as bone mineral density. Bone health isn’t just about calcium. Fruits and beans both are shown to reduce likelihood of hip fracture.

Q. Thanks Dr. Liz!
A: Out of two different fruits that were tested which included:

1. Dried plums AND

2. Dried apple rings

Both are shown to have bone protective effects, but prunes were more powerful than apples in protecting against bone loss and improving bone health.

Q. What types of bone cells are involved?
Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells, and osteoclasts chisel away old bone. Too many free radicals may lead to excessive bone break down. It is found that oxidative stress helps cause osteoporosis. Fruits and vegetables help prevent against oxidative stress, which in turn helps to protect against osteoporosis, bone cessation and bone formation.

Q. What about antioxidant rich fruits?
A. Yes, antioxidant rich fruits help to prevent osteoporosis. Prunes, which are dehydrated plums, were actually tested and proven to help protect bone mineral density in the arm bone and the spine. This is true in both preventing and protecting bone mass.

Q. Thanks Liz! Hats off to strong bones! As always, I’m very grateful for all this.
A. My pleasure!

About Dr. Liz Perry
Dr. Liz is a primary care provider with a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Master’s degree in Business Management from Harvard University. For over 22 years, Dr. Liz has worked as an international healthcare consultant, has traveled the world, and has written hundreds of published articles as a health journalist.