Eat five of these fruits every day, and you don't have to worry about your bones.

There is a saying that taking oral contraceptives for a long time can lower bone density. Research results are mixed, so the correlation is not yet clear, but it can still be a concern. If bone density decreases from a young age, bones become weaker than others as one gets older. If you cannot stop taking contraceptives used for treating female conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, you can take other measures to maintain bone health. Eating prunes as a snack is one way.

Research shows that women taking oral contraceptives have lower bone mineral density. A study conducted by the Siatel Group Health Research Institute investigated the correlation between oral contraceptive use and bone mineral density in 606 women aged 14 to 30. The results indicated that women taking oral contraceptives had a 5.9% lower lumbar spine bone mineral density and a 2.3% lower overall bone mineral density compared to women who did not. The decrease in bone mineral density was particularly pronounced in women taking low-dose oral contraceptives containing less than 30 μg of estrogen. A cohort study conducted in Canada with 524 women aged 25 to 45 yielded similar results, showing that the oral contraceptive group had significantly lower lumbar spine and femoral neck areal bone mineral density compared to the non-user group.

◇If you're worried, manage your bones with prunes... They help improve bone density. If you're concerned about bone health, eating prunes along with dietary fiber can be beneficial. There are research findings indicating that prunes are good for bone health, whether women are taking oral contraceptives or not.

According to the latest research published in the September issue of the American Journal of Nutrition, women aged 18 to 25 who consume prunes daily experience a reduction in the risk of bone loss. This is the result of a 12-month randomized controlled clinical trial conducted by Dr. Sirin Hushmandbak, the lead researcher at San Diego State University, involving 90 young women aged 18 to 25. The research team found that after consuming 50 grams of prunes (about 5 pieces) per day, both women who took oral contraceptives and those who did not showed a significant increase in wrist bone mineral density after 12 months. Although the exact mechanism by which prunes benefit bone health has not been fully elucidated, it is presumed to be due to the suppression of osteoclast activity, which is responsible for bone resorption.

There have been previous studies indicating that prunes are good for bone health. Clinical trial results show that women in menopause who consumed 50g of prunes daily experienced an increase in bone density compared to those who did not. In fact, prunes are rich in minerals, vitamin K, and phenolic compounds that are beneficial for bone health.

<Source: Health Chosun>