Prunes for Postmenopause

As a result, alterations in the gut microbiota may lead to health risks such as increased body fat, reduced metabolism, and diabetes (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Menopause, the gut microbiome, and weight gain: correlation or causation?

).

“Previous research has shown that postmenopausal women experience health benefits from consuming prunes,” says study author Mary Jane De Souza, Ph.D., FACSM, Distinguished Professor, Pennsylvania State University. “It is likely that the gut microbiome helps facilitate these benefits. With that, we wanted to look more closely at the specific effects that prune consumption has on populations of gut microorganisms in postmenopausal women.”

Study Methodology

143 postmenopausal women aged 55 to 75 were enrolled in the randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: no prunes (n = 52), 50 g prunes per day (n = 54), or 100 g prunes per day (n = 37).

At the 12-month mark, researchers discovered significant changes in the microbiomes of those in the prune treatment groups, most notably the richness of the Lachnospiraceae family of bacteria.

According to the researchers, these findings may have significance for the use of prunes as a non-pharmacological whole-diet intervention for gut health (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Prune supplementation for 12 months alters the gut microbiome in postmenopausal women

Go to source).

“Consumers are becoming more concerned with their gut health, and this study supports prunes’ long-standing reputation as a gut-healthy food. Prunes are a natural, whole food that is easy and convenient for consumers to incorporate into their daily meals or snacks,” says Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, Nutrition Advisor to the California Prune Board.

This study adds to the expanding corpus of research that analyzes the relationship between prune consumption, intestinal health, and the possible positive impacts on other key bodily systems. A new research analysis from Pennsylvania State University, for example, reveals that the phenolic chemicals and dietary fiber levels in prunes may affect the gut flora in a way that eventually benefits bone health (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
The Role of Prunes in Modulating Inflammatory Pathways to Improve Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women

Go to source).

Health Benefits of Prunes

Keeping hydrated is a great way to protect your organs and one of the keys to having healthy skin. This can be helped by drinking the required eight glasses of water every day. Yet, having prune juice in your diet is one way to add some extra flavor and nutrients to your day.

The other health benefits include:

• It aids in digestion. Prunes are high in fiber, which aids in constipation prevention.
• Potassium content is high.
• Vitamin-rich food.
• Iron is abundant in this food.
• It strengthens the bones.
• lowers cholesterol levels.
• Blood pressure may be reduced.
• It aids in the reduction of hunger.

References :

1. Menopause, the gut microbiome, and weight gain: correlation or causation? – (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33235036/)
2. Prune supplementation for 12 months alters the gut microbiome in postmenopausal women – (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/FO/D2FO02273G)
3. The Role of Prunes in Modulating Inflammatory Pathways to Improve Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women – (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34978320/)

Source: Medindia