Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Sunsweet Inc, a grower-owned prune cooperative. All opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting the work we do at Food Heaven!
Did you know that the adult human body has 206 bones? And that 26 of those bones are found in the human foot?
Neither did we.
May is National Osteoporosis Month, and we want to talk about bone health, a topic that is often overlooked but always important. Osteoporosis, which is a disease that causes bones to become brittle and weak, is more prevalent than you think. About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50 are suffering from this disease. Yet, according to a 2017 survey conducted Sunsweet, only 50% of Americans are currently taking steps to prevent bone loss.
We want to change that.
In this article we’ll highlight 3 things you can do to strengthen your bones — starting now.
Tip 1: Add prunes to your diet
A growing body of research suggests that prunes may have a positive effect on bone health. In fact, one study found that eating 5-6 prunes daily may help to prevent bone loss. This may be, in part, because prunes contain potassium, magnesium and vitamin K, all of which are important for healthy bones. Here are four ways you can incorporate prunes into your diet.
- On their own. Truth be told, this is our favorite way to eat prunes. We love these Sunsweet individual prune snack packs because the prunes taste like a chewy treat without any added sugar.
- In marinades. Prune purée can add a subtle richness to a variety of dishes. Don’t believe us? Try this delicious prune glazed brussels sprouts recipe we whipped up recently.
- In baked goods. Prunes can add a moisture to meat entrées and baked goods and improve the texture. Add pureed prunes to cakes and sweet breads to reduce the fat and up the flavor.
- In bars. These prune and berry bars that we made last year are basically to die for. The prunes provided a subtle moisture and sweetness, and paired per-fect-ly with the dates and almonds we used for the crust.
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