Eating prunes led to two positive benefits: less oxidative stress/inflammation and stronger bones. Specifically, clinical trials found that eating about ten prunes (100 grams) daily for an entire year improved bone mineral density within the forearms and lower spine.
“If we eat too many prunes, they will most likely give us the runs,” says Feren, stressing that quantity is key, as prunes are not meant to be eaten in bulk. Feren says prune lovers are advised to eat around 30 grams, or three to four prunes, a day.
"Previous research also found that eating 10–12 prunes per day for one year was associated with increased bone mineral density and improved indicators of bone turnover in postmenopausal women," she says.
Eating too many prunes and other dried fruits, like raisins and figs, can lead to or worsen diarrhea due to their high fiber and sorbitol content. Both can have a laxative effect on the body.
Osteoporosis, or loss of bone mass and density, afflicts many people, especially people over 50, leading to an increased risk of breaks and fractures. A new randomized controlled study finds that eating 5-6 prunes a day can preserve bone mass and density, arresting the development of osteoporosis.
How Many Prunes a Day Should You Eat? To get the best results, Dr. Hooshmand (and other researchers) recommend that you consume 100 grams (between 9 and 10 prunes) a day. If you are concerned about weight gain or you are on a low carbohydrate diet, then you can reduce your daily dose to 50 grams.
A serving size of 5 to 6 prunes per day is a good amount. Yet, like any dried fruit, they are high in natural sugars, so eating too much can be detrimental.” says Eva.
Prunes are a good source of fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Eating prunes before going to bed is connected with lower blood pressure, as they decrease plaque buildup and bad cholesterol and limit inflammation in your body.
While prunes' benefits are noteworthy, it's possible to overdo them. Eating too many prunes can potentially cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea due to their laxative effect, according to Kenney. Miller recommends starting with one to two prunes per day and noting how your body feels before adding more to your diet.
Research suggests that daily consumption of 50 g of prunes, which is equivalent to 5–6 prunes, is enough to benefit bone health.
The researchers measured the women's bone mineral density, bone geometry, and estimated bone strength and found evidence that prunes may be beneficial. “Consuming five to six prunes a day for 12 months resulted in preservation of bone at the hip.”
Some people find stewed prunes more effective than prune juice, while others find the opposite. Second, it depends on how you're using them. If you're looking for a natural laxative effect to help with constipation, stewed prunes are a better option than prune juice because they contain more fiber.
Eating a handful of prunes a day may help to prevent bone loss in later life, a study suggests. Researchers at Penn State University found women in their 60s who ate the dried fruits had significantly less bone loss at their hips in a year compared to non-eaters.
Prunes. The nutrients in dried plums — vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium, to name a few — help make melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Use prunes as a whole-grain toast topping, mix them into trail mix, or eat them on their own about 30 minutes before bedtime.
For best results, eat a few prunes 30 minutes before bed time. Bananas: The yellow fruit is rich in vitamin B6 that converts the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin, a neurotransmitter controlling the levels of sleep hormone melatonin in the body.
“For people who don't like prunes or prune juice, apple juice can be an alternative.”
Information. Fruits such as dried apricots, prunes, and raisins will keep at top quality in the pantry for six months. After opening, you may wish to store them tightly sealed in the refrigerator to preserve the quality for up to six additional months or freeze them for one month.
Sixteen preclinical studies using in vivo rodent models of osteopenia or osteoporosis have established that dietary supplementation with prunes confers osteoprotective effects both by preventing and reversing bone loss.
How To Eat Prunes? Ayurveda recommends consuming prunes that were soaked in water for at least 2 to 3 hours, for better absorption of the nutrients by the digestive tract.
Liver Health
In traditional medicine, prune juice has been used to treat hepatitis — a liver disease. When there are problems with your liver, it produces harmful chemicals. Prune juice vitamins and antioxidants reduce these chemicals, helping to maintain liver health and fight disease.
Photo Alto. "Dried fruit often gets a bad rap for people with diabetes, but prunes contain no added sugars, are lower on the glycemic index scale than most dried fruit, and provide three grams of fiber per serving," says Palinski-Wade.
How Fast Does Prune Juice Work for Constipation? After drinking prune juice, you can get the urge to go in 1-3 hours. If you're severely constipated, it could take up to a day or longer to relax your digestive tract and start a bowel movement.