Prunes should be consumed by menopausal women to help their gut and overall health, is the recommendation of scientists at the University of Pennsylvania.
As you know, intestinal microflora, which is an ecosystem of microorganisms living in the digestive tract, has a key influence on immunity and health. But the condition of the intestine in women worsens during menopause – a decrease in hormone levels can upset the balance of the intestine and lead to problems such as increased body fat, slow metabolism, insulin resistance.
According to a University of Pennsylvania study, a non-drug remedy to improve gut health could be prunes.
“Menosopausal and postmenopausal women who want to help their gut and overall health should eat prunes. Previous studies have also confirmed the benefits of this dried fruit,” said lead expert of the project, Professor Mary Jane De Souza.
As part of the trial, 143 women aged 55 to 75 years were divided into three groups: the participants of the first ate 50 grams of prunes per day, the participants of the second – 100 grams per day, the participants of the third made up the control group, which did not eat dried fruit at all. The results were as follows: after twelve months, there were significant changes in the gut microbiota of women who ate prunes, the main of which was an increase in the population of bacteria of the Lachnospiraceae family. These microorganisms belong to the so-called good bacteria – their presence in the digestive tract is associated with various aspects of good health.
In particular, due to the action of prune phenolic compounds on the intestinal microbiome, the condition of the bone tissue improves, which is important for women in menopause. With its onset, their risk of osteoporosis is seriously increased.
In turn, the abundance of fiber in plums contributes to good peristalsis, preventing constipation, one of the typical problems in menopause.
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Important! Information provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.