Astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year in space to help NASA in studying the effects of long-term stays in space. And now that he's back, he's definitely feeling those effects. Maybe he should've brought with him a year's supply of dried plums?
Dried plums, according to researchers, may have a hand in preventing bone loss in individuals exposed to radiation, like astronauts in space. Previous studies have linked dried plums and improved bone health in general, but a particular study published in the journal Scientific Reports specifically documents the bone-preserving capabilities of dried plums in relation to exposure to radiation.
Kelly rounded up his 20-year stint with the space agency when he finished the One-Year Mission and returned to Earth in March, logging a total of 522 days in space. Along with cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, Kelly participated in tests to see how the human body manages stress, radiation, weightlessness and isolation during long-term spaceflights.
"Preserving bone strength during space travel is a serious issue faced by astronauts," said Bernard Halloran, Ph.D., one of the authors for the study.
Bone loss due to radiation mimics age-related changes in structure brought about by osteoporosis. Unfortunately, current remedies don't fully address radiation-induced bone loss, but the current research has shown that eating dried plums holds promise in countering the negative effects of space travel on the bones.
According to earlier clinical trials, eating about 10 to 12 dried plums or two servings of the fruit may boost bone mineral density while slowing down the bone turnover rate for women who are post-menopausal. However, new research points out that consuming just half of that, or a little more than a serving, in a day already brings bone-loss prevention to post-menopausal women.
Further research needs to be carried out to fully determine how eating dried plums can address radiation-related bone concerns, but the researchers are hopeful because of the positive results they've so far observed.
Dried plums contain vitamin K, which has been shown to offer bone protection. Specifically, vitamin K aids in improving the balance of calcium levels in the body and promoting bone mineralization. Just about 4 to 5 dried plums provides up to 30 percent of the 80 microgram Daily Value set for the vitamin.
