If someone tells you they are having a handful of prunes for dessert, you might think they’re having trouble with “irregularity”. But the truth is, although prunes are usually associated with their laxative effect and the elderly, prunes are highly nutritious.

Prunes are rich in Vitamin A and potassium. They are high in beta-carotene which is a powerful antioxidant. They are also rich in fiber, of course, and promote regularity while their insoluble fiber provides fuel for the healthy bacteria in the large intestine and so aid in maintaining a healthy colon.

Florida State University Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi believes that prunes may also reverse bone loss in post-menopausal women. He is conducting a clinical trial in which postmenopausal women will eat either 9 to 10 prunes or the same amount of dried apples daily. Previous studies showed that prunes restored bone loss in animal models and he intends to find out if prunes are beneficial in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

And prunes are getting a makeover too. Because most people associate them with their laxative effect and the elderly, producers of prunes are officially changing the name of the fruit to “dried plums”.

FSU study: Can prunes reverse bone loss after menopause?

What’s In a Name: How California Prunes Became Dried Plums