French Plums (Done Right)

Let’s talk about something that deserves a serious reputation upgrade.

French plums..AKA prunes.
(Not the gooey kind. Not the wrinkly cliché.)
The real ones. The chewy, naturally dried, perfectly shelf-stable kind.

Most people think prunes are “for old people.”
Or just… for digestion.

But here’s something most people don’t know:

French plums (as we prefer to call them) have been studied for their ability to help preserve bone density in women, especially postmenopausal women.

And that’s not folklore. That’s research.

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But First…What Is a French Plum?

Technically?
A prune is simply a dried French plum.

But not all prunes are created equal.

An Earth Wake French plum is a prune done right.

We dry our plums to the right moisture level, as nature intended so there is no need for preservatives. This creates the perfect soft chewy experience.

Large producers often add excessive water back into their fruit to increase weight (and margins). The excess water creates a gooey slimy prune and on top of that, preservatives become necessary to prevent mold.

Earth Wake French Plums will never have preservatives.

Earth Wake French Plums will never be slimy.

Drying food is preservation. It always has been.

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Now, Why French Plums Matter for Women’s Bone Health

As women age, especially after menopause, bone loss accelerates. In the U.S., millions of women are diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Researchers at Penn State University conducted multiple clinical studies on dried plums (prunes) and bone health in postmenopausal women.

In a 12-month randomized controlled trial, women who ate about 4–6 prunes per day (around 50g) experienced preservation of bone mineral density in the hip compared to women who didn’t eat them.

The prune group lost significantly less bone density over time.

That’s huge.

Even more compelling?

A follow-up study examining 3D bone structure and estimated bone strength found that prune consumption helped preserve tibia bone density and strength — meaning the actual architecture of bone was better maintained.

These findings were published through Penn State research and peer-reviewed journals (Hooshmand et al., 2016; De Souza et al., 2022; De Souza et al., 2024).

This isn’t “eat this and you’ll be cured.”
It’s this:

Women who consumed French plums regularly saw slower progression of bone loss compared to those who didn’t.

That matters.

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What’s Doing the Work?

Researchers believe it may be the polyphenols, powerful antioxidant compounds found naturally in prunes.

Polyphenols are known to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, two processes that contribute to bone breakdown.

Interesting how nature packages these compounds together, isn’t it?

You have to wonder:

If a pharmaceutical company isolated one of those compounds, synthesized it, and patented it… would it suddenly be called a breakthrough drug?

Big Pharma can’t license a French plum.

Just something to think about.

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How We Grow Them (And Why It Matters)

In conventional orchards, fruit is often sprayed heavily to control pests.

And here’s something most people don’t think about:

When fruit is dried, everything becomes more concentrated, including any residues left behind.

If you’re eating French plums for their antioxidants, their polyphenols, and their potential bone-supporting benefits…

Why pair that with unnecessary synthetic chemicals?

We take a different approach.

We plant grasses that attract beneficial insects.
We release lacewings and ladybugs to manage harmful pests naturally.
We install owl boxes to help control gophers the old-fashioned way.

Instead of fighting nature, we work with it.

And while both conventional and regenerative growers may dry fruit similarly, what happens before harvest is what really matters.

Healthy soil.
Biodiversity in the orchard.
Minimal synthetic inputs.

Because when you’re adding something to your daily routine for your health, especially something you might eat 4–6 of every day, quality isn’t optional.

It’s foundational.

Better soil builds stronger plants.
Stronger plants produce more resilient fruit.
And resilient fruit nourishes resilient bodies.

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5 Incredible Health Benefits of French Plums

Bone health may be the headline, but it’s not the only reason to eat them.

1. Supports Bone Density
   Backed by multiple Penn State clinical trials in postmenopausal women.
2. Rich in Antioxidants
   High polyphenol content helps combat oxidative stress.
3. Supports Digestive Health
   Yes, they help you stay regular. But that’s because of fiber and sorbitol working naturally with your body.
4. May Reduce Inflammation
   Emerging research links prune polyphenols with anti-inflammatory effects.
5. Naturally Preserved, No Additives Needed
   Drying is one of the oldest forms of food preservation. No chemical shortcuts required.
   
   

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So… Why Not?

We know French plums support bone health.
We know they’re rich in antioxidants.
We know they’ve been studied, not just once, but multiple times, at Penn State.

So why not add 4–6 a day?

They’re not just “for old people.”
Maybe they’re part of how people stay strong as they age.

Eat well.
Wake up your food.
Let nature do what it’s been doing all along.