Bone mineral density (BMD) during adolescence has been found to be key to preventing osteoporosis later in life. According to the World Health Association, osteoporosis, a brittle-bone disease, is currently one of the biggest global health concerns facing our aging population.

Now a study suggests that high intakes of fruit may be important for bone health in girls. In an observational study reported in the October 2004 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 12-year-old girls whose fruit intake was high were found to have significantly better heel BMD than their counterparts who ate less fruit.

The researchers concluded that “high intakes of fruit may be important for bone health in girls. It is possible that fruit’s alkaline-forming properties mediate the body’s acid-base balance.”