以碳水化合物为主饮食可能导致更年期提前
A diet high in carbs could bring on an earlier menopause, a study suggests. Eating lots of pasta and rice was associated with reaching menopause one-and-a-half years earlier than the average age of women in the UK of 51. However, the University of Leeds study of 914 UK women, also found that a diet rich in oily fish and peas and beans may delay natural menopause. But experts say many other factors, including genes, influence timing of the menopause. It's not clear how big a contribution dietary choices might make and women should not worry about changing what they eat based on the findings, they add. The research was published in the Journal of Epidemiology And Community Health and the women were asked what their typical diet contained. The researchers took into account other potentially influencing factors, such as a woman's weight, reproductive history and use of HRT, but they weren't able to consider genetic factors, which can influence age of menopause. The study is observational and cannot prove any cause, but the researchers offer some possible explanations behind their findings. For example, legumes contain antioxidants, which may preserve menstruation for longer. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are in oily fish, also stimulate antioxidant capacity in the body. Refined carbs boost the risk of insulin resistance, which can interfere with sex hormone activity and boost oestrogen levels. |