Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help women experience fewer physical and mental health symptoms when they go through the menopause, an Iranian study suggests.
Researchers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences surveyed 400 women who had already experienced the menopause about their eating habits and how often they experienced symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, muscle and joint issues and bladder problems,Reutersreported.
The scientists identified three different eating patterns: women with diets abundant in fruits and vegetables; others who ate lots of mayonnaise, oils, sweets and desserts; and a third group that consumed lots of fatty foods and snacks.
The women surveyed were sorted into groups according to how closely they matched one of these three dietary patterns, and it was found that women who at the most greens experienced a much smaller impact on their general wellbeing and physical and mental health, Reuters reported.
By contrast, women who ate the most fatty foods and snacks were significantly more likely to suffer menopausal symptoms that affected their quality of life and physical and mental health.
“The high-fat and sugar dietary pattern has high amounts of simple carbohydrates and unhealthy fats, especially saturated and trans fats, and a relatively low content of fibre, which can increase the levels of inflammatory biomarkers and body weight – all of them are related to menopausal symptoms,” senior study author Gity Sotoudeh told Reuters.
“On the other hand, fruits and vegetables are low in fat, are a good source of micronutrients, antioxidants, as they help the body to lower the inflammation and maintain a healthy body weight during the menopause.”
He added that fruits and vegetables are also rich in fibre, which can modify the metabolism of estrogen and decrease the fluctuation in levels of the hormone, thus reducing the risk of symptoms.
Authors of the research also note that previous studies have linked diets low in fat and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables with fewer hot flashes and night sweats.
Most of the participants in the Iranian study were in their mid- to late-50s and had gone through menopause around seven to nine years earlier. They were generally obese or overweight.
Although the study suggested a broad link between diet and menopausal health, researchers conceded that it didn’t prove whether or how certain eating habits might directly impact on menopause symptoms.
The sample group was also too small to draw broad conclusions about how diet might influence menopause symptoms, the report’s authors said.
