Worried about early menopause? Eat the right foods to protect yourself

Attention, women! A long-term, higher intake of barley, brown rice, oatmeal, soya and tofu may protect you from early menopause.

Early menopause is a serious concern. Research as indicated that it may predict heart disease and trigger old-age problems in women. Now, a new study says that high intake of barley, brown rice, oatmeal, soya and tofu over a long-term period may protect you from it.

The findings indicated that the women, who consume approximately 6.5% of their daily calories as vegetable protein had a significant 16% lower risk of early menopause compared to women whose intake was approximately 4% of calories. First author Maegan Boutot and Prof Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson conducted the study. The authors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explained that dietary vegetable protein intake is associated with ovarian aging and may identify ways for women to modify their risk of early onset of menopause and associated health conditions.

Early menopause, the cessation of ovarian function before age 45, affects about 10% of women and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and early cognitive decline, the authors note. The team analysed 1,16,000 women aged 25-42 in 1989. The participants were asked to report how often they ate a single serving of 131 foods, beverages and supplements over the previous year, from “never or less than once a month” to “Six+ per day.”

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