RD201904

Sleep Disturbances

Vary by Race

A study of 2,230 Ameri-

cans found that racial

and ethnic minorities

tend to sleep less

soundly than Cauca-

sians do. African Ameri-

cans were 5 times more

likely than Caucasians

to get too little sleep;

Chinese Americans,

2.3 times; and Hispanics,

1.8 times. The research-

ers note that many fac-

tors may be at work,

such as higher rates of

obesity, economic

stresses, and genetics.

Poor Hearing

Doubles Injury Risk

In a national survey of

6.6 million Americans

who reported acciden-

tal injuries, those who

experienced a lot of

trouble hearing were

roughly twice as likely

to get hurt in an acci-

dent, especially during

recreational activities.

That may be because

people let their guard

down during their lei-

sure time, the research-

ers speculated.

DIET CAN DELAY

MENOPAUSE

A

four-year study conducted by researchers

at England’s University of Leeds is the first

to demonstrate that what women eat affects

when they will go through menopause, which in

turn can have significant health effects.

Later-in-life menopause is

associated with a longer

life expectancy and a

reduced risk of heart

disease and osteopo-

rosis. (At the same

time, it is linked to

an increased risk of

breast, endometrial,

and ovarian cancer.)

Among the 914

women in the study (who

ranged from 40 to 65 years

old), the average age of menopause was 50.5 years.

Those who ate 3 ounces of oily fish (such as salmon

and trout) every day started menopause an average

of 3.3 years later than those who didn’t. Women

who typically ate 2.6 ounces of fresh legumes (such

as green and lima beans) daily delayed menopause

by 0.9 years. Fresh legumes are a good source of

antioxidants, while omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish

can increase antioxidant activity, which slows down

the egg cell maturation that leads to menopause.

On the other hand, eating 7.4 ounces per day

of pasta and rice was associated with menopause

that began 18 months earlier, on average. High

consumption of refined carbs increases the risk of

insulin resistance, which can lead to higher estro-

gen levels and a more rapid depletion of egg cells,

which might trigger an earlier menopause.

46 april 2019 | rd.com

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