Menopause may be to blame for weight gain in older women

CHICAGO : As if the hot flashes and insomnia of menopause weren't bad enough, now comes word that menopause can make you fat. The declining estrogen levels associated with "the change" can interfere with metabolic processes leading to weight gain, US researchers said on Monday, confirming what many women already knew. The findings seem to support a link between the female sex hormone estrogen and regulation of obesity, especially the dangerous accumulation of abdominal fat linked to heart disease, diabetes and cancer, the study's authors said. "The accumulation of abdominal fat puts both men and women at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and insulin resistance," said Deborah Clegg, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Centre in Ohio. "Women are protected from these negative consequences as long as they carry their weight in their hips and saddlebags. But when they go through menopause and the body fat shifts to the abdomen, they have to start battling all of these medical complications," she added. In experiments on rats, Clegg showed that when they cut off the estrogen supply to a part of the brain that is central to energy regulation, the rats quickly developed an impaired tolerance to glucose and a sizable weight gain, even when they took in the same amount of calories. What's more, the excess weight went straight to their middle sections, creating an increase in visceral fat. The findings suggest that estrogen receptors in the ventromedial nucleus, a region of the hypothalamus, plays an essential role in controlling energy balance, body fat distribution and normal body weight. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger and thirst. By identifying critical brain regions that determine where body fat is distributed, Clegg's findings may help scientists formulate "designer" hormone replacement therapies to better manage and manipulate estrogen levels. "If we could target those critical regions and estrogen receptors associated with weight gain and energy expenditure, we could perhaps design therapies that help women sidestep many of the complications brought on by the onset of menopause," she said. Clegg presented her study in Boston at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society. - AFP/de

Pomegranate juice is beneficial for boosting memory: study

Pomegranates are not fruits you’d commonly find on a fruit platter, but now there’s more reason to indulge in the tangy, red fruit. A recent study shows that pomegranates are more than just a delicious fruit — they might also act as a memory booster.

Researchers at Loma Linda University have found that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice every day could reduce one’s risk of Alzheimer’s.

The researchers studied mice that were genetically altered with a tendency to develop Alzheimer’s. Half the mice were fed one to two cups of pomegranate juice daily while the other half were fed with sugar syrup.

The mice were then put through a series of tests that required using visual clues to remember their way to a designated place.

Results of the experiment showed that the mice that were fed the juice outperformed the other group by 30 per cent.

The plaque or damaged cells in the brains of the mice was also reduced by as much as 50 per cent.

Co-author of the study Richard Hartman explained that pomegranates have a high content of polyphenols — or plant-based chemicals — that reduce the build-up of plaque and the destruction of brain cells.

According to nutritionist Louisa Zhang, pomegranates have a high level of vitamin A, C and E in addition to antioxidant properties. They could have other benefits too.

“A recent study involving 19 people has suggested that a daily glass of pomegranate juice could be effective in reducing the development of fatty deposits within the lining of one’s arteries. This could be due to the large amounts of antioxidants in the juice of the fruit,” she said.

A follow-up study has also been conducted to test whether drinking pomegranate juice helps to improve blood vessel function, reducing the hardening of arteries and improving heart health.

Ms Zhang said: “While waiting for more solid evidence and large scale clinical trials to be done, it is all right to take the juice in moderation.” - TODAY/ym

A few cups of coffee may helps to lower colon cancer risk

TOKYO : Drinking a few cups of coffee a day may lower the risk of advanced colon cancer, at least for women, Japanese researchers said Wednesday. The study, supported by Japan's health ministry, showed women who drink more than three cups of coffee a day were 56 percent less likely to develop advanced colon cancer than those who drink no coffee at all. "Drinking coffee sustains the secretion of bile acid and keeps down cholesterol levels, the mechanisms thought to prevent colon cancer," the report said. But unfortunately the effect was not seen in men, the medical research team said. Many men smoke and drink alcohol more than women, and those habits probably offset the effect of coffee, the study said. The research team tracked down about 96,000 people in Japan aged from 40 to 69 between the early 1990s and 2002, of whom 726 men and 437 women later suffered colon cancer. Other factors thought to have links to the risk of developing colon cancer include a person's age and whether they exercise and eat a lot of vegetables. - AFP/il