Full steam ahead!
Menopausal women may have the opportunity to manage their blood sugar higher and gain less weight in the event that they sit in a sauna day by day, latest research on mice finds.
“Our study suggests that whole-body heat therapy could function an efficient, non-invasive solution for managing weight gain and insulin resistance related to menopause,” said research team leader Soonkyu Chung, an associate professor on the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The findings were presented Monday in Chicago at NUTRITION 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
For the study, the researchers removed the ovaries of older female mice to simulate life after menopause, which generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
The mice consumed a “Western” weight-reduction plan containing 45% calories from fat. One group of mice was placed in a heat chamber at 104 degrees Fahrenheit for half-hour day by day, while the opposite group was not.
The 12-week experiment showed the mice receiving the warmth treatment had less aging-related tissue damage and improved insulin sensitivity — an indicator of Type 2 diabetes. The warmth therapy also appeared to lessen weight gain from the fatty weight-reduction plan.
Hormonal changes and a slowing metabolism have been shown to contribute to fat accumulation during menopause, which is diagnosed when a girl’s gone 12 months and not using a period.
On this latest study, the researchers found that heat kickstarts processes that help the body use energy more efficiently and burn fat.
“This series of events suggests that regular application of warmth can mimic the results of calorie burning and fat loss,” said Rong Fan, a doctoral candidate advised by Chung. “It could possibly be particularly advantageous for people who find physical activities difficult, providing a calming strategy to improve metabolic health.”
Chung’s team hopes additional research can pinpoint the length of time and intensity of warmth that yields essentially the most health advantages and ensure its effectiveness in people of various ethnic groups.
Conversely, a study published earlier this 12 months found that swimming in cold water may reduce menopause symptoms.