Red Wine and Dark Chocolate Can Help Correct Hormonal Imbalance in Women
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) now have more reasons to add more red wine and dark chocolate to their diets
Here’s good news for wine lovers out there — according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, a compound found in grape skin and red wine can help correct women’s hormonal imbalance, UPI reports.
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The researchers from the University of California, San Diego found that the compound resveratrol (which is found in red wine, grapes, nuts, and dark chocolate) can help restore estrogen levels. This is a game-changer for those with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS — the leading cause of infertility in women.
What is PCOS?
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All women have small amounts of testosterone and male sex hormones, but women with PCOS have slightly higher amounts. This hormonal imbalance makes women with PCOS have irregular or absent menstrual periods. Other symptoms include weight gain, acne, thinning hair on the scalp, excess hair on the face and body, and infertility. If left untreated, PCOS can also lead to more serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
According to WebMD, the cause of PCOS has not been established, but there does seem to be a genetic link — if women in your family have it, your chance of having it is higher.
The Study’s Findings
The researchers observed 30 women with PCOS in a three-month trial conducted in Poland. They found that the testosterone levels in women who took resveratrol fell by 23.1%. Meanwhile, those who took a placebo had a 2.9% increase in testosterone levels.
They also found that DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate — another hormone that the body can convert into testosterone) decreased by 22.2% in the resveratrol group, and increased by 10.5% in the placebo group.
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Resveratrol and Diabetes
The study found that resveratrol can also help with diabetes. The researchers also observed more responsiveness to insulin in the women who took resveratrol.
“The findings suggest resveratrol can improve the body’s ability to use insulin and potentially lower the risk of developing diabetes,” senior author Antoni Duleba. “The supplement may be able to help reduce the risk of metabolic problems common in women with PCOS.”