Girls’ Diets May Affect the Timing of Their First Period
Udumbara
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Girls with anti-inflammatory diets may start menstruation later, potentially reducing risks of diabetes, obesity, and breast cancer in adulthood.
Based on the results, the types of food eaten by girls during childhood and adolescence, and whether they cause inflammation, may influence the timing of periods, rather than their height and body mass index.
The study from University of Washington is the first to examine the connection between specific diets and the age at which periods begin.
Inflammation a Key Factor
Researchers evaluated the diet of over 7,500 girls aged 9 to 14 through questionnaires and analyzed if it was healthy or prone to cause inflammation.The 20 percent of girls with the healthiest diets, as measured by having the highest scores on the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), were 8 percent less likely to start their first period within the next month compared to those with the lowest scores.
Conversely, the 20 percent of participants with diets most likely to cause inflammation, as measured by having the highest score for Empirical Dietary Inflammation Pattern (EDIP), were 15 percent more likely to start menstruating in the next month compared to those with the least inflammatory diets.
The AHEI assigns more points to healthier foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains, and fewer points to foods like red and processed meats and those containing trans fats and a lot of sodium. The EDIP scores diets based on their potential to cause inflammation. Foods linked to more inflammation include red and processed meat, meat from animal organs, refined grains, and high-energy drinks.
What makes this study particularly significant is that these findings were independent of the girls’ body mass index and height—factors previously linked to earlier menstruation. This suggests that food types and their inflammatory effects may play a more important role in menstruation timing than previously understood.
Generally, eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, nuts, and legumes (polyunsaturated fatty acids), while limiting intake of red and processed meats, refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, and added salt, “benefits everyone regardless of age,” Harris said.
“I think our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options, and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,” Harris stated, emphasizing that this age range may be an “important period” for trying to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Researchers acknowledged study limitations, including the reliance on questionnaire data, which introduces the potential for inaccuracies. Consequently, the researchers were unable to directly account for the influence of body fat.
They plan to further investigate how childhood and adolescent diets and body size might relate to the characteristics of menstrual cycles in adulthood.
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Helping Children Develop Healthy Eating Habits
One of the most effective things parents can do is involve their daughters in the food process from “start to finish,” Jennifer Pallian, a registered dietitian at Foodess, told The Epoch Times.“This could mean helping plant a few veggies in the garden, choosing produce at the grocery store, or stirring ingredients in the kitchen,” she said. “When children have a hand in growing or preparing food, they’re often more excited to try it.”
Pallian emphasized that children learn more from observation than instruction. “Family meals where kids watch their parents and siblings enjoy a variety of healthy foods are incredibly influential,” she said.
- Creating a healthy home environment by keeping nutritious foods visible and accessible
- Making food visually appealing with colorful presentations
- Establishing consistent meal routines
- Encouraging children’s autonomy in food decisions while avoiding overly restrictive approaches
