Post by max23 on Mar 12, 2017 1:39:04 GMT -5
There are several theories that menstruation is the reason why women have a longer life expectancy than men.
According to this article:
According to this article:
- The regular loss of iron means women may be less at risk of conditions that can develop as a result of high iron levels, such as heart disease and Alzheimer's.
- It flushes out bacteria. The menstrual cycle actually acts as a natural cleanser, releasing pathogens from the reproductive system.
- It can highlight changes in health. A woman's period can serve as a warning signal for anything unhealthy going on down there, such as infection or disease. Any dramatic changes in menstrual blood, such as texture, colour or odour, can give a woman the heads up to get it looked at and treated quickly.
www.pinkparcel.co.uk/periods-why-women-live-longer-than-men/
A longevity expert is so convinced that having a period is beneficial he 'mimics' menstruation:
"According to American longevity expert Thomas Perls, the reason women live longer than men could be because they lose iron every month - and iron is critical to the production of free radicals, which increase your chances of developing age-related diseases. He believes in his theory so much that he 'mimics' menstruation by donating blood every two months, and whilst we can't vouch for that method, it's neat to think that your period could be kicking some scary illnesses to the curb, right?"
www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/body/health/a45944/why-your-period-actually-great/
Another theory is that the increase in heart rate during the menstrual cycle is beneficial:
"Among the other alternatives is the "jogging female heart" hypothesis – the idea that a woman's heart rate increases during the second half of the menstrual cycle, offering the same benefits as moderate exercise. The result is delayed risk of cardiovascular disease later in life."
www.bbc.com/future/story/20151001-why-women-live-longer-than-men
There's been media articles about what would happen if men got periods (sanitary products wouldn't be taxed, etc), but it seems that one thing that might actually happen is that we'd live longer!