Menopause Diet
April 23, 2010
Menopause brings with it a series of woes in the life of an aging woman. Hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings and faltering bone density are some problems that a woman encounters during this phase of life. As you enter the menopausal phase, modification of your dietary habits could enhance the quality of your life.Menopause diet
Foods to avoid
Although you might not be able to cut off hot flashes from your life during menopause, this uncomfortable condition could be checked by limiting or avoiding intake of stimulants such as coffee, tea, carbonated beverages and food items containing caffeine. You should avoid alcohol. You might benefit by avoiding hot spices.
During menopause, women tend to put on extra weight. Lack of enough physical activities is largely blamed for weight gain during menopause. You might prevent weight gain by reducing intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar.
Foods for preventing menopause woes
Hormonal imbalance, which is a natural part of menopause, is associated with the physical discomforts during menopause. Fruits and vegetables containing phytoestrogens might restore the hormonal balance.
Soy is one of the popular sources of natural estrogen that might benefit women experiencing menopausal symptoms. One to two servings of a soy product such as tofu, soy yogurt or soy milk might treat symptoms of menopause including hot flashes.
Wild yam is a popular vegetables recommended by folk healers for treating hot flashes. Fruits and vegetables containing boron could effectively reduce the symptoms of menopause. During menopause boron rich foods such as tomatoes, asparagus, grapes, cabbage, cauliflower, onion, beet, cucumber and onions should be included in the diet.
Depletion of bone cells increases during menopause. Skimmed milk, low fat dairy products and leafy green vegetables are sources of calcium, which menopausal women should not miss.
Include fiber rich foods and whole grain products in your diet. Complex carbohydrates could enhance serotonin secretion in the brain. High level of serotonin will lift your mood and cure depression and stress during menopause. Beans and lentils should be added to your daily meals. Fish and sea vegetables could provide the essential nutrients necessary to cope with the problems of menopause.
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