Learning About Foods For The Best Meopause Diet

The natural age of menopause occurs when the monthly cycle of ovulation comes to an end in a woman’s life. Menopause occurs because the ovarian supply of follicles and eggs declines sharply as a woman approaches her later years of life. So the onset of menopause is basically signifying the end of a woman’s fertility period, when she can no longer get pregnant and have children.

It is easy to see then why so many women find dealing with menopause to be so difficult, and why it can often be so damaging to self-esteem and self-confidence. It is really the symptoms that come with menopause which are the most difficult to deal with of all including hot flashes, night sweats, decreased libido, and vaginal dryness just to name a few.

Say Hello to the Good Stuff

Now is the time of life to increase your intake of the nutrition-packed foods that Mom always tried to get you to eat in your younger years. A healthy menopause diet will include plenty of produce, including citrus fruits and bananas that will give you a healthy dose of potassium, which is great for combating water retention and balancing sodium. Your veggie plate should include dark leafy vegetables, yams and tomatoes for a good balance of nutrients for your menopause diet. Fiber also becomes more essential as your digestive system slows and becomes less efficient, so on top of your fruits and vegetables make sure you include plenty of whole grains like brown rice and wheat pasta. Omega-3 fatty acids are another component of a healthy menopause diet, and you can get yours through fish like salmon and mackerel.

Say Goodbye to the Bad

A menopause diet is a good time to limit the foods that are not so good for you, since calories can pack on easier during this phase of life, and risk factors for certain types of diseases can go up. Saying no to fatty foods as much as possible will keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy, and help to cut your risk of conditions like cancer and diabetes. Save those rich desserts for special occasions only. It is also a good idea to cut back on your consumption of caffeinated beverages and alcoholic drinks. Replace those types of choices with healthier options, like bottled water and decaffeinated green tea. Instead of frying your foods, go for the broiling or baking that will add less fat and keep the good stuff packed inside. Finally, toss out the less nutritious selections like potatoes, and go for the yams and sweet potatoes instead that are packed with nutrients instead of empty calories.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are always important to include in any diet but especially so when you are going through menopause. You should try and stay away from fatty and sugary foods, as well as those that contain caffeine, or anything else that really has no nutritive value. Calcium, vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B-complex, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, potassium, fiber, and phytoestrogens are all also recommended for a menopause diet. But remember that obviously there is no single food that contains all of these and so you need to make sure that you are eating a nutritious and well balanced diet each and every day.

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