Sunday, February 22, 2009

Do's and Dont's of a Menopausal Diet

By Ricardo d Argence

We all have heard about the inevitability of death and taxes and yet there is one other inevitable event, for women anyway. Around the age of 40-50, females have a change taking place in their lives and bodies that is known as menopause. Hormones begin to shift and the levels change, which brings about some exciting and empowering events.

Doctors will agree that this is a natural occurence and it happens as you are no longer able to bear children and are moving on to a new time in our life. You will begin to experience hot flashes, mood swings and your body takes on new curves.

This seems a bit unfair to have to deal with excess pounds on top of all of the other symptoms, but nonetheless it happens. One of the reasons that menopause predisposes us to weight gain is because our natural estrogen levels begin to decrease during these years.

While one third of women between 45 and 50 years of old will again at least five pounds, according to most reliable studies, menopausal women will gain between 10 and 15 pounds. Fewer than 50 per cent of all women studied were able to avoid weight gain during menopause, and only then through rigorous dieting.

Since increased pounds can also raise the danger for several diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart failure caused by increase in weight it is advisable that this be managed or avoided. You need to exercise to keep a healthy weight and females need to do both cadio and weights to maintain proper weight.

The diet for women who are in the menopausal age range should be packed with nutrients and be well balanced. Even before menopause symptoms occur, women should be eating fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and calcium containing foods on a daily basis.

If you want a healthy life, free of many of the most common menopausal symptoms, adjust your diet to include healthy foods including all of the necessary vitamins and minerals.

You shoul avoid: sugar, processed foods, alcohol, soy based products like tofu and caffeine.

You will fly right through menopause when you add these healthy foods to your diet and acquire more daily activity. When you are in the second half of your life, you can certainly have some of your best years due to the cumulative experiences you've had.

Foods and products for your Diet: Vitamins and supplements that include B-12, Vitamins A, D, C and E, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, fiber, phytoestrogens, and isoflavones; skim or fat-free milk; yogurt; leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli; seafood, especially fish; fresh berries and other fruits.

When you introduce a new healthy diet and exercise routines in your life you can meet the menopause with a bright smile. You may be able to sail through this normal transition if you manage to eliminate or assuage those symptoms. Taking more time to eat healthy whole foods and get more exercise will help you make this new era in your life the best one in your life. - 15784

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