Thursday, February 12, 2009

Menopausal Diets, Do's and Dont's

By Ricardo d Argence

While we know the cliche that only two things are certain "death and taxes." There is another event that is inevitable for women. Menopause is a change of life that happens to the bodies of females when they hit their 40s. As hormone levels in the system change, exciting and emporwering events begin to take place.

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.

During menopause, when women are in their mid to late 40s, they typically gain about 10-15 pounds, with a minimum weight gain of 5 pounds in one-third of women. Less than 50% of the women according to the studies maintained their weight throughout the menopausal years due to extreme dieting and determination.

Weight control is important because increased weight can increase the chance for diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Exercise is a key factor which helps in maintaining proper weight, and the females should be involved with the cardiac activities as well as weight training.

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.

Things to avoid: alcohol, sugar, processed foods, caffeine, salt, edamame (soybeans).

It is easier to make it through menopause if you incorporate healthy foods and exercise into your lifestyle. The second half of your life can turn out to be the best years as you will be transforming yourself to a stronger, healthier, and an even more radiant person than before.

Foods that should be in your Diet: Vitamins A, D, C and E, Vitamins and supplements that include B-12, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, fiber, phytoestrogens, and isoflavones; skim or fat-free milk; cottage cheese; yogurt; leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli; seafood, especially fish; whole-wheat cereals and breads.

When you bring a new healthy diet and exercise program into your life you can meet those menopausal months with a bright smile. Many of those annoying symptoms can be decreased or eliminated and you can sail through this normal transition in style. With increased activity and natural, whole foods it is possible to make this new time in your life the best and most productive years of all. - 15784

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