Using Diet to Fight the Symptoms of Menopause
By HealthLife Contributor
Writer
Updated: June 30, 2008
Referred to by some as "the change of life", menopause represents a stage
in a woman's life when her menstrual cycle essentially stops and comes to an end.
Menopause is a natural occurrence that takes place gradually over time, as the human
body produces fewer and fewer hormones. Ovulation on the part of the ovaries also
ends, and estrogen levels decrease accordingly. Menopause typically takes place
between the ages of 45 and 60, and starts one year after a woman's final period.
A woman's body actually begins preparing itself for menopause about a decade before
the process of menopause actually begins. Certain aspects of a woman's body begin
to slow and shut down as less estrogen is produced. The symptoms of this stage,
known as perimenopause, include dry skin, increased wrinkling of the skin, trouble
sleeping, mood swings, hot flashes, and unfortunately, weight gain, which results
from the fact that older people need less calories, but often consume more calories
than they should.
Women do not have to be held captive by the symptoms of menopause. There are ways
of combating everything from the weight loss to the hot flashes associated with
menopause. One of the best ways to deal with the symptoms of menopause is with a
healthy diet, especially one that begins years before menopause starts. Consider
the following now, rather than later:
- Cut back on the amount of fat you eat - Lowering your overall levels of dietary
fat can not only work to keep a woman healthy, but the lower levels of dietary fat
also reduce the risk of heart disease, which is the number cause of death amongst
women. Don't lose all the fats though, as some forms of fat have actually
been found to have anti-inflammatory qualities, and some can even be useful in lowering
the effects of hot flashes.
- Eat more phytoestrogens - As menopause approaches, a woman's levels of estrogen
begin to drop. Certain foods contain phytoestrogens that can increase the health
of a woman's heart by lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in their blood. Included
amongst these beneficial foods are tofu, soy, nuts, and soybeans. These same compounds
are also commonly found in nuts, berries, beans, bean sprouts, and whole-grain cereals.
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