Tuesday, February 10, 2009

How to Design a Healthy 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.

This is a natural phenomenon and it happens as you are no longer able to bear children and move into a bright new time of life. You will begin to experience power surges, great depth of feeling and excess weight.

It may seem a bit unfair to have to deal with excess pounds on top of all of the other symptoms, but, it is true. One reason that menopause causes weight gain is that the estrogen levels start to decrease that this time.

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.

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.

A woman who is going through menopause should eat a diet rich in nutrients and minerals. Pre-menopausal women need to focus on consuming more fruit and vegetable, lean meats, whole cereals and calcium rich foods.

Vitamins, minerals, and healthy foods are key ingredients to a healthy future and you will even be able to diminish many menopausal symptoms if you adjust your diet properly.

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

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.

Products that should be in your Diet: Vitamins A, D, C and E, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, fiber, phytoestrogens, and isoflavones; cottage cheese; yogurt; seafood, especially fish; fresh berries and other fruits; whole-wheat cereals and breads; leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli.

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. - 16004

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