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Menopause and Diet

When women hit the menopausal barriers, it may sometimes seem impossible for them to see their way back to a sane and happy life. They get worried; they feel as if they have lost some meaning in life. For many women, the realization that their child bearing years are completely over can bring a deep sense of gloom into their life. This can lead to overeating and in more extreme cases, even to binge eating. At the same time, their hormonal imbalances decrease the rate at which they can metabolize their food, which further adds more pounds to their body.

Over a third of women in between the ages of 45-50 put on a weight of 5 pounds or more within a year. However, the actual menopausal weight gain could be as much as 10-15 pounds. Women also start to suffer from abrupt mental swings and hot flushes, both of which situations can be further exacerbated by a badly balanced diet. In short, perhaps more than at any other time in her life, during menopause most women must follow a strict, healthy diet.

A good diet will actually be able to keep health problems like weight gain, stroke and cardiac arrests at bay. And as previously mentioned, in addition to following a well controlled and balanced diet, it is imperative that any woman who is facing up to going through the menopause must do everything they can to keep themselves fit and active.

In the meantime, the following are the kind of foods that should be included in a healthy diet for this particular time of life:

- Food full of calcium, lean proteins, adequate vitamins and minerals should be consumed. You must also eat fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

- You should avoid things like alcohol, caffeine, sugar, processed foods, edamame (soybeans), soya based products like tofu and salt.

- You should include vitamin and supplements like B-12, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, C, D, and E, fiber, zinc, isoflavones and phytoestrogens. Skimmed or fat-free milk is a must. You should also include leafy green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and kale. Yogurt and cottage cheese should be taken as well.

- You can also eat whole-wheat bread and cereals. Seafood, especially fish, will be good for you for sure. Finally, you can top it all off with a handful of delicious dessert that shall include berries and other fruits.

Food is an important part of human life, and is a fact that a well-balanced diet helps everyone to acquire strength and fortitude. Xxxxx, in a situation where you are in the midst of menopause, is certainly does not mean that you can gorge on food all the time. This is absolutely essential, because over-eating will definitely lead to excessive weight gain, and weight gain at this particular time of your life can be especially difficult to shift at a later date. Rather than having to do so, it is far easier not to accumulate the excess weight in the first place.