How to Manage Menopause with Diet

How to Manage Menopause with Diet
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Menopause is the period in a woman's life when the ovaries stop producing eggs for reproduction. Besides the emotional and mental symptom common during this time, physical symptoms can manifest as well. The hormonal fluctuations can cause a woman to have vaginal dryness, insomnia, bloating, thinning hair and hot flashes. Making some dietary changes can often help manage the symptoms of menopause. Talk to your doctor first before treating menopause symptoms at home.

Step 1

Reduce your intake of spicy foods, caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Eliminating these substances can prevent hot flashes. To help with hot flashes, add more soy into your diet. Soy foods include soy milk, soy beans and soy-based protein powders.

Step 2

Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Consuming a lot of water can help with dryness as well as reduce hot flash symptoms.

Step 3

Eat a lot of foods that are high in potassium. Potassium rich foods can help prevent water retention. Some examples of these types of foods are banana, melons, oranges and apples.

Step 4

Make sure that you are getting enough Vitamin D and calcium in your diet. According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, menopausal women should get between 1200 and 1500 milligrams of calcium and 800 IU of Vitamin D. Food sources include milk, cheese, fatty fish and eggs. If you are not getting enough from food, a supplement administered by your doctor is often recommended.

Step 5

Include plenty of vegetables into your diet. Plants contain phytoestrogens, which can potentially help with menopause symptoms. Vegetables to include in your diet are cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, bell peppers and beets.

Step 6

Skip foods that are high in fat and sugar. Steer clear of fried foods, sweets, fast food and buttery dishes when going through menopause. Instead get your fats from healthy sources like fish and olive oil.

References

Article reviewed by JPC Last updated on: Aug 18, 2011

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