Ugh, menopause. This big change is inevitable for women as they age, and most see it as impending doom. But the truth is — while you will most likely experience some symptoms — menopause doesn’t have to be this horrible drag that most women think it is.
In fact, with the right tips and tricks under your belt, you can smoothly sail through menopause with minimal discomfort. One important aspect of managing menopause symptoms is nutrition. Dr. Patricia Nevils at Vibrant Woman Health Center in Lafayette, Louisiana explains how nutrition needs change during menopause and what you should eat to ease your symptoms.
The short answer? A lot.
Your body endures many changes over the course of your life, but few compare to the menopausal transition. As you go through perimenopause and eventually become menopausal, a number of things occur, including:
Nutrition has a big impact on all of your body’s parts and processes, including the menopausal transition. Your diet may help ease symptoms by improving your gut health, promoting healthy digestion, keeping your nutrient levels in check, and ensuring your body has enough antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to keep things running smoothly. A healthy diet can also help keep any weight gain in check.
In addition, paying close attention to your nutrition during menopause may decrease your risk of developing many diseases that often arise at midlife, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and more. Plus, eating healthy makes you feel good and increases self-confidence.
Nutrition recommendations during menopause resemble the general nutrition recommendations for everyone, but with a few key differences. Because of the changes your body goes through during menopause, you’ll need to focus on some specific nutrient requirements — examples include extra calcium and vitamin D for bone health and B vitamins for immune support, among others.
Another key change involves iron consumption: For most of your life, you were probably told to ensure you eat enough iron, but as you go through menopause, your iron requirements actually decrease. Below, see some additional guidelines for eating healthfully during menopause.
To learn more about nutrition and menopause, schedule an appointment with Dr. Nevils today. Call our office at 925-257-4884 or request your appointment online.
