Top 10 Foods You Won’t Believe in Menopause Diet

As a woman enters the peri- and post-menopause stages, the body changes that are experienced can be drastic and alarming. From hot flashes, anxiety, irritability, weight gain, and menopause bloating there is a sense of losing control of one’s self. Many women adjust their lifestyle and eating habits to no avail. Diets seem to fail and weight gain seems inevitable. This adds to the frustration that can be the menopause experience. Fear not, a menopause diet does not have to be boring. I think you will be surprised at the top ten foods that can help you maintain who you are and move through your life with ease.

The first thing to address in your menopause diet is what you need to stay away from: caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol can make hot flashes worse. You may think some of these will help combat menopause fatigue but they may make other symptoms worse. You will have to experiment a bit with some foods that you normally don’t eat. Drinking plenty of water is also a key: about 6-8 glasses a day. This will help you flush out any urinary infections which can be a common side-effect of menopause. You also have to be watchful of your own system so that the foods you eat don’t cause menopause bloating.

You can combine what is known as the ‘super foods’ to your diet. These are foods that are power packed with more than average vitamins, antioxidants and other properties to help to fight illness and can assist in reducing hot flashes menopause down. Super foods include some of the more common items such as berries, almonds, peanuts or walnuts.

Other surprising foods for your menopause diet:

1. Dark and Raw Chocolate
Although chocolate is usually excluded from any diet, dark chocolate is the exception, when eaten in moderation. As long as it has a cocoa content of 60% or more, dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and can lower blood pressure. The darker it is the lower in fat and sugar it is as well. Raw chocolate is also a great benefit as it is higher in antioxidants than green tea or blueberries.

2. Wheatgrass juice
Contains many vitamins and minerals and about 30 enzymes. It has up to 70% chlorophyll (which builds the blood). It’s an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. A natural detoxifier, it also assists in keeping food cravings down.

3. Bee Pollen
Bee pollen has more than 96 different nutrients, and is made up of 40% protein. A natural energizer, it slows down the aging process, and lowers cholesterol levels. It also assists in promoting weight loss as well as regulating your moods.

4. Sexy Maca
Maca is a radish-like fruit from Peru. Rich in nutrients: 10% protein, 60% carbohydrate and phytonutrients, vitamins and mineral traces. It works gradually to relieve symptoms of menopause within days. It helps to balance blood pressure. For best results look for organic raw maca powder. Use as an additive for your menopause diet.

5. Hemp Oil
Commonly found in many grocery stores, both the hemp seed and oil have been called ‘Nature’s Perfect Food’. Research has shown that it improves damaged immune cells and helps to restore health to our bodies.

6. Pomegranates and Pomegranate juice
Pomegranate juice contains three times the antioxidants found in red wine and green tea, both of which are considered life-sustaining and health-enhancing foods. Pomegranate juice is known to guard against premature aging and is a valid preventative of heart disease and many other ailments. Check with your physician before adding a lot of pomegranate to your menopause diet as it contains a lot of sugar.

7. Manuka Honey
Manuka Honey is a specific type of honey, predominantly found in the New Zealand. It has been known to provide relief to individuals suffering from certain symptoms and its healing properties have been researched for over 20 years.

8. Shitake Mushrooms
Long studied in Japan, shitake mushrooms have been used as a treatment for stomach and colorectal cancer after surgery. They contain high levels of protein (18%), potassium, niacin and B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The lentinan in the mushrooms is an immunostimulant which helps to fight menopause fatigue.

9. Watercress
Watercress contains Vitamin B1 which helps the nervous and digestive health. Many women have added watercress to salads to eliminate menopause bloating.

10. Seaweed
Seaweeds of all kinds help restore energy by nourishing nervous, immune, and hormonal systems. For best results eat seaweed as a green vegetable at least once a week. Suggestions by be to try kelp in oatmeal, kombu added to soups, wakame in beans, hijiki as part of your salads, and toasted dulse.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.