Menopause Diet, Understanding What's Good for You

People today prefer quick-fix methods of handling any disease and symptom associated with it. Hence, popping pills is ever popular. However, due to the number of dangers that are now highlighted by the media with prolonged and at-the-drop-of-a-hat consumption of medicines, there is an increasing demand for searching alternatives to medicines.

Mother Nature has the answer

Fortunately, Mother Nature has plenty of alternatives. Among the easiest alternatives is following a balanced diet, and in the case of menopause diet you should be able to add a few extra nutrients that are required to deflect the negative symptoms. The plant estrogen that is called phytoestrogen is available in plenty in the plant kingdom. Instead of going through HRT you should rather consume those vegetable and fruits which have a high concentration of phytoestrogen such as soy, pomegranate, etc.

The main nutrients than make the menopause diet a success

The main diseases that attack women in the menopausal stage are heart problems and osteoporosis. In order to prevent vulnerability to these diseases, women should follow a diet which is high in calcium, magnesium, omega3 fatty acids, lignans (plant estrogen), and vitamin E to name the most important. However, this list is not an exhaustive one.

Calcium - the menopause diet is incomplete without supplements of calcium because this is first thing that is depleted in the body of a woman who goes through menopause. The food which will provide a good source for calcium are, low fat milk, salmon for the non-veg (actually the inner skin which is brown is the part with the highest content of calcium so, do not skin the fish while preparing it), leafy green vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, etc cheese and curd.

Magnesium is a mineral without which the absorption of calcium is not possible. This mineral has another highly advantageous property, i.e. it provides a claming effect which can help menopausal women to have better sleep. The foods which contain magnesium are all type of nuts (cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, etc).

Omega3 fatty acids are the best heart disease prevention agents as well as a good antidepressant. You will find these mostly in fatty fish like salmon.

Lignans is the plant estrogen which the human can absorb easily. This is the best weapon that Mother Nature gives women to fight against hot flushes. No menopause diet can be complete without this. The best source for lignans is flaxseed though you can find it in many other foods, such as soy, pomegranate, lentils, etc.