We’ve been told to eat a healthy diet full of the right nutrients to help us keep our bodies functioning properly our whole lives. But it seems as though when it could really benefit us, is as we begin the menopause.
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Eat your greens daily
According to a study from scientists at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables could help to reduce the many symptoms of the menopause – from hot sweats to mood swings.
Researchers spoke to 400 women, mostly in their mid-50s, all of whom had gone through the menopause between seven and nine years previously. Based on their studies of the women, they identified three key eating patterns – women who had plentiful fruit and veg in their diets, those who consumed lots of oily food and sugar, and those who ate more fatty foods and snacks.
They then sorted the women into the group that most closely fitted with their eating plan, and asked each group to reflect on how severe – or not – their menopause symptoms were.
And it was found that the women who ate the most fruit and vegetables in their diet experienced fewer, less intense menopause symptoms, such as insomnia and joint pain.
ALSO SEE: Follow A Menopause-Friendly Diet
Fats and snacks
On the other side, the women who ate fatty foods and snacks regularly were the group who experienced the most severe menopause symptoms, which impacted their quality of life and their physical and mental health.
The study’s author Gity Sotoudeh explained that it’s the low fibre content and high saturated and trans fat content in the unhealthy foods which can heighten the symptoms of menopause.
She told Yahoo! News, “The high-fat and -sugar dietary pattern has high amounts of simple carbohydrates and unhealthy fats, especially saturated and trans fats, and a relatively low content of fibre, which can increase the levels of inflammatory biomarkers and body weight, all of them are related to menopausal symptoms.
“On the other hand, fruits and vegetables are low in fat, are a good source of micronutrients and antioxidants, as they help the body to lower the inflammation and maintain a healthy body weight during menopause.
“Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fibre, which can modify the oestrogen metabolism and decrease the fluctuation in levels of oestrogen, which all decrease the risk of symptoms.”
ALSO SEE: 5 Ways To Get Through Menopause
Unhealthy lifestyle
More severe menopause symptoms have long been associated with an unhealthy lifestyle – including smoking, obesity and drinking alcohol.
While there were limitations to the Tehran study, including the size of the group tested, it makes sense that eating a healthy diet with less unhealthy foods can make for better overall health – including less of those nasty menopause symptoms.
ALSO SEE: 7 Surprising Perimenopause Symptoms
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any diet or exercise plan, you should speak to your doctor. You must not rely on the information on this website/newsletter as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
