Ginger Mint Shrimp © lynette sheppard
Guest blogger Allison Thompson shares her experience with the Paleo diet to relieve symptoms and make the menopause transition easier. Enjoy!
Foods I Enjoy That Help Deal With The Menopause
Hi there, my name’s Allison and I have been going through the menopause for almost 4 years now. In fact it came as quite a surprise to find out I was in the peri-menopousal stage. I had a friend who thought I was having problems with my thyroid. So she suggested that I see her doctor. Before he even prescribed anything I had to had several blood tests carried out. Once he had received confirmation he prescribed some natural treatments. Along with iodine that I needed to drink in a glass of water, he also prescribed a natural progesterone cream. This I had to apply each evening before bed.
I decided to do as he suggested for a year. But then I made a decision that I wanted to see if a change to my diet and lifestyle would help me more.
About this time my husband was looking for ways to lose weight. Again my friend came to the rescue by giving us some books relating to the Paleo diet. So I decided to give it a try.
It was difficult at first. I couldn’t find much about Paleo for menopause. Even so I decided to stick with it even though I wasn’t as strict with my diet as some others are. During the past 4 years I have learned more about what to include in my diet. But I don’t rely on food alone I also take some supplements. The ones I take have been suggested to me by reading up about menopause online. The main ones I include in my diet are Red Clover and Magnesium. But what I want to share with you now are the foods I eat on regular basis. These are the ones I include, as I’ve found they help me deal with the menopause effectively.
Broccoli
I actually love eating broccoli. I either boil it for a few minutes or steam it. Occasionally I love to at it in to stir fry’s. The reason I eat so much broccoli is because it contains calcium, that my body can use. Like me, you are probably aware that during the menopause your estrogen levels have gone down. But including foods that contain calcium will help to reduce the risk of bone loss. Of course including dairy in your diet is another great way to get the calcium your body needs.
Flaxseed
I love adding flaxseed into smoothies as well as putting it on top of some fresh fruit with yogurt. Not only am I getting more fiber in my diet I’m also getting a food rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. So it’s helping me to keep my heart and arteries healthy. But one other benefit to be gained from this food is that it contains certain estrogen compounds that our bodies need.
Almonds
As I follow a Paleo lifestyle I like to include almonds along with other nuts into my diet. I tend to use almond flour in place of conventional flour when making baked goods or pancakes. The great thing about almonds is that they contain a type of fat that can help to slow down the aging process. Plus for women going through the menopause, these nuts are rich in magnesium and Vitamin E complex. Both of these help to reduce the symptoms often associated with the menopause. The only problem is that I don’t eat enough of them. To help me further, I take a magnesium supplement each evening. By doing this I find that I sleep much better at night. Okay, I may still wake up occasionally with the night sweats, but not that often. In order to help combat this situation, I take the Red Clover supplement I mentioned earlier.
Eggs
My husband thinks I eat too many eggs, but I don’t agree. Not only do eggs provide me with a good source of protein, they also provide me with a good source of Iron. I include them in my diet as I am still quite active. In fact this morning I started a HIIT class close to where I live and will be doing the same twice a week.
Fish
I love all types of fish. I’m especially fond of salmon, cod and sardines. The great thing is I live in Spain and we have some really wonderful beach bars close to where I live. So we often take time out to visit them and enjoy fresh sardines. These are ones that they cook over hot coals. Eating this fish ensures I am getting sufficient amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids in my diet. Not only is it helping me to keep my skin in shape but it helps to keep my energy levels up.
Liver
I love liver and enjoy cooking it on a regular basis. I tend to opt more for cow or lambs liver as they don’t have such a strong taste. But I also like to use chicken livers to make my own pate. Liver is rich in Iron and also Vitamin C complex. I’ve found including this food in my diet helps to reduce menopause symptoms.
One thing I think I should mention relates to eggs and meat. If you can, try and opt for meat where the animal has been fed on grass. As for eggs, then go organic. If you cannot find grass-fed meat go organic. Also make sure that you choose the leanest cuts you can. All of these will help you to stay in shape and will provide you with essential fats that your body needs.
BIO:
Allison Thompson, a mother of 1 daughter who has been living in Spain for the past 12 years. For the past 4 years, she has been following a Paleo lifestyle that has helped her to deal with the effects that going through the menopause can have on women, without the need to use any kind of medication.