Did you know that Japanese women tend to suffer hot
flashes only about 1/3 as often as American women?
Or that those following a vegetarian diet also
complain of hot flashes far less than the rest of
us? Of course, you don’t have to give up the steaks
just yet - but doctors and nutritional
professionals suspect that the difference is
largely due to the use of soy products in the diets
of these women, and several women have now realized
that by incorporating some soy in their diets,
their symptoms of menopause have abated
considerably.
In fact, altering your diet in small ways can have
the greatest positive effect on your body as it
transitions to menopause and beyond. For instance,
by staying away from hot drinks, you’re not giving
your body reason to "heat up" and produce a hot
flash. At the same time, reducing your caffeine
intake (which often comes in the form of hot
drinks, including coffee and tea) will naturally
help you sleep better at night, which will keep
your mood and mental state healthy.
Lastly, replacing these drinks with water and juice
will keep your bones and muscles well-lubricated,
prevent osteoporosis from settling in, and temper
your general aches and pains. We know it’s no easy
task to give up coffee, but think of the endless
benefits of this one relatively minor change to
your diet.
In fact, one of the most commonly complained about
symptoms of menopause these days is the weight gain
that seems to come along with it. Put simply, your
body isn’t burning calories in the same way it once
was, so if you don’t change your diet - even if
it’s already a healthy one - you’re bound to gain a
few pounds around the waist.
Changing your diet now, simply by avoiding a few
foods that are bound to make other symptoms worse,
while increasing the foods high in certain vitamins
while remaining low in calories, will help you to
maintain your figure while giving your body the
nutrients it needs to fight off some of the worst
symptoms of menopause.
We’ll tell you which foods to add to your diet if
you’re suffering hot flashes, vaginal thinning,
aches and pains, or emotional symptoms of
menopause. In addition, of course, we’ll share the
secrets of which vitamins and herbs have been
proven to keep your mind sharp and your bones
strong as you age through menopause and beyond.
For instance, foods high in potassium, including
most fruits, will help you keep your mind sharp
while promoting healthy water flushing throughout
your body (which will reduce cramps and bloating),
while keeping your muscles and bones lubricated and
strong - including your needy joints and your
thinning vaginal walls. In short, this is the time
in your life when "an apple a day" couldn’t ring
more true!
Also, oily fish, including salmon and tuna, and
vegetable oils, are often recommended by
nutritionists for anyone wanting to keep their
minds sharp. But these oils are also useful in
helping keep your muscles from drying, while
helping your digestive system.
In fact, everything from Vitamins C and E to herbal
remedies such as Dong Quai and Wild Yam Root are
discussed in this book; remember, not only American
women suffer menopause - you’re far from alone.
Every woman in the world goes through menopause
sooner or later, and we all have our own ways of
treating the symptoms unique to us.
We’ll explore the countless ways in which these
small changes or additions to your diet will not
only combat the unique symptoms you’re going
through, but the ways in which you can identify
these symptoms quickly to lead a healthy, long life
far after menopause.
But let’s talk about soy again, briefly. It’s been
in the news, and for good reason, but where do you
start? Many of us would buy a chunk of tofu,
which, let’s face it, can be tasteless, but it
doesn’t end there, and again, you don’t need to
move to Japan to figure out how to add it to your
diet. You don’t need to give up eating
cheeseburgers to enjoy the occasional veggie
burger, but adding some soy to your diet has made
the symptoms of menopause much more tolerable for
millions of women. If you’ve not eaten many soy
products, don’t hold your nose just yet - in
addition to helping your symptoms, you may find
that you actually like it!
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