Tips to keeping a happier lifestyle through the menopause

We hear the term “well being“ banded around these days to advertise so many products  new diets, cosmetics, sports regimes all of which are relevant and important in achieving a healthy lifestyle . The welfare of our body and mind in the stressful world we live in has become paramount to our “well being”. 
Where the definition of “well being” is classified as the condition of being contented, healthy, or successful.

But the emphasis must only be on contentment. 

To be happy must be the goal for us all to aim and achieve. For many it is not always so easy to recognise what happiness actually means and hence such an ambition remains unchallenged. In having a structure to one’s lifestyle and a recognition of the key elements to a healthy and fulfilled life is the first step.

How does keeping a healthy diet help the menopause?

There is enough information spoken about the benefits of a good diet and expert advice comes in so many formats. The advice can be somewhat overwhelming at times but we like to keep things simple.

It shouldn’t be a chore, remember the more you put into these disciplines the more you will get out and boost our mental well being.

We are lucky to have teamed up with Emily Fawell who is a Nutritional Therapist specialising in women’s health and she has offered her advice on nutrition for the menopause.

Emily’s expert advice:

“What you eat can have a significant impact on how you experience the various (perhaps multitudinous!) symptoms of the menopause.

To minimise your symptoms and give your body the best chance of balancing the shifts in hormones that are creating the symptoms you are experiencing, here are my top 3 tips:

1. Ensure your intake of fibre is high. I encourage my clients to get the majority of their fibre intake from vegetables and fruit – more veg than fruit. Old hormones are excreted by the gut, and to do this effectively it needs a regular supply of fibre. Aim for 6 -8 portions a day
2. Cut down on sugar and refined carbohydrates (white bread, white pasta, white rice, white potatoes and anything made from white flour). The body responds to quick releasing carbohydrates by releasing insulin and this can disrupt hormone balance. So cut out the sweet treats, biscuits and cakes and switch to whole carbohydrates such as oats, brown rice, wholemeal, sourdough or rye bread
3. Watch your caffeine intake from tea, coffee, chocolate, cola and energy drinks. For some women caffeine can trigger a hot flush, and for all women it disrupts blood sugar levels, insulin levels and energy levels. Switch to naturally decaffeinated tea or coffee or herbal teas.”