The Menopause

Need A Menopause Diet?

Is it inevitable that all women will have to implement a special menopause diet? It is a sad fact that the majority of people think that the typical woman in the menopause is fat, flushed and completely out of control. While hot flushes, weight gain and mood swings are all symptoms described by women in the menopause, they are not the inevitable side effects of this time in their lives. It is fact that, many women, as many as 10 to 20 per cent of those studied, showed no symptoms of the menopause at all. The studies show that as many as half of all the women experienced some menopause weight gain, other women actually lost weight during this time, and many of those who gain weight before the menopause lose it afterwards.

One good point to remember is that the menopause and weight gain are a temporary matter and the symptoms will diminish given time. The menopause weight gain and the other related symptoms are unfortunately something that all or most women will have to endure during their middle age. The thing to remember is that this will pass. Think of the bright light at the end of the tunnel, and when you do come out the other side, try to think of all the good things which are left in your life, and the advantage of never having another period!!  

It is good to remember that menopause weight gain is a temporary fact, however, it should be noted that after you reach your 40s, it is harder to shift any excess weight and this happens even if you maintain you current exercise and diet regime. As you enter your 40s your metabolism slows down, so weight gain can creep up on you. Unfortunately typical dieting will no longer work for you at this age, so to maintain or lose weight may require additional exercise and calorie-cutting. You may need a special menopause diet high in protein and calcium.

The menopause and weight gain associated with it is just another obstacle in a woman’s life, but in today’s society, the menopause is not something which is seen as an embarrassment, and not to be talked about. There is as abundance of information available and General Practitioners are more understanding of the effect this condition can have on the whole of a woman’s life. Medication has also come a long way in recent decades and the menopause need not be the horrendous experience which our mothers and grandmothers had to endure.