Health Basics with Diana Bomford of Active Nutrition

Is menopause a time to mourn the passing of fertility or a time to celebrate the new era you are moving into?

Whichever way you are looking at this time of your life, you definitely should be celebrating that we are living in this age of enlightenment and not a time when women in menopause were inflicted with a bizarre range of remedies. Therapies in the past included ‘medications' made from pregnant horse's urine or opium mixed with powdered cows' ovaries; or suffering leaches being applied to draw the blood that was believed to be trapped in the women's bodies with nowhere to go.

Menopause is when a woman's hormonal balances change. This change can have a detrimental impact on health. The reduction of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone which, up to menopause, have given women more protection against bone density loss and cardiac disease now puts women's health at risk. Mood swings, weight gain, bowel upset, fatigue, depression and a general loss of energy are all symptoms of menopause, to say nothing of the hot flushes and night sweats than cause sleep disruption and embarrassment at inappropriate times.

Menopause comes when a women still has a third to half her life left to live. It is an appropriate time to take a good look at health and, if one has not already done so, adopt factors that can help both minimise the effects of menopause symptoms and reduce aging and ill health – nutrition and exercise.

Bone density loss is accelerated after menopause. The rate of bone loss can be slowed through doing weight-bearing exercise and moderating diet. Eating foods high in a combination of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are essential for maintaining bone density. Avoiding carbonated drinks that leach calcium from bones is important. Quitting smoking can also have a positive effect.

Weight gain and cardiac risk are two very important factors that menopausal and post-menopausal women need to consider. Our nutrient and energy requirements change, so it becomes important to make what we consume count. Swap sugary, high fat foods for nutrient dense foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, and so on.

For further information or assistance to achieve a better balance of nutrition in your life, please email me: [email protected]