When menopause starts, women may have to adjust their diets to deal with the symptoms. During this transition, women’s bodies may react to different hormone level changes. Some foods may trigger more intense symptoms of menopause and make things more uncomfortable. What you can do to help make this important life transition easier and less stressful is to be mindful of what you eat. Here are the top foods you should avoid during menopause.
Fast Food
One food group that you should skip during menopause is fast food. Women in all stages of life should aim to limit their consumption of fast food. Fast food meals are typically full of salt, sugar and chemicals. They are also high in calories and could cause weight gain, especially during menopause when the body’s metabolism may slow down. Fast food may also impact your body’s normal hormone levels during menopause causing blood sugar spikes.
Caffeine & Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol should also be limited or completely avoided during menopause. Some women may experience more intense hot flashes during menopause if they frequently drink caffeine or alcohol. Another issue that caffeine and alcohol may cause during menopause is insomnia. It’s probably a good idea to switch your coffee to decaf when you are close to menopause, or at least, limit your caffeine to one cup per day. Consider limiting your alcohol consumption to one drink or less per week.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods are also often linked to triggering hot flashes in menopausal women. Additionally, some women may feel more anxious during menopause if they eat spicy foods frequently. Since each person is unique, it’s best to monitor your own experience with spicy foods and the symptoms of menopause. Some people have no problems with eating spicy foods during menopause. Other women have to reduce spicy foods as a first step in learning how to control mood swings during menopause.
Sugar
Sugar may also be problematic for women going through menopause, especially foods with added sugar. Foods that have excessive sugar could potentially raise the blood sugar too fast, which may impact someone going through menopause even more significantly. High blood sugar is associated with problems like insulin resistance and weight gain. Additionally, eating too much sugar may also trigger hot flashes.
Salty Foods
The last food to avoid during menopause is anything that has too much salt or sodium. Put aside the table salt if you have noticeable symptoms of menopause and choose to season your food with other flavors, such as herbs and spices. Salty foods may be linked to higher blood pressure and lower bone density in women. Pick natural estrogen supplements over the counter to help give your body some extra support during menopause instead.
Your body may be about to go into uncharted territory if you’re just starting menopause or close to it. If you want to make this time period less of a problem, your diet may need a makeover. Skip these trigger foods to prevent problems like hot flashes, insomnia and excessive weight gain through menopause.
