Menopause diet: what’s good, and what’s good to avoid

During menopause, your declining estrogen level produces several effects. While different women may experience different symptoms, here are some of the most common ones:

 

Hot flashes

By far the most common symptom of menopause, a hot flash is a sudden and brief increase in body temperature. About 75% of all women in menopause experience this symptom¹ but the frequency and intensity vary for each woman.

 

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) 

GSM is a term to describe the changes that affect the vagina, bladder, urethra and pelvic floor tissue that may occur during menopause. As a result of decreased estrogen levels, your pelvic floor muscles may become weaker, and your vaginal walls may become thinner, drier, and less elastic, which can lead to pain during sexual intercourse. Your level of lactobacilli bacteria also decreases, leading to a higher pH-environment, and a higher risk of urinary tract infection, since the bacteria find it easier to attach and thrive.

 

Other bladder problems

Bladder issues may include frequency-, urgency-, nocturia- and stress incontinence. Try using vaginal estrogen creams, tablets and inserts to relieve some of your GSM symptoms, and be sure to keep your pelvic floor strong with pelvic floor exercises to help prevent future incontinence.

 

Weight gain

A natural effect of aging is the loss of muscle mass, which impacts your metabolism, and tends to increase fat storage. Along with lowered estrogen, this can contribute to weight gain, especially if obesity is already a problem. Obesity itself is also a risk factor for incontinence, and may lead to both stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Lifestyle, aging, diet, and genetic factors all contribute to your overall weight and health. Keeping physically active and watching your diet can help you maintain both your weight level and your body’s ability to resist incontinence. 

 

Bone density

Declining estrogen production can also impact the calcium in your bones, which can make you more susceptible to hip, spine and other bone fractures, as the bone density decreases. Taking vitamin D supplements, as well as exercising and eating foods with calcium, can help keep your bones healthy.

 

This may seem like quite a long list of changes to deal with, but keep in mind that the frequency and intensity of symptoms are different for each person. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help relieve menopause symptoms. To start with, make sure your diet includes good food for menopause.

While some of the risks associated with menopause can’t be avoided, a nutrient-rich diet can help you prevent or relieve its symptoms. As a basic dietary guideline, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D to compensate for the effect that a lower estrogen level has on your bones. 

 

Dairy products

Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products contain calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins D and K. Each of these ingredients either help to protect your bones or improve their health, thus minimizing your risk of bone fractures.

 

Whole grains

Whole grains are an excellent source for fiber, and B vitamins and are linked to a reduced risk of heart conditions, type 2 diabetes, and cancer². 

 

Fresh fruits and vegetables

A diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables will be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. This is not only good for your general health, it may also help reduce hot flashes³ for some women.

 

Protein and exercise

Foods high in protein include eggs, meat, fish, legumes, seitan, tofu, and dairy products. When estrogen levels fall off due to menopause, it can affect both muscle mass and bone density. Increasing both your protein intake and your physical activity can help offset these effects⁴.

Certain foods are always good to avoid from a pure health perspective. But for women in menopause specifically, it’s wise to cut down on foods that can easily lead to weight gain, hot flashes, and affect your general well-being.

 

Trans fats

Bacon, potato chips, margarine, cookies, instant soups and sauces, breads and pastries – these foods might taste good, but they increase the risk of weight gain and heart disease. You’re better off with choices like buckwheat flour, brown rice, quinoa, or sweet potatoes.

 

Sugar and gluten

Too much of these substances can destabilize your blood-glucose levels and elevate your insulin response. For healthy sweeteners try things like organic honey or coconut sugar.  

 

Artificial sweeteners 

Used in products such as diet sodas and chewing gum, common sweeteners like Aspartame have no real health benefits, and may actually be harmful. Refraining from sweet things all together is the best choice, if you can manage it. Especially if you’ve struggled with sugar addiction. A sweet tooth is just a habit that will disappear quickly if you give it a chance. Water is the best drink with meals, and an unbeatable thirst quencher.

 

Alcohol

In women’s bodies, alcohol blocks the estrogen receptors. This is no good since your hormone levels are already declining and you may experience mood swings. Also keep in mind that alcohol is high in calories per gram and stimulates your appetite, which might lead to weight gain. Staying away from the drinks can also have a positive effect on your sleep, since this is the time when your brain and body recover to get ready for the next day. Even small amounts of alcohol before you say goodnight affect this recovery process in a negative way.

 

Spicy foods

It is often suggested for women in menopause to avoid spicy foods. The effects are highly individual, but hot/spicy foods stimulate nerve endings which can dilate blood vessels and trigger hot flashes⁶.

 

Foods that might trigger a reaction 

If you’re already sensitive to certain foods, you may need to avoid them during menopause as well. You may also experience latent food sensitivities that manifest during menopause for the first time, with symptoms such as bloating, nausea, gas, or constipation. Common examples of foods that can trigger these types of sensitive reactions are dairy products, eggs, or tomatoes. Keep a watchful eye on any new reactions, and avoid foods that activate them.

Your adrenal glands sit just above your kidneys, and their job is to produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. The adrenal glands also produce small amounts of estrogen and progesterone hormones, but the levels of these decrease during menopause.

 

When your body is under stress, the production of stress hormones is prioritized over the production of estrogen and progesterone. And since the symptoms of hormonal change can be stressful, this can be an issue for women going through menopause who need these hormones for their well-being.

 

There are supplements available that can support the function of the adrenal glands, such as B vitamins which are involved in multiple processes in the nervous system. Magnesium, selenium, and vitamin C and D are also frequently recommended.

 

There are some things you can do yourself to help keep your adrenal glands in balance. Try to minimize stress through choices like regular sleep, a balanced living, exercising, a healthy diet, eating regularly and keeping your blood sugar levels stable. Relaxing and meditation can also support your adrenal glands in a good way. Cutting down on caffeine can help too, as it is a known contributor to urinary frequency.

Many different factors may contribute to incontinence in women, including childbirth, aging, overall health, and other physical issues. Nevertheless, there is evidence of a peak in incontinence at the time of menopause.

 

As estrogen levels drop during menopause, so do the elasticity and strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Decreased estrogen levels can also cause the vaginal and urinary tract tissues to become drier, thinner, and less elastic. All these changes can contribute to incontinence.

 

For these reasons, it’s important to maintain good skin health, and to use incontinence products that are comfortable and keep the skin dry. Doing pelvic floor exercises can also help you strengthen the pelvic muscles and prevent incontinence.