Yes, it’s true that the hormone replacement therapy does lessen and in some cases, eliminate the symptoms of menopause—but at what risk? There are other, alternative ways to increase your health, lower the symptoms of menopause and not add risks to your health, which are mainly achieved through diet.
Nuts and the fat in nuts have been linked to reducing heart attacks and lowering cholesterol.
Essential fatty acids, especially Omega 3’s are essential to a healthy heart. You can find Omega 3 in fish, such as salmon, trout, herring and sardines, seeds, beans, nuts and whole grains. You can also introduce EFA alpha-linolenic acid into your daily regime to lower your risk of fatal heart attack.
Seaweed is also beneficial to a menopausal woman—seaweeds help to regulate triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterols as well as stabilizing blood pressure, lengthening the life of the heart and promoting healthy and steady heart beat.
Carotenes, which are plentiful in broccoli, cut down a menopausal woman’s risk of stroke by 40 per cent. Eating broccoli once a week will halve your risk of heart disease.
Limit or eliminate carbohydrates, such as refined sugar and flour to reduce your cholesterol levels.
Garlic is your best friend—women who eat several cloves of fresh, raw garlic reduce their blood pressure, cholesterol and phospholipids can increase their immune system, even out blood sugar levels, reduce clotting and the chance of stokes and strengthen the heart’s action and health overall
No—you don’t have to eat fresh garlic, you can use powdered garlic or scentless garlic pills to increase the garlic intake in your diet.
Hawthorn berry tincture is a typical herbal heart tonic—it’s broadly effective and perfect for all women, menopausal or not. Hawthorn helps your heart to strengthen, relieve stress on the heart and throughout the cardiovascular system.
Motherwort is another herbal supplement perfect for menopausal women and a great heart tonic.
Every woman is going to love this—eat chocolate. Chocolate is loaded with phytochemicals which are healthy for your heart. So freely indulge in chocolate to keep down your blood pressure, curb oxidation of your blood vessel walls and keep them relaxed. Chocolate also helps to limit the oxidation of LDL—protecting the lipids in your blood from free-radical damage. Chocolate is more powerful than Vitamin C.
Also add a cup/glass of green tea and/or red wine to your daily diet to help prevent strokes.
Eat meat—but make sure you are getting beans and whole grains in your diet as well to ensure that you are processing everything completely by increasing your vitamin B levels.
Increase fruits, vegetables and grains in your diet when you are menopausal and decrease the amount of high-fat foods, like meat.
Don’t forget about milk, cheese and other sources of calcium to keep your bones strong. Menopausal women are at high risk of osteoporosis and calcium will help protect your bones. You will still need to take a calcium supplement, but getting some original calcium from dairy products is still highly recommended. You will want to find a calcium supplement that is coupled with magnesium and vitamin D to promote best bone health.
Your diet should lack in caffeine and fat as much as possible. It is more important to eat small meals often than large meals less often. Your body will accommodate the nutrients better if you give them in smaller doses and you will also curb weight gain while promoting a healthy heart.
While diet is important if you are menopausal, so is exercise. You must get up and move at least once a day to protect your heart and bones. It doesn’t have to be much, but get your blood moving and your heart pumping with some light exercise. Don’t overdo yourself, stay within your boundaries—but find someway to move throughout the day.
