menopause

The Best Pre Menopause Diet

Pre menopause is the phase in woman's life just before menopause, indicating end of her monthly periods and fertility. On an average, women start experiencing pre menopausal symptoms at the age of 45 and length of pre menopause lasts from 1-6 years. Main symptoms of per menopause are caused due to reduced production of estrogen in the body. During pre menopause, the periods become irregular and less frequent but woman is not considered menopausal until she had had no periods for a year.

During pre menopause, a woman goes through many physical discomforts such as hot flashes, weight gain, night sweats, vaginal dryness, headaches, sleep problems and breast tenderness. There are also many emotional changes such as irritability, anxiety, stress and depression. Many women opt for artificial hormone therapy and some physicians also prescribe medications such as Prozac and Zoloft to control these physical and emotional changes. But Pre menopause is the best time to start pre menopause diet that will help you deal with symptoms naturally without having any side effects.

Planning Pre Menopause Diet

If carbohydrates are not consumed correctly, they can cause many problems, especially if you are going through pre menopausal phase. While eating carbohydrates, you should watch the glycemic index more closely. Go for the carbohydrates that have low glycemic rating and eat them along with fats and proteins, as it will slow down blood glucose response.

Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids regulate ovarian hormones in the body and help fight the depression and other pre menopausal symptoms. Another essential elements of pre menopause diet are vitamins such as magnesium, calcium, B6, vitamin E and zinc.

A good look at your pre menopause diet can help you alleviate many symptoms related to pre menopause and menopause without any side effects. Pre menopause is often accompanied by weight gain especially around stomach and abdomen. Many factors contributing to this sudden weight gain are reduced physical activity, reduction in body's calorie needs and changes in hormones affecting the metabolism and appetite. There are various pre menopause diet-plans that help you fight with these changes and reduce the weight gain.

As a part of pre menopause diet, try to avoid hot drinks such as tea and coffee. Reduce the intake of alcoholic beverages and colas. Take vitamin supplements so that your body meets the daily requirements of essential nutrients. Do moderate exercise at least 3-4 times a week for half an hour.

Dealing with Menopause and Pre Menopause

There is a patient support community for discussing menopause and related topics. You can get a lot of menopause help on these forums where people discuss their issues and experiences. You can become a part of any such forum and get emotional support and help. You can read what other ladies or families are going through and you can also post your question regarding pre menopause.