How Paleo Lifestyle Helped Me Cope With The Menopause

by Allison Thompson

For almost 4 years now I have been dealing with the effects of going through the menopause. In the beginning, I decided to go down a more conventional route to treat it. So I went to see a doctor of a friend.

He confirmed that I was peri-menopausal (after several blood tests). He then prescribed me with some treatment.  He gave me iodine that I would have to drink in a glass of water. Also he prescribed me with a natural progesterone cream. This I would have to apply to my arm each night before going to sleep.

I did as he suggested for a year. Then I decided I would like to see if following the Paleo diet and lifestyle would help. It was quite difficult at first as there wasn’t much information available. In fact I could find hardly anything relating to Paleo and menopause. But I decided to stick with it.

During the last 4 years I have learnt more about what foods are best to include in my diet that help. But it isn’t all about the food. I also include some supplements in my diet as well. I chose to take them as they help reduce some of the symptoms.

The great thing is you don’t need to go Paleo to help you deal with this condition. I only chose to because it felt right for me.  Plus I wanted to make sure that my other half stuck to it. He chose to follow it to help him lose weight after being given some books by Mark Sisson, an advocate of the Paleo diet.

Here are some of my tips that you may want to try out that could help you. You may get a surprise how making a few of these changes can help.

Omit Processed And Fast Food From Your Diet 

The reason I suggest doing this is because these contain quite a lot of sodium, fat and sugar. Not only can this cause you to put on weight. It can also cause you to have fluctuating mood swings due to the sugar.

Cut Back On The Fat 

If you do this you may find that you experience less symptoms.

If you can why not try the Mediterranean diet.

This is a diet that contains a lot of olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of fish. Also you may want to consider trying out the Paleo diet. This contains plenty of meat. But with this diet I would recommend eating lots of lean meat that is organic.

Include Healthy Fats In Your Diet

When it comes to what you eat you don’t have to avoid fat altogether. Instead you should opt for the much healthier kinds. Include foods in your diet that contain plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids. I actually like to eat fish such as salmon or sardines at least once a week.

Also you cannot go wrong with adding some flaxseed to a smoothie! You will even find 1 oz of chopped walnuts can help.

Up Your Fresh Fruit And Vegetable Intake

The great thing about fresh fruit and vegetables is they help to fill you up. Plus they don’t actually cause you to put on any extra weight.

But there is one vegetable that I tend not to eat because it isn’t Paleo. Which is white potatoes. The great thing is I replace these with sweet potatoes instead.

Cut Back On Refined Carbs

Here I am talking about bread, pasta and rice. These are in fact not approved on the Paleo diet. I thought that I would find it hard to cut back on these. But now I don’t have a problem. You may not realise it but just 1 cup of rice or pasta is providing you with 200 calories.

Instead of the rice or pasta replace them with some vegetables. Try cooking up some cauliflower rice to go with your curry.  As for pasta replace it with some zucchini noodles. Not only do these contain far less calories.  They also contain a lot more fiber.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Protein 

If you aren’t eating enough protein it could lead to you feeling hungry. Protein not only suppresses hunger, it helps you stay fuller for longer.

Plus you’ll find that protein helps to not only build muscle but also maintain it. Muscle is important as it helps the body to burn off unwanted fat. It does this because it uses fat stored in the body to provide them with energy.

Don’t Drink Too Much Alcohol

The problem with drinking too much alcohol is that it can lead to weight gain. You may find it also increases the number of hot flashes or night sweats you suffer from.

Have Some Chocolate 

One ounce of extra dark chocolate can make a big difference to you. Not only is it tasty but can also help to improve your mood.

Also this type of chocolate is rich in magnesium. A mineral that you will find helps to reduce levels of cortisol in the body. Also there is evidence that shows it remove bad estrogen from the body.

Avoid Foods That Induce Hot Flashes

We are all different. Some of us may find certain foods trigger hot flashes and others don’t.

If you can exclude or cut back on the following from your diet, drinks that contain caffeine. I don’t just mean coffee and soda, but also tea. Also you should limit your consumption of spicy foods.

I actually have chosen to reduce my coffee and tea intake and drink herbal tea often. As for spicy food I love it but limit myself to enjoy such meals once a week.

(Allison Thompson is a mother of 1 daughter who has been living in Spain for the past 12 years. For the past 4 years she has been following a Paleo lifestyle that has helped her to deal with the effects that going through the menopause can have on women, without the need to use any kind of medication.)

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