If you’ve stuck around this long my hope is you’re not just reading information but implementing what it is you’ve read.  I don’t claim to have all the answers, but the solutions I’ve provided thus far are both tried-and-true.

Now, on to the good stuff … FOOD.

“Ugh, again Dr. Renata?!”  Yes, you read correctly – we’ll be talking about food … again.  But this time, I’ve got some tips that I believe you’ll find quite beneficial.

As we’ve discovered, not only during our menopause journeys, but in life period, making healthier decisions when it comes to our food intake can be hard.  Let’s face it, eating a salad with every healthy green you can think of on Taco Tuesday just isn’t the same as scooping tortilla chips in dip topped with sour cream and all the queso our hands can hold.  And I get it, some indulgence every now and again can be therapeutic … but that’s just for the short-term.  What I want to focus on now is making more of the right decisions not only in a moment, but that have lasting positive effects on our body’s and mind’s after the moment passes by.

Have you ever paused to consider the initials for the Standard American Diet – sad isn’t it?  Yes, quite literally – “SAD.”  The Standard American Diet, or “SAD” is high in refined carbohydrates and other chemically laden foods that interfere with how our hormones function.

Sidebar.

I know I may sound like a broken record, but if my repetition is accompanied by your enlightenment, then I don’t mind the scratch on the record, which causes the same part to play over-and-over again.  Besides, these things are flat out important to know – not just for our menopause journeys, but in life.  How are we going to live our best lives during menopause if we’re not doing our best to take care of ourselves in every possible way?

Now, back to regularly scheduled programming.

To feel our best, avoiding processed foods made from white flour, white rice, pasta, and bread products is important. Simple carbohydrates like these raise cortisol levels and elevate blood sugars, which leads to cravings for more of the wrong foods – talk about a vicious cycle.

Training our palettes for healthier food alternatives is so important.  Not only are healthier choices better for our bodies long-term, but they also have a positive effect on relieving some of the most common menopause symptoms women experience.

I know it may seem like a lot. 

Change is hard …

But it’s also worth it. 

To ease the anxiety that can be associated with giving your diet a complete haul, one thing I recommend doing first is to undergo a cleanse.  Because of my own issues with food during menopause, I have made my midlife transition much easier by creating the 5-Day Hormone Reset Cleanse.  This is not a fasting detox, but a plan that has kept me feeling full and satisfied while cleansing my body from the inside out.

During my 5-Day Hormone Reset Cleanse I, as well as my patients have experienced less mood swings, clearing of brain fog, no more bloating, weight loss, and clearer skin and those are just a few of the results.

All in all, over the past couple of posts, you’ve learned why eating a nutritious diet is so important and read a couple of case studies.  It is my hope you know that since healthy food choices worked for others I’ve noted, they could work for you too.  I am not suggesting food choice is the magic, cure-all pill, but I am saying that it will help you in the long run. 

The easiest way to get started on making healthier food choices is by cooking your own foods from home.  I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but there are so many additives and preservatives added to the common easily accessible foods we eat – and not just fast foods.  Even healthy alternatives on restaurant menus can have hidden ingredients.  So, the easiest way to control what you eat is to make it yourself. 

In my book, “It’s Time for a PAUSE” I share a few tried-and-true recipes that have helped my patients get the nourishment they needed while also pleasing their palates.  I also share four of the most common menopause symptoms the women I’ve interviewed have suffered from as well as a food cure they’ve implemented and found relief by consuming. 

So, let’s start cooking!  It’s time for a CHANGE.

~Dr. Renata