Eating to Alleviate Ailments

Menopause Problems

Hot flushes, palpitations, mood swings, insomnia, depression - just some of the treats in store for women approaching menopause! But this inevitable time in the lives of half the population of the planet needn’t be as bad as all that – there are many things we can do to delay and alleviate symptoms of menopause…

• Don’t smoke – smoking is a big factor in causing early symptoms of menopause
• Eat foods high in phytoestrogens – eg apples, carrots, potatoes, brown rice, papaya and sesame seeds – these reduce the occurrence of hot flushes because they help to replace oestrogen, which can no longer made by the ovaries.
• Avoid bad fats but get plenty of good ones ‘essential fatty acids’ from oily fish and avocados. These also help with hot flushes.
• Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods to avoid osteoporosis, but avoid dairy products. If you think this sounds paradoxical, in fact it isn’t! We can get plenty of calcium from vegetation – just as cows do – they get theirs from grass while we can get ours from other leafy green veg such as broccoli, peas, asparagus, spinach, watercress and cabbage.
• Avoid stress, caffeine and alcohol.
• Take regular exercise (such as going for a walk) to relax the body and mind, and to alleviate anxiety.

 

My menopause relief recipe is Thai Coconut Vegetable Soup(which is high in phytoestrogens and calcium rich foods)

1 tbsp Olive Oil
25g Fresh Root Ginger (peeled and sliced)
2 cloves of Garlic
2 Lemongrass Stalks
2-3 Birds Eye Chillies
4 Kaffir Lime leaves
400ml Can Coconut Milk
500g Mixed Stir-Fry Vegetables (kale, spinach, peppers, onions, celery, bean-shoots)
Fresh Coriander to garnish
¼ thinly sliced papaya to garnish

Heat the oil in a wok and stir fry the ginger, garlic, lemongrass and ginger for 1 minute.  Add the lime leaves, chillis and pour in the coconut milk.  Boil for 5 minutes and add the stir-fry vegetables, simmer for a further 2-3 minutes.  Ladle in to bowls and garnish with the coriander and papaya.