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[Debbie D]

I have read a bit about eating and weight gain etc and how it can affect how we go through the menopause.  Being a bit overweight, specially since giving up smoking a year or so ago, I have tried to eat more sensibly.

I am a veggie, have been for over 20 years, but my downfall is cheese - got through 3 - 4packs a week - eeek!

So now I limit myself to one pack a week plus a philly light spread.  I make myself eat five a day fruit and veg, changed to wholemeal bread, brown rice and brown sugar.  Also the red top milk.  Instead of cheesecake, another fave, I eat low fat choc mousse with chopped fruit in it.  I was surprised that I actually like the food, and eat way less calories but more actual food.

This has been the case for about 2 months, and TBH it has not helped at all with the menopausal symptoms, but I have lost about one and a half stone in that time. 


Does anyone have any tips on what to eat more or or avoid to help at all?  Or does food not play that big a factor.

[CLKD]

Losing weight plays a HUGE factor in over-all health.  My DH has porridge with fruit chopped in every morning  as it is slow release and keeps him going until lunch time.  I have a round of well cooked toast with butter.  We both drink black T.  I add 2 sugars to keep me
sweet ;-).

I think that we slow down as we age.  In most respects.  I hate planned exercise but we try to cycle/walk as much as possible and our garden keeps us busy.

I read recently that we should eat more veg. as our 5 a day as fresh fruits contain lots of sugars.  that of course depends on how the body 'uses' sugars ......... I try not to have too many bars of chocolate each week and unless a packet is opened I don't touch biscuits or ......... DH cooks most things from scratch and if we go to the chippy we buy a portion and share.  Even then it's too much!

Keeping a food diary - more for the odds and nibbles that we eat - can give an idea of how much we actually put into our gobs .... and being dehydrated can be mis-interpreted as being hungry 

Good topic, I like 

[Joyce]

I've lost 23lbs dieting since beginning of year. Eat as before, just less and less nibbling between meals.

I use trivia in coffee - tastes fine to me.

Can't eat cheese but have been told that a daily portion is size of a Vesta match box. Try telling my hubby that! 

Oh & when you're peckish drink water as our bodies mistake hunger for dehydration.

[fiorinda]

My GP just gave me a list of phytoestrogen-rich (plant estrogen) foods to include in my diet as much as possible, and a recipe for an 'HRT cake' which I'm going to make - I loved getting a 'prescription' to eat cake from my doc!! The food list contained lots of seeds, nuts, dried fruits, particular fresh veg and fruits, legumes and of course soya. Plenty of calcium is important too - but I suspect plant foods and low fat dairy are probably better than eating lots of cheese. I can't lay my hand on it at the moment but I'm sure you could find plenty of lists online for these foods. She also said that I would benefit from losing a bit of weight - which I knew anyway.

I'm trying to drink more water, and I've been having a bowl of salad or homemade gazpacho before my meals to fill me up a bit.

I do believe that food plays a huge part in how we feel and how well we are - it's what we're made of after all. I try to avoid foods with chemical ingredients, including artificial sweeteners, and you do get used to less sweet flavours - I love plain yoghurt now and find most flavoured ones too sweet - why doesn't anyone make them just with fruit in?!

[honeybun]

I don't have a particularly sweet tooth. I do have a weakness for cream eggs but I won't be able to get them for ages now.

I think it's all to do with balance. The five a day was a marketing ploy by American farmers to increase sales and there is no scientific proof that five is better than four or not as good as six.

I don't eat a lot of fruit but I do eat a lot of salads and veggies. I also don't eat that much red meat but do eat chicken and a lot of fish.

I have a different problem with weight. I am not a comfort eater. When I am anxious my appetite goes and the weight drops off. It's not a good look so I have to be careful as I can drop 6/7 pounds in a week if I am stressed.

It can be a bit of a battle to maintain a healthy weight no matter what direction you come from.

Honeyb
X

[Taz2]

As regards the five-a-day recommendation The Blood Pressure Association site says that in order to lower and then maintain a healthy blood pressure you need between 7 to 9 portions a day. I am finding this very difficult to achieve and not end up dashing to the loo all day!!

Taz x

[CLKD]

I think 5 was a number 'they' thought we would all remember  - currently we are eating a whole fresh Pakistani mango daily  - messy but scrumptious.

Honeybun <in a whisper> I know where you can buy cream eggs 

[Lucky Stone]

I suffered with rosacea from about the age of 23 until 5 or 6 years ago and tried all sorts of medicines, saw a dermatologist AND took regular antibiotics and the latter I think are resonsible for messing up my stomach (I now have GERD). What has cured it for me is stopping eating fruit. People don't seem to believe me when I say this as everyone thinks of fruit as the "good guy" but I know I am right. Pineapples have a special enzyme in them to help GERD so I recently bought some juice and was having a medium glass after my evening meals and guess what, my rosacea flared up again. I've now cut down (and ordered some bromelaine caps - same enzyme but no juice) and it is going away. That's proof enough for me. Honeybun is right about the marketing campaign, I'm a bit like her in that my appetite comes and goes and I just cannot eat once I am full up whereas in years past I could easily stuff myself until bursting. I try and eat everything in moderation but never manage 5 a day (2-3 if I am being good) and do have chocolate every day as well. Usually. I've given up worrying about it, in a way I am convinced that my body tells me what it needs and rejects the things it doesn't like e.g. oranges and stuff with vinegar in. I've also stopped eating tomatoes and onions and that has helped the GERD. It's all such a faff though. And if I was told to give up cheese, I would simply fade away ...... 

[CLKD]

Fruit is acidic as are many salad vegs.  Chocolate is GOOD for us 

[Debbie D]

As regards the five-a-day recommendation The Blood Pressure Association site says that in order to lower and then maintain a healthy blood pressure you need between 7 to 9 portions a day. I am finding this very difficult to achieve and not end up dashing to the loo all day!!

Taz x

Wow really, I find it hard to incorporate five!!  I understand frozen veg can be counted though, I was surprised to hear baked beans are also - they are the work of the devil!

I do like fruit but cos I am busy I tend to buy the ready prepped stuff, who has time to peel and chop all that fruit!!

[Rowan]

Here is a complete chart of acidic and alkaline food.

You would think lemons are acidic but they are not. Most of the foods that you think are acidic are not.

http://rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

[Lucky Stone]

I haven't missed fruit although I sometimes look at peaches and think "mmmm" but I haven't eaten one for donkey's years. We went to Australia in 2003 - the fruit there is really ripe and fresh. Most of what you get in the supermarket over here is horrible.  So I just stick to veg and if frozen wasn't counted, well that would be none a day for me lots of the time.

[Limpy]

Honeybun <in a whisper> I know where you can buy cream eggs 

Where? I NEED to know   

Sorry for butting in Honeybun   

[CLKD]

   <whispers - in most village shops or supermarkets >    and you are welcome to mine 

[Limpy]

CLKD - Thank you