Menopause is a condition that occurs in a woman’s life around the age of 45 to 50. It is the period when the ovulation stops and so the menstruation cycle also stops. Menopause can cause serious fluctuations in the hormone levels and consequently lots of emotional and physical disturbances. The effects of menopause can reflect on the skin, hair, nails etc making the woman look older. This can add to the stress and trauma of the symptoms. The symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations, insomnia, joint pains, headaches, vaginal dryness etc. Added to this, are the emotional symptoms that are worse than the physical ones; irritability, depression, personality changes, suicidal ideations etc.

Eating foods that increase the estrogen levels can be helpful during menopause. Alfalfa, soy beans, soy sprouts, crushed flaxseeds, garlic, green beans, sesame seeds, wheat, yams, pumpkin seeds, cucumbers, corn, apples, anise seeds, cabbage, beetroots, olive oil, olives, papaya, oats, peas, sunflower seeds are all plants that contain estrogen and can also promote overall health. Including more of these foods in the diet can help ease out the symptoms of menopause. Celery, parsley and nuts can also be included in the diet to relieve the symptoms of menopause.

Evening primrose oil can also be beneficial during menopause. St.John’s wort can help with the depression that is associated with menopause. Black cohosh is used to treat the hot flushes and night sweats that result due to this condition. Read the rest of this entry »