All About Woman Health - Menopause

Nutrition and Menopause
By Jim Duffy

Recommended Reading
Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.
Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information
About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments.


Every year, 4,000 or more women enter menopause, spending about a 1/3 of their life time in that state. For some women, menopause is not that great of a concern, causing no major changes in their lifestyle and having no real effect on their mood or physical well being. For others, the symptoms and emotional upheaval can be all that they can handle. Some of the most common symptoms of menopause include:
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Bone loss
Increased risk of urinary tract infections
Painful intercourse
For most women, menopause may cause no symptoms at all while for as many as 20% it can be disabling. Some of the symptoms can be made worse by the emotional upheaval that the woman is also dealing with at the same time.
Soy proteins have phytoestrogens in them that can create a 45% reduction in hot flashes as well as reducing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Soy-based protein may also have a number of other benefits related to menopause. These include a decreased risk of certain cancers, reduced risk of diabetes, increased control over existing cases of diabetes and a reduction in kidney stones and/or gallstones. It also has benefits related to blood pressure and the overall lipid profile.
Miso, a fermented soybean paste, is eaten frequently by women in Japan, who may have several bowls of miso soup each day, in fact. It has been shown to be beneficial for treatment not only of menopause but to reduce the risk of breast cancer as well as helping to increase bone density in postmenopausal women.
In addition to eating better, doctors also encourage women to continue or begin exercise programs because this is sadly a time when many women start picking up a little bit of additional weight as their metabolism slows down. Activity can also make the symptoms of menopause seem less severe. Daily exercise also plays a role in better heart health, helps control of diabetes and can also prevent other health conditions. It may also help to make the woman feel more energetic and young,which has also been shown to improve sensation of menopausal symptoms.
Starting a walking program is a good start, but women should also be doing some weight bearing exercises as well.
Supplements
Many women, especially those who are concerned with gaining weight, may stop eating the right foods or eating enough, slowing their metabolism and causing the weight gain they were trying to avoid in the first place. The body needs to have the right fuel to work correctly and will do whatever it takes to make sure that it gets it. Having enough protein in the diet is important not only from the standpoint that it is vital to every cell and function in the body but also because it plays an important role in metabolism and hunger control. Starting the day with a protein and carbohydrate rich breakfast can give you the energy needed to get moving and to keep going throughout the whole day. If you are not allowing yourself to go too long without eating, you will not have problems with cravings and the need to rely on will power to avoid the candy machine or the fast food places.
Supplements are a great way to make sure that you are getting enough protein in the diet, and can come from one of four sources: whey, soy, rice and egg. All protein supplements have their pros and cons that should be carefully considered before they are added to the diet. In addition, it is important to know how much protein is required for your individual need dietary needs.
Soy and rice protein are acceptable for those who are following a vegan or vegetarian diet, while whey and egg are only acceptable to certain types of vegetarians. Because food allergies can be a problem, it is advisable to start these supplements with great caution and only after talking to a doctor first.
Protein and Menopause: A Case Study
After a year of hit or miss menstrual cycles, Shirley is sure that she has finally managed to make it through "The Change" as menopause is often called. While her sister had no symptoms at all, Shirley finds herself wringing wet with sweat when everyone else around her is perfectly cool and comfortable. She has been back and forth to her doctor for a urinary tract infection that just comes and goes all of the time and has been irritable and weepy with her friends and family. She is most upset by the fact that she has gained 20 pounds in this year-long period.
After talking to her doctor who confirms that it is indeed menopause, Shirley will start a new diet plan and will be exercising as well. In place of her fatty fried foods, she will eat fresh vegetables and greens and she will opt for whole grain breads and pastas, in smaller serving sizes than she had previously used.
In addition, her between meal snacks will now be servings of a liquid protein beverage, which will give her the protein she needs as well as keeping her fuller for longer. This way she keeps her metabolism working the way it should without overeating or starving herself. It also will help her have the energy that she needs to exercise during the day.
About Protica Research
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of protein-rich, capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect protein beverage, IsoMetric, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility.
You can learn more about Protica at http://www.protica.com
Copyright - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

Recommended Reading
Menopause A To Z -
The Definitive Guide. Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information
About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments.