We all know at some level that there’s a strong connection between what we eat & how we feel. When you eat good, you feel good. When you don’t, you don’t.
Good nutrition leads to better weight, a strong immune system, resistance to the most common diseases & more energy.
Ultimately, we all want to eat healthy so we can feel our best. It’s just a matter of figuring out HOW to do that – with any level of consistency or ease (or enjoyment).
That’s one of the things I love helping women do…
Reach a place of ease, joy & confidence in the way they fuel themselves. Without guilt. Without deprivation. Without rigidity. So they can have the energy they need to live their lives fully.
During the menopause transition, nutrition is particularly important because the foods we eat can help our bodies manage our fluctuating hormones at this stage.
There is a lot going on as we transition from our normal cycle – something that has been happening for decades at this point – to an entirely different level of hormones. It doesn’t happen magically overnight & it places a lot of demands on our bodies in the process.
One of the best ways we can support ourselves through this stage is by giving our bodies consistent, quality fuel.
Sadly, that’s not really what happens for most of us. We might be skipping meals, having trouble sleeping, restricting calories or certain foods – all behaviors that are very problematic at this stage.
In an ideal world, we would have permission to optimize our own health so we can make a smooth transition into menopause.
Instead, most of my clients come into this stage of life very depleted – both nutritionally & emotionally. They are burning the candle at both ends – maybe they have kids in school & parents who need their support. Maybe it’s career demands. Lots of reasons, but this is a stage of life where you need to really prioritize & support your health.
When you come into perimenopause already depleted, it can really knock the wind out of you.
I think that’s why we are seeing so many more symptoms these days. Women are pretty wiped out in their 40s with all of the demands of modern life – not to mention added issues like environmental exposures that are adding to our body burden.
On top of already being depleted, women start to experience unwanted weight gain that they can’t seem to lose. So, instead of focusing on feeding themselves well, they are very focused on restricting certain foods or eating less calories.
We go back to our ‘diet mentality’ – whether that’s restricting carbs or cutting back on sugar.
The problem with this is that a lot of women are actually undereating which leaves us with nutritional deficiencies that work against us.
Most women are not eating enough protein, fiber, healthy fats or vitamins & minerals. What we don’t realize is that these nutritional deficiencies lead to fatigue, mood changes, weight gain & more. They also lead to cravings that ultimately undermine our efforts. And, during menopause, these deficiencies add fuel to the fire of our fluctuating hormones & resulting symptoms.
Learning how to eat in a way that supports your hormonal health, your sleep, your stress & your ideal body composition is something most of us never learned & it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself – especially during menopause.
We grew up in a culture of yo-yo dieting that makes us see food as ‘good’ & ‘bad’, rather than really understanding what good nutrition is & how to eat in a way that supports your health & makes you feel your best.
When you start to make the connection between the symptoms you have & the foods you eat, you start to realize the magic of nutrition.
For example::
- Healthy fats help with hot flashes
- Whole grains help with heart health & diabetes prevention
- Pythoestrogens help with vasomotor symptoms, brain fog & preventing heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer
- Added sugars, refined carbs, alcohol, caffeine & high salt are all problematic during menopause & trigger lots of the most common symptoms of menopause
Our symptoms are actually clues that show us exactly what our bodies need.
When I work with clients, that’s where we start. We look closely at your symptoms & start to make some simple & specific adjustments to address those deficiencies – whether it’s specific nutritional deficiencies or other issues like stress, sleep & environment.
As you start to learn the connection between certain food & lifestyle choices, it gives you control again. Your symptoms subside & you can get back to living your life, feeling better than you have in a long time.
They say ‘food is medicine’. It truly is. It can help fuel your body, protect against diseases & even help support & improve other areas of your life.
If you’d like to more about my health coaching programs, use the link below to schedule a free consultation where we can chat more specifically about your needs. I’d love to help you get your nutrition dialed-in to support you through this stage & set you up for your best health on the other side of menopause.
