Best Holiday Recipes for Menopausal Women

The holidays are a joyous time of the year, but they can also be stressful. If you are experiencing menopause, this stress can exacerbate your symptoms. However, in addition to over the counter menopause relief, you can choose a menu that actually reduces or prevents these symptoms.

Learn Symptom Triggers

The first step in creating a menopause-friendly holiday meal is learning what triggers your symptoms. While some can occur based on internal hormone changes, others have external causes. For example, the temperature of the environment, stress levels, clothing friction and foods can all cause menopausal reactions to present. When you get hot flashes or other symptoms, pay attention to what is happening around you, what you ate and what you are doing.

Start With Fresh and Roasted Vegetables

You have probably heard about the impact that plant based menopause supplements can have on your health. However, you should also eat fresh and roasted fruits and vegetables. These plants have loads of fiber, which helps your gut health and regulates many systems in your body. When your gut ecosystem is healthy, your heart health and metabolism increase.

You can add olive oil and spices to your vegetables. These ingredients also promote good health and balanced hormones.

Cook That Turkey

Turkey is a staple during the holiday season. It is a delicious source of protein, which helps you maintain your muscle mass as you go through menopause. This protein also increases your energy and protects your brain health. You can’t forget about tryptophan, which encourages that afternoon nap through its ability to increase serotonin and GABA.

Turkey helps you relax, reduces your stress levels, and improves your menopause symptoms.

Add Nuts

Nuts are also high in vitamins, minerals and proteins. They impact your immune system because they are loaded with antioxidants. They can reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, often lowering LDL cholesterol. They even reduce inflammation while fighting free radicals and oxidative stress.

Don’t Forget the Fruit

Although it has natural sugars, fruit is also loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. It has antioxidants as well. Therefore, recipes that have winter fruits, including pears, oranges and cranberries, can actually benefit your menopausal and overall health.

Fruit with antioxidants also boosts your immune system and lowers your heart disease risk. They are also great for your brain. Fiber also slows digestion and helps your body absorb vital nutrients. Potassium-rich fruit and those with vitamin B can impact your blood pressure and circulation. Therefore, load up on those holiday fruits.

Avoid Excess Sugar and Starch

Foods that are high in starch and sugar can actually make your symptoms worse. For example, potatoes actually increase your blood sugar levels. Actually, these and your insulin levels increase and drop rapidly when you eat high-starch foods. This can cause intense mood swings.

Sugars also impact your blood sugar levels, and they can increase the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. They also impact your ability to manage your weight and increase your risk of hot flashes and mood swings.You have probably wondered “Does menopause cause weight gain?” Although some of your body’s systems change, choosing the right foods, especially during the holidays, can significantly impact your overall health.