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Diet Tips for Menopause

A healthy, well-balanced, nutritious diet with a variety of foods makes good sense for keeping generally healthy, and becomes even more important when the individual's health is compromised by a condition which can be caused or aggravated by deficiencies in some vital substance in the body. Menopause is one of these conditions. In addition, it is especially important that attention be given to foods which are necessary precursors of the deficient substances. In the case of menopause, foods which boost the production of progesterone and estrogen in the woman's body should be included in her diet.

Foods That Boost Progesterone Production

Avocado, olives, and raw nuts and seeds are all good sources of vegetable fats needed by the body to produce progesterone and improve the balance of progesterone to estrogen. Because they are not derived from animal sources, they will not contain an excess of estrogen. Estrogen is often given to animals to increase their size, and the estrogen is stored up in the animal's fat tissues. Eating animal fats will unbalance the hormones toward estrogen dominance, which will lead to symptoms of menopause and PMS. In addition to boosting progesterone levels, avocados contain 20 different vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients important to the body to maintain good health and protect from serious diseases. Olive oil is an important part of the Mediterranian diet, and could be responsible for lower heart disease rates in some European countries where it is used most heavily. Nuts provide healthy fats and amino acids that can help the body build its own proteins.

Salmon, Tuna, and Fish Oils

Fish are not usually injected with estrogen as land animals are. Their fat and oils are rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins that are beneficial to the hormonal balance of women undergoing menopause. Fish such as salmon and tuna and fish oils are foods which boost the production of progesterone. Fish oil lowers cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol to protect from heart disease and stroke. For the non-vegetarian who desires animal protein, fatty fish such as these provide a satisfying alternative to meats such as beef, pork and poultry loaded with animal estrogens.

Foods That Boost Estrogen Production

It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Foods which boost estrogen production by the menopausal woman's own body include soy, apples, alfalfa, and cherries. They also include the complex carbohydrates of rice, potatoes, wheat, and yams. Soy products and whole wheat bread, and other products made from these four starchy foods, make a good addition to the diet. These plant sources will boost estrogen production will not cause an unnatural rise in estrogen as would animal foods, but will boost the body's own production of estrogen.