{"id":1886,"date":"2015-10-02T06:00:49","date_gmt":"2015-10-02T10:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/?p=1886"},"modified":"2015-09-28T18:00:43","modified_gmt":"2015-09-28T22:00:43","slug":"eating-right-during-menopause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thequeenofmyself\/2015\/10\/eating-right-during-menopause.html","title":{"rendered":"Eating Right During Menopause"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kathy R. Byrnes<\/em><\/p>\n

This is a time when women need to realize that their bodies are changing and that eating well and being physically active may make the midlife transition easier<\/strong><\/p>\n

My, how quickly the years go by! Menopause seemed like it was always so far off in my future … but here I am! I contacted one of our state Extension specialists, Dr. Ingrid Adams, to give me some information and tips to share about this stage of life.<\/p>\n

Menopause or \u201cchange of life\u201d is a normal part of life. It signals the end of a woman\u2019s reproductive ability. Many avoid talking about this topic because it is associated with things such as hot flashes, irritability or mood swings, sleepless nights, and the \u201cmid-life crisis\u201d as it is called by some. This is a time when women need to realize that their bodies are changing and that eating well and being physically active may make the midlife transition easier.<\/p>\n

As women age, hormone levels decrease and this can lead to a slower metabolism, a loss of lean muscle, and the accompanying weight gain, especially around the belly or abdominal area. As some individuals age they tend to be less active while eating the same or larger portions of food. This causes much of this weight gain.<\/p>\n

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics provides helpful suggestions for women during this critical period of change to avoid the \u201cmid-life crisis\u201d:<\/p>\n