Did you know that women who try to make their lifestyle as healthy as they can, appear not to have as many menopausal symptoms? – I read this the other day and it was like of course! You know, I know it.
The healthier we eat the healthier we are – full stop.
I know this myself, when I eat well everything runs smoothly from a good nights sleep, to less knee joint pain – yep that is where it shows up if I’ve eaten something that doesn’t suit me – ie any seed oils like Canola, Sunflower. I stop snoring ( & my husband likes me much better), I think clearer and really importantly I have lots of energy!
The closer we eat to nature, the healthier it is. Processed foods, particularly highly processed foods are not and these are the ones to avoid – think soft drinks, cake mixes, frozen meals, margarines, boxed cereals (think cornflakes), ice cream, sweet biscuits & cookies – actually think most things boxed or bagged.
Focusing your nutritional intake on whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes, with healthy protein choices it will set you up for longevity and it decreases the risk of chronic diseases associated with ageing – this is what I want for you.
This was just a quick snippet today but being Menopause Awareness Month, I wanted to raise because as we age we need to be more mindful of what we consume. It takes thought to be honest, it’s not about grabbing something for convenience, making a nutritious meal takes a bit of thought, shopping and preparing. But it doesn’t have to be onerous.
So here is one of my favourite recipes – 10min max to make, easy ingredients to buy. I serve this up to my family and friends and always get a great response plus broccoli is a fabulous vegetable as we go through menopause. Research has found that broccoli, in particular, has a positive impact on estrogen levels. Ohh and add a favourite protein on the side – my fav is a nice fillet of salmon baked with lemon, salt and pepper – yum!
Broccolini Salad
Ingredients: 2 bunches of Broccolini, Shaved Almonds, Sesame Seeds, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) English Mustard, Lemon Juice, Salt & Pepper.
Instructions: Steam Broccolini for 5minutes. Meanwhile add almonds & sesame seeds to dry fry pan and brown (keep watch they will burn, keep flicking them around the pan). Make dressing with 4 tablespoons EVOO, 1 heaped tablespoon of English Mustard, juice of one lemon, salt and pepper – whisk this together in a bowl. Once broccolini steamed lay on plate, top with almonds and sesame seeds, drizzle with dressing.
