Diet Information |
|
Graceful Menopause With The Help Of AyurvedaDr. Sushama Patwardhan Menopause is a unique experience for every woman. It is the ending of a womans monthly menstrual periods and ovulation. It also signals other changes to the body and mind, brought on in part because the body begins producing lesser amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone among others. Menopause is not a disease. It is a natural process in a womans life. How a woman views this time of her life can have a lot to do with how frequent and severe her symptoms are. If menopause is viewed as the end of youth and sexuality, this time will be much more difficult than if it is viewed as the next, natural phase of life, a time of greater freedom, liberation from the restrictions of youth. . Although menopause is one of the important physical milestones in a womans life, many women lack concrete information about what is taking place and what are their options. With a proper diet, nutritional supplements, and exercise and simple lifestyle changes, most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause can be minimized to a great extent and with this knowledge and preparation you can step forward with grace and embrace it! Ayurveda links menopause with aging. Aging is a ‘Vata’ predominant stage of life. Thus, the symptoms of menopause experienced by some women are similar to the symptoms seen when the Vata dosha rises and upsets the normal balance of the body. Vata-type menopausal symptoms tend to include depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Menopause may also manifest itself as a rise in the other two humors also. Women with Pitta-type symptoms are often angry and suffer hot flashes. Kapha type symptoms include listlessness, weight gain, and feelings of mental and physical heaviness. The type of treatment depends upon the dosha in which the womans menopausal symptoms are manifesting. Here it is important to note that health problems at menopause represent imbalances in the body that were already growing in the body and are unmasked by the stress of shifting hormones. Menopause symptoms are Natures wake-up call to let you know you need to start paying more attention to your health. Taking proper steps in the direction of balancing the imbalance doshas, paying attention to your diet and making lifestyle changes now is critical to ensuring that you age gracefully without the burden of chronic health problems. Vata-type menopause Symptoms – Nervousness, anxiety, panic, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of skin tone, feeling cold, irregular periods, insomnia, mild or variable hot flashes, constipation, palpitations, bloating and joints aches and pains. Treatment: Diet - Increase warm food and drinks, regular meals, and use spices such as fennel and cumin. Decrease caffeine and other stimulants, refined sugar, cold drinks, salads. Lifestyle - Early bedtime, oil massage using almond and olive oil, meditation, yoga, Regular exercise like walking Anti-Vata herbs include ashwagandha, arjuna, astragalus, cardamom, comfrey root, garlic, ginseng, guggul, hawthorn berries, licorice, myrrh, rehmannia, sandalwood and zizphus. Pitta-type menopause Symptoms - Prone to Hot Temper, anger, irritability, feeling hot, hot flashes, night sweats, heavy periods, excessive bleeding, urinary tract infections, skin rashes and acne. Treatment: Diet - Increase cooling foods, water intake, sweet juicy fruits grapes, pears, plums, mango, melons, apples, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumber, organic foods. Use spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and fennel. Avoid hot spicy foods, hot drinks and alcohol. no eating late at night. Lifestyle - Go to bed before 10 PM , oil massage using coconut and sesame oil. Use Meditation and other techniques to reduce anger, hatred and resentment. Exercise and exposure to the sun are limited. Anti Pitta herbs to be used include aloe vera, arjuna, barberry, golden seal, gotu kola, saffron, sandalwood and shatavari. Kapha-type menopause Symptoms - Weight Gain , sluggishness, lethargy, fluid retention, yeast infections, lazy, depressed, lacking motivation, slow digestion. Treatment: Diet – Prefer light, dry and warm food, Consume fruits, whole grains, legumes, vegetables. Use spices such as black pepper, turmeric and ginger. Avoid meat, cheese, sugar, cold foods and drinks. Weekly fasting is helpful. Most or all of the daily food should be consumed before 6 p.m. Lifestyle - Get up early by 6AM. Mustard oil and linseed oil are often recommended for massage. Anti Kapha Herbs include bayberry, cayenne, cinnamon, guggul, motherwort ,mustard and myrrh. Key factors in achieving graceful menopause – A smooth menopause transition and great health in the years to come can be achieved with the help of - Balancing Doshas - Ascertain the imbalance dosha according to your symptoms and follow the advice given above to balance that dosha. Balancing Diet - Diet plays a key role in balancing hormones during and after menopause. It is well known that Japanese women rarely experience hot flashes, probably because their diet contains large amounts of soy/soya, a food rich in certain plant estrogens called "isoflavones." Soya products are not the only source of plant estrogens, however. Another equally healthful source of phytoestrogens are "lignans," compounds found in a variety of whole foods including grains and cereals, dried beans and lentils, flaxseed, sunflower seeds and peanuts, vegetables such as asparagus, sweet potatoes, carrots, garlic and broccoli and fruits such as pears, plums and strawberries. Common herbs and spices such as thyme oregano, nutmeg, turmeric and licorice also have estrogenic properties. Eat a varied diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dried beans .It’s a rich source of phytoestrogen. Variety and moderation are important because just as too much estrogen is unhealthy after menopause, too much phytoestrogen may also be dangerous. Apana Vata, which governs the genito-urinary tract, elimination, and menstruation, is a key area to attend to when preparing for menopause. Drink plenty of warm water throughout the day. Eat plenty of cooked, leafy greens, as this helps elimination and is also a good source of calcium. For both Pitta and Vata imbalances, a breakfast of cooked apples and prunes and figs is a good way to start the day, as it balances the doshas and cleanses the digestive track. Panchakarma - More serious symptoms, such as frequent hot flashes, continual sleep disturbance, and moderate to severe mood swings, are signs of deeper imbalances. Ayurveda describes that these stubborn symptoms are usually due to the buildup of wastes and toxins, referred to as "ama," in the bodys tissues. In this case, a traditional Ayurvedic detoxification program "panchakarma," may be needed to clear the bodys channels and gain relief. This internal cleansing approach is also the treatment of choice for more serious problems such as osteoporosis and high cholesterol.
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Natural Self-Defense Against Breast Cancer Natural Self Defense Against Breast Cancer - Learning to Cope with Organochlorine Pollution Can We Really Get Rid of Cellulite It has been the bane of every womens existence since the dawn of time - the affliction known as cellulite. We all have it to varying degrees, and it seems to get worse as we get older in many cases. So, should we just resign ourselves to the fact that it is here to stay, or is there a way to fight and get rid of cellulite Magnetic Therapy, How And Why Magnets Effect The Body Have you ever read or have been told that "it is not known why magnets work" Well, this is untrue. All human and animal bodies are electromagnetic in nature and this fact is closely allied to the chemical balance of the body which can be in either a healthy or an unhealthy state. "Dieting" Toture By Another Name, It Doesnt Need To Be That Way I have tried many “diets” here in the USA and in England and to me they all felt like self inflicted torture. They were boring, tasteless, and restrictive. Like many of you I work hard, I don’t ask for much in the way of pleasures when I get home at night. The one thing that does give me enormous pleasure is eating, I love food and yes, I like the odd drink too. Gearing Up for Flu Season Well, flu season is coming upon us quickly, and most people would love to skip getting sick this year. The biggest question is…How Here are the easiest ways to keep yourself and loved ones free of the nastiest of colds this and every year. Get Up~Get Out~ Get Going Get Up~Get Out~ Get Going … when it is best for you. What You Should Know About Mixing Medications and Diet "...Medicine is dominated by a conservative inertia in which, for what they conceive of as medical-legal safety, 95% of the entire pack moves forward slowly, and together, to incorporate advances in science...." The Doctors Medical Library 2004 Ron Kennedy, M.D., Santa Rosa, California. Skin Care Tips For Your Type Of Skin With all the skin care tips and information today, you might think its very confusing! All you want is what is best for your skin. It may be overwhelming for you to try to keep up with the constantly evolving technology. New Health Miracle -- Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil “High-dose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is as close to a medical miracle as we will see in the 21st century.” – Dr. Barry Sears Food Selection for Gastric Bypass Patients Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively “stuck” with their excess fat may be surprised to learn there is a scientifically-accurate truth to their statement. Fat cells -- which are created when the body is unable to convert excess calories to energy -- are permanent. Fat cells cannot be removed by any diet known to humanity [1]. They can, however, be reduced in size. This is the experience enjoyed by people who lose weight [i]. The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 1 At any time in history, no matter what the current state of the economy, no matter what the current trends, no matter what the unemployment rate is or where interest rates lurk, some money-saving ideas stay true. Do You Make These South Beach Diet Mistakes The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low fat, low carb approach helps you lose weight quickly and easily. Health benefits are great too. Open, Full and Imperfect: What You Must Know About Your Heart Last Friday was National Wear Red Day, an intentional opportunity to wear a red dress as a symbol of awareness of the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. The Myths and Facts of Vitamin D and Sun Exposure Unverified reports claiming that unprotected, intentional sun exposure is necessary for Vitamin D formation are getting quite a bit of media coverage lately. No One Ever Got Fat Eating Broccoli! Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some questionable and some are just plain crazy. At the risk of joining the ever growing list of diet tips here is probably the most important diet key both to weight loss and and excellent health. A Diet Deficiency Today is a Clinical Event Tomorrow For those of us that understand nutrition and its importance in our lives, this statement makes all too much sense doesnt it. Using Blood Pressure Monitors To Maintain Your Health Many people today realize the importance of keeping their blood pressure under control. Blood pressure monitors are now available for home use. It’s a piece of medical equipment that can provide both you and your health care provider with an accurate measure of how your blood pressure is responding to diet, exercise and medication. Many medical supplies outlets offer blood pressure monitors that are simple and easy to use. Gene’s Diet Plan Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle a plan to help people lose weight, there’s no reason I can’t jump on the bandwagon too! So, here’s my plan. All you need to do is send me a certified check for $495.94 and I’ll let you in on my “Secrets to Successful Weight Control”. How’s that sound Help! My Kids are Overweight! Identify the Problem and Find a Solution to your Child’s Weight Gain. Lose Weight With Soy! The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse has stayed under wraps for too long. Apart from being the only vegetable protein with all 22 amino acids essential for our health and well being, the humble soybean has many other virtues...including an excellent foundation for fast, safe weight loss program. |
home | site map |
© 2005 |