Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (55 page)

As the debate rages in the media about the rights and wrongs of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), I try my best to convince people that the easiest way to ensure a smooth transition is through healthy living. At the risk of sounding like a broken record (again!), eating healthily is absolutely essential during menopause. It enables your body to adjust to the hormone changes, naturally maintaining estrogen from the adrenal glands and fat deposits.

Here are my basic hormone-balancing recommendations

Foods to include:

Whole grains for fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc content.

Pulses for their phytoestrogenic effects, fiber, and nutrients.

Tempeh, miso, plain soy yogurt, and tamari for phytoestrogens, protein, calcium, and magnesium.

Linseeds (flax seeds) for their lignans, fiber, zinc, and essential fats.

Pumpkin seeds for zinc, magnesium, and essential fats.

Oily fish for their omega-3 fats and protein.

Raw shelled hemp seeds for a balance of omega-3 and -6 and -9 fats that can help with female hormone balance.

Sea vegetables for their high mineral content.

Green vegetables for calcium and magnesium content.

Wheat germ, mung beans and their sprouts, spirulina, millet, black beans, kidney beans, and black sesame seeds can all build energy, which can be low at this time.

Royal jelly can help to increase hormonal activity and release energy and a sense of well-being.

Liberally eat oats, flax, barley, beets, cabbage, adzuki beans, olive oil, split peas, yams, fennel, and sesame seeds.

Foods and drinks to avoid

Coffee and chocolate contain caffeine as well as methylxanthines that can affect female hormone balance. Avoid regular tea and coffee and alcohol, which overwork your adrenal glands, contributing to blood-sugar problems and estrogen deficiency and increasing the risk of osteoporosis.