Don’t let this stage of life wreak havoc with your body shape
As if symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings aren’t bad enough, the menopause can also make it much harder to manage your weight. In fact, the average woman gains around 4.5lb during perimenopause and continues to put on about 1.5lb each year thereafter.* The good news? There are plenty of ways to reverse it. Here’s what can help.
Support your liver
‘During this time, there are a lot of excess hormones for your liver to detox,’ says menopause expert Claire Snowdon-Darling. ‘So it’s quite common for the liver to become sluggish.’ To keep yours healthy, be sure to get enough:
1 Leafy green vegetables
These help to remove toxins from the bloodstream.
2 Fibre-rich foods
Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are essential.
3 Milk thistle
A supplement contains the active ingredient silymarin, an antioxidant that has a liver-cleansing effect. Try Milk Thistle (£16.99 for 50 capsules, hollandandbarrett.com). 4 Antiinflammatory foods
Oily fish, walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids that help lower inflammation.
5 DRINK UP
Still, plain water improves the body’s ability to flush toxins out through the urinary tract.
6 DON’T GO IT ALONE
As with any healthy regime, you’re more likely to succeed if you try to lose weight with family or friends, or sign up to a slimming club.
7 WATCH YOUR SERVINGS
‘Been eating the same size and types of meals for 20 years? Cut down your portion sizes,’ advises nutritionist Rob Hobson.
8 LOVE KELP
‘Kelp is rich in iodine, which is important for normal production of thyroid hormones,’ says nutritional therapist Alison Cullen. ‘This, in turn, encourages your body to burn up the food you eat, giving you more energy.’ Try A. Vogel Kelp Tablets (£7.99 for 240, avogel.co.uk).
9 EAT MINDFULLY
Slow down the pace by putting cutlery down between bites, and don’t eat while doing other activities, such as watching TV or working.
10 CHECK YOUR IRON LEVELS
Both haemoglobin and ferritin are important for showing iron status, especially if you’ve had heavy periods in perimenopause. Low iron can lead to a lack of energy, which in turn means you’re less likely to exercise.
11 STOP SMOKING
It can intensify poor sleep, so you’re more likely to grab unhealthy choices the following day.
12 KICK-START YOUR MORNING
Drink a mug of warm water a
