Many women suffer from the symptoms of menopause. During menopause, for example, water retention, insomnia and hot flashes can occur. Read here which foods make the symptoms worse.

The definitive cessation of menstruation does not mean the end for a woman, but rather the beginning of a new chapter in her life – including new-found freedom.

If only there weren’t the negative side effects that affect those affected in their everyday lives.

The reason for this is that women’s estrogen levels drop between the ages of 45 and 55, which can lead to, among other things, sleep problems, hot flashes, mood swings and faster weight gain.

It is especially important to eat a balanced diet right now. We are not talking about a strict diet in the traditional sense, but rather a change in diet that will keep you healthy in the long term and can even alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

How can you do this? By eliminating the following five foods from your diet as much as possible.

The reason for this is that estrogen levels drop between the ages of 45 and 55, which can lead to, among other things, sleep disorders, hot flashes, mood swings and faster weight gain.

It is especially important to eat a balanced diet right now. We are not talking about a strict diet in the traditional sense, but rather a change in diet that will keep you healthy in the long term and can even alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

How can you do that? By eliminating these 5 things from your diet as much as possible.

While chips are delicious, they tend to be high in sodium, sugar, or both.

This can lead to unwanted water retention and/or bloating. If you feel like having a snack, you should instead choose a healthy alternative such as unsalted nuts, rice cakes, vegetable sticks dipped in hummus or crispbread with a little peanut butter on it.

Refined carbohydrates in the form of white rice, pasta and potatoes should also be avoided as they promote hot flashes. Better: always choose the whole grain version.

There’s no doubt about it: fiery foods spice up any menu. However, in addition to a runny nose, they also cause hot flashes.

Anyone who is already prone to this due to the menopause should stay away from peperoncini, jalapenos or cayenne pepper.

Alternatively, you can use cumin, curry, turmeric or basil to season bland dishes. These spices provide flavour without being spicy.

We don’t always have the opportunity to cook ourselves. Sometimes we simply have a craving for soul food.

However, fries and burgers are known for their high fat content, which can lead to heart disease if consumed in large quantities.

Women are already at increased risk during menopause – or may end up putting on extra pounds. Because our energy consumption is already greatly reduced due to lower estrogen levels.

According to researchers, more than one glass of wine a day can not only increase the risk of breast cancer, but also make us more susceptible to hot flashes during menopause.

In addition, alcohol disrupts sleep and can promote or even worsen depression.

Now it’s time to stay strong: drinks containing caffeine can also intensify the symptoms of menopause.

Coffee is said to cause night sweats and hot flashes in particular. That is why researchers advise against it and recommend peppermint or camomile tea instead. If you still can’t do otherwise, you should drink coffee (in small doses) in the morning.

The original of this article “Five foods women should not eat during menopause” comes from Schweizer Illustrierte.