New to perimenopause...

[medicmommy]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone here knows a special diet to help the maddening effects of perimenopause. I'm trying to avoid hormone replacement therapy and I have every symptom listed...My body was thrown into it after I finished chemotherapy for my liver...All of the things the chemo affected are now back to normal except this, and the p-meno is getting worse! I hate myself because I can seem to keep from barking and snarling at anyone and everything, and I'm gaining weight rapidly (15 lbs in the last 2 months!). I've been to the Dr who ordered some general blood tests -all normal, and she said if they were, then I'm starting "the change"...I'm 44 yrs old and normally an average weight, pleasant demeanor, and a very patient person. This is turning me into the "Dragon lady"...Help! ~MM

[LivingInHope]

The dark chocolate is a good source of magnesium.  I take flaxseed oil capsules 1000 mg twice a day.  I don't take it with the evening meal, however, or it gives me dreams.  I know yams are something my mom used to fix us for pms/period symptoms.  Pumpkin seeds I was told is a good source of those omega 3 fatty acids, which is good for inflammation and mood.

[medicmommy]

Thank you SO MUCH for your reply! I'm already using the vanilla soy milk, and living in the Pacific NW I eat a steady diet of fish including salmon, tuna, and halibut. It's funny you mention it, but I have constant cravings for pumpkin seeds, yams, and dark chocolate...The folic acid perhaps? The weight gain is making me panic a bit -I weigh more now than when I did when I was pregnant with my daughter!!! I've tried dieting and exercise, but even these seem to be failing...AAAUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!! I know I'm not giving my body something it needs, -I really hope your advice will help! thank you again...MM

[LivingInHope]

I missed perimenopause, I guess, because I had a hysterectomy at age 34 for severe endometriosis.  You might try drinking vanilla soymilk, maybe put it in your cereal, as I did.  It has natural estrogen like effects.  You might try natural sources of omega fatty acids for mood, like freshwater fish, such as salmon and tuna, walnuts and macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, and flaxseed.  You might try flaxseed or if you aren't troubled by the fishy aftertaste, enteric coated fish oil capsules.  Sam-E by naturemade is a helpful mood booster.  Those hormonal changes can make it easy to put on the pounds.  You might have to eat less or more healthy food choices that are less caloric and increase your exercise regime to fight the battle of the bulge.  I wish you well in your endeavor to try to be in the best health you can get in.