Menopause is a difficult time for many women. It is a time when the menses stop and are replaced by hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes. Besides hormone replacement therapy, there are few medical options for the management of this time in a woman’s life. This leaves us with natural remedies to combat the symptoms until the menopausal symptoms stop.
While there are no scientific research studies out there that prove that juicing is beneficial for women undergoing menopause, there are plenty of anecdotal reports showing that drinking vegetables and fruit juices can help a woman suffering from menopausal symptoms. For one, juicing can easily result in a loss of weight. Menopause is, unfortunately, a time when many women gain weight, which can lead them to an increased risk of diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke. By juicing, weight gain can be prevented, and perhaps some weight can be lost so that these diseases can be prevented.
Just about any kind of juice will result in weight loss but vegetable juices are believed to be the best. Vegetable juices are low in sugar and calories and can be sweetened slightly by adding carrots to the mixture or by adding a small amount of apple to the juice. This makes the juice more palatable so that it can be taken in by the woman several times per day, resulting in weight loss and a reduction in risk factors for the above diseases.
Juices, especially carrot juices, have been found to be preventative against breast cancer, which reaches its peak right around menopause. Research has shown that the daily intake of carrots can reduce the risk of breast cancer. In one study alone, it was found that women who consumed raw carrots daily had a 5 to 8 times decreased risk of getting breast cancer when compared to women who did not consume any carrots.
The reasons for this are unclear but it is believed that the beta-carotene in carrots is what prevents breast cancer. Other types of cancer, including lung cancer and colon cancer, are prevented by eating carrots. Many women in menopause suffer from a slowing of their metabolism leading to chronic constipation. When juices are made with a blender rather than with a juicer, the insoluble fiber remains in the juice and this allows for an increase in the bulk of the stool. Peristalsis is increased and the woman will have a reduction in the symptoms of constipation.
The juices that work best for this are the vegetable juices that are naturally high in fiber when blended. Juices made from berries also have a high amount of insoluble fiber in it and will also be preventative against constipation in menopause if they are blended so as to retain the insoluble fiber in the juice.
- Misty Cassady
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