During menopause women tend to gain weight. While this isn't great it’s pretty common and there are many reasons why.
Two main reasons why women gain weight during menopause are…
Reduced muscle mass
Muscle mass uses energy (burns calories) so when we have less of it the body burns less energy overall, leading to weight gain. Unfortunately, this weight gain may appear as increased belly fat.
increase in the hunger hormone ghrelin
During menopause there is an increase in the hunger hormone “ghrelin”. With an increase in this hormone comes the tendency is to feel hungrier.
Menopause also decreased the “satiety” hormone “leptin” that helps us feel full after eating which can lead to overeating.
More ghrelin and less leptin = increased hunger and a decreased feeling of fullness… that’s a problem!
What does all of this have to do with breakfast?
Eating the right type of breakfast has been shown to help maintain muscle mass, balance levels of leptin and ghrelin, aid weight loss and maintaining that lower weight.
What are the best foods to eat for breakfast in menopause?
Foods that help to increase metabolic rate, fill you up, and keep you feeling fuller longer.
1. Protein
Make sure to get protein in the mornings. Eating protein is critical for women in menopause.
Protein helps to slightly increase metabolism and give your muscles the amino acids they need to stay strong.
Protein also helps keep you feeling fuller longer which is great to try to offset that hunger hormone known as “ghrelin”.
Protein also helps to reduce bone density loss that can happen very fast during this time.
Which foods are high in protein?
- Meat and poultry
- Fish and shellfish
- Eggs
- Beans and lentils
- Nuts and seeds (contain more fat than protein but still a great source of amino acids)
Read on and check out the great breakfast recipes we have for you below – that you could even try tomorrow morning.
2. Fibre
Fibre is very important to help stabilise your blood sugars to reduce cravings.
The reason this is particularly important in menopause is because the risk of diabetes and heart disease increases after menopause due to an accumulation of visceral fat in the abdomen. (Yes, I'm talking about the infamous “belly fat”!).
Also, did you know that certain fibres you eat actually feed your friendly gut microbes?
The ones that help you digest food and even make certain nutrients for you?
Which foods are high in fibre?
Here are just a few of the items you could add to your diet to increase fibre intake.
- Vegetables (squash, peas, sweet potato, artichokes, collard greens, pumpkin, parsnips, brussels sprouts etc.)
- Fruit (pears, avocados, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries etc.)
- Nuts (almonds, pistachios, macadamia, hazelnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, walnuts, dried coconut etc.)
- Seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, chia, flax etc.)
- Gluten-free grains (oat, quinoa, wild rice etc.)
- Beans and lentils
Bonus points if you get at least some of you daily fibre from flaxseed.
Flaxseed not only contains fibre but it is also a source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed has even been shown to help reduce both hot flashes and the risk of breast cancer.
You can download our Protein (and Fibre!) Pack Breakfast Recipes here:
