Doctor’s ‘best diet’ for menopause

The hormonal changes experienced by women as they transition through menopause impact their bodies in many ways, with many seeing excessive weight gain around their mid-sections. While there isn’t a one-diet-fits-all approach when it comes to losing weight, Dr Clare Spencer from My Menopause Centre, told Express.co.uk what she recommends her patients eat when going through the mid-life change, claiming “the best diet is a diet that suits your lifestyle”.She explained: “We know that women are more prone to insulin resistance as they lose the hormone oestrogen. Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to use sugar for energy.”If your body is resistant to insulin, it is more likely to store the extra sugar as fat.”This means that any extra carbohydrate, or sugars, are more likely to be stored as fat, particularly round the middle – that ‘middle-aged spread.'”And while there are many diets out there targeted at menopausal women, promising them they will lose weight, she admitted: “I’ve not seen any evidence of one best diet that’s suitable for all women as they transition through menopause.READ MORE: Diet: Expert warns against common mistake Doctor’s ‘key method’ that helps patients lose menopause weight (Image: GETTY)”Rather than ‘going on a diet’ I encourage people to think about ‘changing their diet’, making sustainable healthy changes which will help not just with weight management but will also provide longer-term health benefits.”Really looking at what you eat can also be helpful in managing some of the symptoms of menopause.”A balanced diet is a combination of protein, fat and carbohydrates and Dr Spencer explained that she recommends that people increase the amount of protein they eat, reduce the number of carbohydrates they consume, and opt for “slow-release” carbs such as vegetables, fruit, pulses and whole foods like porridge.”The type of carbohydrates we eat are important,” she explained. “It is better to eat more slow-release carbs with a low glycemic index, meaning that the food is broken down more gradually with a lower release of sugars into the bloodstream.”DON’T MISSDiet: 5 myths of Military Diet that could have adverse effects [LATEST]Dr Michael Mosley shares 3 alternatives to help cut down on carbs [ADVICE]Fitness: Best way to warm-up for strength training [HEALTH NEWS] The best diet is one that fits in with your lifestyle (Image: GETTY)”They are more likely to be successful when combined with changes to diet. Any form of exercise that builds muscle and burns fat will help with all-over fat loss and muscle gain, including that from around the middle.”The medical professional added that the “key factor” to losing menopausal weight is by finding a method that works and sticking to it.”The best diet is a diet that suits your lifestyle and women I speak to lose weight through a number of different ways – whether it’s joining a slimming club or group for additional support, intermittent fasting or changing their balance of carbohydrates and proteins themselves or with the support of a nutritionist or dietician,” she said.”The key factor is sticking with it, being patient and accepting that losing small amounts of weight over longer periods of time but small sustainable changes is likely to be more successful in the long run.”