We've all read these stories in the media about the effects of drinking or eating certain things only once a day, 5.2 portions a day or cutting them out completely as that will or won't have a positive effect on heart disease, mental health, chances of getting cancer and so on. Really and truly, apart from some broad generalisations like eating pasties and ice cream is not a great idea on a regular basis, then our own health is very individual: what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. Eventually there will come a time when there will be tests on our DNA and blood which will give us all a personalised plan of how to look after ourselves nutritionally, mentally and physically.
Until that time comes, it can be quite stressful with POF to work out what I should or shouldn't be eating. Hot flushes do punish me if I drink alcohol or caffeine, I have one coffee a day now and virtually no alcohol. But the rest is arguable depending on how much oestrogen I need to replace, whether I'm following Western and/or Chinese nutrition guidelines (Zita West's book shows how to combine both), treating specific menopausal symptoms, and the other lifestyle changes I'm making. What's good for one thing is not necessarily good for another. Soya products, which I previously regularly ate and drank when I wasn't eating meat for 10 years, are or aren't effective as they contain phyto-oestrogens, can reduce cholesterol, ward off osteoporosis and some cancers. The jury is still out now though as they also increase the risks of other cancers, don't always stave off menopausal symptoms and may not be the wonder food they were first made out to be after all. And that's not the only food where there's a conflict.
After driving myself crazy obsessing over what is and isn't good for me, I've decided to cut out the processed stodge and too many sweet things, and just ensure that whatever food I eat is varied and good quality, and I aim to eat at regular intervals during the day. So meat is organic and bought from a farm shop or local butcher, fish is wild and not farmed (my other half needs to do more sea fishing from his boat which he loves!), I drink lots of water during the day now and I try to eat breakfast every morning (ok I had my porridge at 11.55am today!).
Probably the most important thing though is not to stress about what I'm eating as that negates why I'm changing my food choices in the first place! Zita West promotes combining Western and Eastern medicine and nutrition but not going on a "diet" per se or worrying about eating cakes and drinking wine if it happens occasionally - now where's that lovely hot chocolate?
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