Menopause is defined as the state of an absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The menopausal transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the final menstrual period. Peri-menopause is a term sometimes used and means “the time around menopause.” It is often used to refer to the menopausal transitional period. It is not officially a medical term, but is sometimes used to explain certain aspects of the menopause transition in lay terms.Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the function of the ovaries ceases and she can no longer become pregnant. The ovary (female gonad), is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones such as estrogen. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a Fallopian tube to the uterus.
The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair.
Women in their menopause should avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugar, so also spicy food, hot soups and drinks. They should also ensure that they are not stressed out with tasks.
Furthermore, there is need for them to stop taking salty food and get used to salt substitute. This is because salt increases urinary excretion of calcium, which might lead to bone loss in the long run. Salt substitutes are low-sodium table salt alternatives marketed to circumvent the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease associated with a high intake of sodium chloride while maintaining a similar taste. The salt substitutes are currants and raisins, white beans, dark leafy greens (spinach), baked potatoes (with skin), dried apricots, baked acorn squash, yogurt (plain, skim/non-fat), fish (salmon), avocados, mushrooms (white), bananas.
Others are sun-dried tomatoes, sweet potato (with skin), kale (raw), green (snap) beans, cowpeas, pigeon peas, yam, beans, walnuts, cashew nuts, carrots, onions, sugarcane, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, papayas (pawpaw) and dates.
These women should drink not less than two and half litres of purified water daily. It is advisable at this stage for such women to avoid fried food and junk meals.
