Did you know… it takes your body 300 calories a day to ovulate? When our bodies stop ovulating, we stop burning an extra 300 calories per day. That equals to be 10 pounds per year!
So, what do we need to do to change that? The science of menopausal metabolism points to two major hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Many menopausal women have excess estrogen and a deficiency of progesterone. Estrogen is the hormone that gives women ample curves, attractive breasts and youthful skin. However, too much estrogen causes too many curves—or you might say, bulges. Farmers have known this for years. They use a little synthetic estrogen to fatten their cattle. But women say to themselves: “I don’t take any form of estrogen. Why do I have too much?” The sad truth is that estrogen comes from our food choices. Our bodies make more estrogen when we eat too many processed carbohydrates. Insulin, the master hormone, is secreted from the pancreas in response to sugar and processed carbohydrates. Insulin stores fat and also causes our bodies to make more estrogen. This link to extra estrogen is also connected to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome; which can cause fertility issues in young women.
FOODS TO AVOID AND FOODS TO EAT
The banana, cereal and glass of juice that once worked for breakfast is now too high in sugar and it creates an insulin response. Insulin produces more estrogen, which creates more fat cells, which make more estrogen that creates more fat cells. So, your waist size increases, and your clothes are too tight! At this time in life, you need to reduce the processed carbohydrates, which will reduce the amount of glucose in your blood. With balanced blood sugar levels, less insulin is needed and less body fat is created. For better metabolism at menopause, eat less cereal, pasta, bread and sodas. Instead, start eating more vegetables, healthy fats, and real protein.
Unless the meat you eat is labeled “no hormones added,” you are probably eating meat with added hormones. Many commercial farmers of beef and sheep use hormones to promote rapid weight gain in their animals. The European Union has concluded that meat from animals fed hormones is bad for human health, but the US government has declared this practice safe. The best choice is organic, grass-fed meat which contains CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). Grass-fed animals have twice as much CLA as animals fed grains, and numerous studies have shown that CLA promotes healthy metabolism.
Peri-menopause and menopause are times when women need to pay attention to nutrition and food choices in order to maintain normal weight and a sense of well-being. Weight gain or mood swings might be the result of an insulin response or poor food choices, but there are other possible causes. Lack of sleep, too much stress, insufficient progesterone, adrenal exhaustion, and inflammation all may contribute to your menopausal issues. Interestingly, all these factors have a nutrition connection.
So, if you need to indulge, try this treat that will keep your blood sugar under control.
CAKE:
1 cup erythritol (or xylitol)
1 tsp stevia glycerite (omit if using xylitol)
5 egg yolks
5 egg whites
1/3 cup vanilla almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup blanched almond flour
1 1/2 tsp aluminum free baking powder
LECHES:
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 tsp stevia glycerite (or to desired sweetness)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease bottom of a 9 inch springform pan with coconut oil spray. Beat the egg yolks with 3/4 cup erythritol until light in color and doubled in volume. Stir in almond milk, vanilla, almond flour, stevia and baking powder.
In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup erythritol. Beat until firm but not dry. Fold egg whites into yolk mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes or until cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool 10 minutes. Loosen edge of cake with knife before removing side of pan. Cool cake completely; place on a deep serving plate. Use a two prong meat fork or cake tester to pierce surface of cake.
Mix together coconut milk, 1 tsp stevia, almond milk and 1/4 cup of the whipping cream. Discard 1 cup of the measured milk mixture or cover and refrigerate. Pour remaining milk mixture over cake slowly until absorbed. Whip the remaining whipping cream until it thickens and reaches spreading consistency. Frost cake with whipped cream. Makes 8 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Tres Leches = 579 calories, 70.3 carbs, 0.4 g fiber
"Healthified" Tres Leches = 459 calories, 8.4 carbs, 2.8g fiber
