Day plan to help those suffering with menopausal mood swings

One of the top six menopausal problems, mood swings, are almost said in the same breath as menopause and stopping them can be something that women strive to do for many years. Defined as an abrupt and extreme fluctuation of the mind, mood swings affect around half of all women worldwide. Read on to find a suggested daily plan for any suffers.

Day plan suggestion

• 6.30am – wake up and exercise for around 30 minutes. Remember to stretch and then run, or even just walk, around your neighbourhood to get yourself in the mood for the day. This is both good for your body and good for your stress levels, and keeping those stress levels down is a great way to balance hormone levels without any other methods.

• 7am – take a cool shower. This will wake you up and regulate your body temperature.

• 7.30am – take a coffee and cereal for breakfast. Despite its negative reputation, caffeine can be good for some menopausal women. One in the morning can act as a stimulant and get you moving with the day in mind. Next to some fortified cereal, like Cheerios, you should be set up well for the day. Or, if you get mid-morning munchies then take porridge – great for the mood and a steady energy level.

• 9am – get to your office and ensure that there is water on the table at all times. Eight glasses is the recommended amount, but keep it handy for times you need it. Also, when feeling hungry, you may find that your hunger is just a thirst need.

• 11am – fruit – for your pre-lunch snack, get some berries to keep your energy high. Blueberries are one of the best shouts as the antioxidants they contain help many things in the body.

• 1pm – lunch time comes. You have many things to worry about during menopause, so keep your lunchbox simple and effective. A chicken salad can be great, the greens will keep you feeling spritely whilst the chicken will give you that daily protein you need. Add a few nuts to keep your selenium levels up – brazil nuts are a personal favorite.

• 3.30pm – treat yourself to a bit of chocolate in the afternoon. Chocolate?! Are you mad? No, it’s a fact, in moderation chocolate is good. It is a stimulant that can make us smile, increase blood pressure and sugar levels.

• 6pm – go home and have some ‘me time.’ Pick up a book and have a lie-down. It’s important not to get over-stressed and this routine should give you some much-needed alone time away from computers, the kids and work.

• 7.30pm – why not prepare a simple dish like salmon and spinach, maybe a baked potato on the side. Fatty fish help with omega-3′s and all the fatty acids that the body has. This helps nerve health and brain cells that fight against depression. Spinach has folic acid that has shown to lower feelings of depression and potatoes can be a comfort food.

• 10pm – get in a routine whereby you get at least eight hours of sleep each night. A cool shower an hour before bed and a bit of TV can be just the ticket to end the day.

More information

This, of course, is a sample one-day guide. There are many other ways of tackling mood swings through exercise, food, and supplements. Click the following link for more information about mood swings.