Around the time of menopause, many women are busy with raising children, paying for college, taking care of their aging parents, and a career. The stress from all the responsibilities is enough to affect their overall health. Menopause just adds more stress to their lives. Many women ignore to take care of themselves. They don’t eat well, can’t sleep well, and have no time to relax. If you find yourself in this situation, take a moment to rethink and plan a strategy. First of all, eat well.
Changes in your body in the years around menopause increase your chances of having certain health problems. Lower levels of estrogen and other changes related to aging (like possibly gaining weight) increase women’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis.
You should plan to build your health in the years around menopause by eating well. Older people need just as many nutrients but tend to need fewer calories for energy. Make sure you have a balanced diet. Women over 50 need 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 and 1.5 milligrams of vitamin B6 each day. Ask your doctor if you need a vitamin supplement. After menopause, a woman’s calcium needs go up to maintain bone health. Women 51 and older should get 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium each day. Vitamin D also is important to bone health. Women 51 to 70 should get 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day. Women ages 71 and older need 800 IU of vitamin D each day. Women past menopause who are still having vaginal bleeding because they are using menopausal hormone therapy might need extra iron.
Source: the Office on Women’s Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.