7 Foods To Eat For Heart Health After Menopause 

Menopause increases the risk of heart problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Post menopausal women should take a good care of their heart health to remain healthy.

Menopause is the12 months period when a woman does not menstruate. It occurs to women between the age of 45 to 55. It begins in the pre-menopause stage with symptoms like irregular periods and sleep problems and ends after you haven't bled for an entire year. After this begins the postmenopausal phase which may bring back some of the early symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, mood change and chills.

Menopause And Heart Disease

Many women may not know this but during menopause, the risk of heart diseases increases. Menopause may affect their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. It is because of a drop in the oestrogen hormones which can lead to fat build up in the heart arteries leading to a slow blood flow, according to the British Heart Foundation.

After menopause, the body may not respond to hormonal changes and can result in high blood pressure, high cholesterol and increase the risk of heart stroke. However, adopting to good lifestyle habits and a heart-friendly balanced diet may prevent the risk of heart disease in women after menopause.

7 Foods To Eat For Heart Health Post Menopause

We have picked up 7 foods that you can include into your diet for better heart health.

Bean And Lentils

Beans and lentils, given their high fiber and low fat, are an excellent food choice to keep heart diseases at bay. Beans and lentils also fulfill protein requirement and keep you healthy overall.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are an excellent source of folate, iron and thiamine. It contains other heart-essential vitamins and minerals that prevent the risk of high cholesterol and high BP in women after menopause.

Oats

Oats are loaded with dietary fiber and B vitamins. Oats are low in fat and have been recommended to heart patients for their amazing health benefits.

Heart-Friendly Fruits

Eat more fruits that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. Fruits like berries, apples, bananas, guavas, citrus and grapefruits are best for the heart.

More Vegetables

Add more vegetables to your diet. Veggies contain a great amount of fiber and vitamins. Eating more vegetables like okra, spinach, kale, cabbage and carrots has been shown to reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Nuts And Seeds

Try adding unsalted nuts and seeds to your diet for their excellent vitamins and minerals content. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and other crucial vitamins which help prevent high cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart stroke.

Low Fat Dairy

Milk and other dairy foods are as important as fruits and veggies because they provide calcium and iron. However, to prevent the risk of heart diseases, you can eat low fat dairy foods like skim milk, plant-based milk and no-fat tofu.