Eat More Veggies!

Have you watched “The Gamechanger” movie on Netflix yet? If you haven’t it is a very thought provoking watch. It is an interesting perspective on the meat industry and how plant proteins can improve your health overall and performance in terms of fitness and also dispels the myths that you need animal protein in order to build muscles.I certainly am not one to jump on a trend but it did make me think.

It did actually make me consider becoming vegan and I thought hard about it for a few days. But I believe it is something I will need to do over a period of time and not quite yet. However, I after reducing my meat intake over a period of time I have now been vegetarian for well over a year.. But hang on…I still eat fish! Oh so I am pescatarian then?! But if I still want to eat cheese (minimal but still) for example, and I want some flexibility then WHAT AM I?? What is it with the labels and when did food become such a minefield?

Diet and health and hormones

Adding oily fish into your diet such as salmon, mackerel and sardines can benefit your hormones to a degree and is a great source of omega-3 which is so important for brain health too and that menopause fog we can experience with lack of oestrogen. Having been associated with cancer in my working life for many years as you know, trying to reduce any risk of cancer makes sense to me and eating red and processed meats does have an increased risk for bowel cancer. (Cancer Research UK). Over the last few years since I decided to make healthy lifestyle changes that included fitness and dietary changes I have been eating more veggies and less processed foods. Highly processed foods and refined carbs such as white rice and pasta (think beige foods)  can spike insulin levels and cause resistance which can add up to weight gain too.

Eating the Mediterranean way

I personally don’t follow a “diet” because I don’t believe it is sustainable and if you have read my Healthy Eating Hacks post you know I have not always had the best relationship with food. BUT the Mediterranean diet and Blue Zones way of eating makes perfect sense to me (without meat now) and you have to enjoy what you eat too! I totally love Dan Churchill description “your brain lights up with flavour, so you must eat what you enjoy”. So for now I have reduced my dairy intake but being mindful my menopausal friends about vitamin D and calcium for our bones, I include yoghurt and cheese in my diet although of course calcium is also found in green leafy veg and pulses such as chickpeas for example. I love oat milk as it a great source of fibre and is also fortified with vitamin D and have it in everything…even in my morning cup of tea! If you’ve seen my Instagram you know an oat milk flat white is MY THING!! For me it is all about having a balance and what works for you..

Eat your Veggies with these top tips