Why You Should Add Cranberries to Your Perimenopause Diet
Everyone on #TeamPerimenopause should be adding cranberries to their diet!
Cranberries are a very good food item to incorporate into your diet if you are going through perimenopause. They may prevent or at least alleviate some of the negative changes that occur in our bodies because of perimenopause, including osteoporosis and heart problems. You can eat dried cranberries (make sure they aren’t coated with sugars), incorporate fresh cranberries into baked goods or other cooked items, and/ or enjoy unsweetened cranberry juice.
Cranberries are Good for Your Heart
Not many women realize that one of the things that perimenopause brings with it is an increased risk of heart disease due to the fact that estrogen helps regulate our cholesterol levels. A decrease in estrogen, means hello heart attacks! Luckily, “Cranberries are rich in anthocyanins (an antioxidant), which give cranberries their color and have protective cardiovascular effects [including] lowering cholesterol,” said Stephanie Middleberg, R.D. in a recent article in Women’s Health.
Cranberries are the Osteoporosis Antidote
Cranberries are also a good source of calcium which helps strengthen bones, teeth, and nails. Calcium reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis as well, which is one of the many by-products of perimenopause.
This underappreciated little fruit is also a good source of vitamin K, another important vitamin for bone health. Vitamin K helps keep calcium from diminishing in the bones and makes bones more resilient. More resilient bones means they are less likely to break or fracture. And nobody has time for broken bones when trying to live their best life.
Cranberries Can Provide Relief from Menstrual Symptoms
Fun fact, adding cranberries or cranberry juice to your diet may also provide relief from some of your most bothersome menstrual symptoms thanks to the vitamins they contain. Vitamin K is purported to help regulate your menstrual cycle. Potassium, which cranberries also have, is good for relieving muscle cramps, and cranberries act as a diuretic which means they are effective at reducing bloating and water retention. Clearly, it makes perfect sense to give this little red fruit a chance in your life.
Don’t Wait for Thanksgiving to Eat Cranberries
In conclusion, cranberries should be in your diet if you are a member of #teamperimenopause. They may help you combat osteoporosis and heart problems. They can help with PMS symptoms. Also, cranberries are just rich in antioxidants, which means anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits too. So, don’t wait for Thanksgiving to add cranberries to your meals. Find ways right now to incorporate fresh or dried cranberries or unsweetened cranberry juice into your daily routine, just like we did when we created our non-alcoholic signature sangria recipe for the members of the My Bloody Hell community.
So, get creative, get cooking, get cranberries!