Eat to beat menopause aches and pains

With World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, nutritionist Dr Lucy Willamson explains how diet can boost musculoskeletal health while reducing menopausal aches and pains. By SHARON GREEN

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AS if there aren’t enough challenges to cope with before and during menopause, some women find they have more joint and/or muscle pain too.

Increased inflammation, weakened muscle and bone strength and a higher sensitivity to pain can all be experienced during perimeno-pause, menopause and, especially, post menopause. Women are also more prone to osteoporosis (loss of bone density) with the drop in oestrogen during menopause.

Dr Lucy Williamson, registered nutritionist and gut health expert says: “There’s growing understanding that strength training, adequate sleep and stress management have a vital part to play here.”

But what about food? What can women do to support musculoskeletal health and reduce those aches and pains which can also lead to low mood? “I would say that taking care of your gut microbiome is the single most important thing you can do to help protect your body from this, and so many symptoms of the menopause,” says Dr Williamson.