Around only a third of men and women are managing to eat the governments recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Ideally our bodies would benefit from consuming between 7-10 portions! When it comes to the perimenopause and menopause it is vital to eat plenty to obtain the vital nutrients to help balance hormones, balance mood, for glowing skin, a healthy heart, strong bones to name a few.
Green vegetables contain a variety of important nutrients and are an excellent source of B vitamins
The B vitamin group are very important when it comes to the menopause as they have a multitude of roles in the body that help reduce symptoms associated with the menopause. They provide energy, boost the immune system, play a role in hormone production, improve bone strength, help prevent sleep problems, boost memory, improves depression by increasing serotonin production and help lower blood pressure. We will look at the B vitamins in more depth in a further article.
A recent study conducted by research scientists at University College London discovered that ‘eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day reduces the risk of death at any point in time by 42% compared to eating less than one portion per day’.
They discovered that by ‘eating seven or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day reduces the risk of death by cancer and heart disease by 25% and 31% respectively’. The research also showed that vegetables have significantly higher health benefits than fruit. So why not give this lovely soup a try and get on your way to meeting your seven a day! You can also batch cook and freeze- just increase amounts accordingly.
