Menopause and anxiety often go hand-in-hand—but what if the culprit isn’t just your hormones? What if your diet is silently turning up the stress dial?
The Overlooked Connection
Many women experience sudden waves of anxiety during menopause—racing thoughts, restless sleep and that vague, gnawing sense of dread. It’s often dismissed as “just hormones,” or worse—ignored entirely.
But here’s the twist: what you eat may be making it worse.
Blood Sugar Chaos = Mood Chaos
Highly processed foods, caffeine, sugar spikes and skipping meals can cause blood sugar crashes—triggering irritability, anxiety and fatigue. And during menopause, your body becomes even more sensitive to those highs and lows.
The Plant-Based Solution: Food That Calms
Instead of reaching for quick fixes, nourish your nervous system with whole, plant-based foods that balance blood sugar and support hormonal stability:
- Complex Carbs: Sweet potatoes, oats and legumes provide steady energy and reduce mood swings.
- Healthy Fats (as a condiment): Avocados, chia seeds and walnuts support brain health and calm inflammation.
- Fiber-Rich Foods: Beans, lentils, chia seeds, flaxseeds, leafy greens, berries and oats help regulate estrogen metabolism and keep digestion (and your mood) moving smoothly.
- Herbal Helpers: Chamomile, lemon balm and ashwagandha teas can naturally ease anxiety.
Menopause doesn’t have to mean living with anxiety. The right foods can ground you, soothe your system and help you feel like yourself again.
Stay tuned next Monday—we’re just getting started.
I started out several years ago watching Forks Over Knives, decided to “try out” the plant-based meal plan and had shockingly incredible results. I’ve never turned back. I have lost nearly 50 pounds, and that is just one side effect that me, my family, friends and clients have experienced after making the change.
Having been an incredible cook my entire adult life, I started my own personal chef service, NuYu Nourish, to extend my help to others. I interned under a celebrity chef, became a celebrity chef myself and have been expanding my reach and goals ever since! My plan follows strictly and simply those of Dr. Mcdougall, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn.
