Heart disease tends to be considered a man’s problem and high blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and too much drinking and smoking are common problems for men. The reality is that the risk of coronary heart disease increases for women after menopause. The good news is that there are changes that we can make in our daily lives that can reduce the risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. We’ll hear about how changes to the diet can help reduce cholesterol levels, disease risk and manage other menopausal symptoms. Join me in this episode to hear from our researcher Dr Laura Wyness. Laura is an award-winning Freelance Registered Nutritionist who specialises in nutrition writing, workplace wellness and nutrition communications. Laura studied public health and nutrition at the University of Aberdeen. Now, with over 15-years’ experience working in food innovation and academic research she loves reviewing the scientific evidence and translating it into clear messages. Her work includes offering online nutrition consultations and she has provided dietary advice for many peri-menopausal women. In collaboration with fellow Registered Nutritionist Lynn Burns, she has helped developed ebooks and online courses on Eating Well for Menopause. Laura explains her interest in menopause and diet and that women are not as aware of the risk associated with menopause and heart disease. Topic 1 - Menopause symptoms and impact on heart health and cholesterol level Topic 2 - Key nutrients and useful foods to include in the diet to help reduce cholesterol level Topic 3 - Other menopausal symptoms such as poor sleep and bladder issues Top 3 things people should focus on to improve their heart health 1. Check your cholesterol and BP levels 2. Include heart healthy foods - oats, nuts, soya foods…plenty F&V, beans and pulses, mycoprotein/Quorn foods and adding a portion of oil-rich fish each week 3. Hydrate well – ask yourself are you drinking enough? Staying well hydrated helps your heart do its job and helps your muscles work more efficiently. List of resources, suggested materials, and social media: Guide to eating well during the menopause - UCLP© menopause - HEART UK The Ultimate Cholesterol Lowering Plan - Ultimate Cholesterol Lowering Plan - HEART UK Heart UK - https://www.heartuk.org.uk/cholesterol/understanding-your-cholesterol-test-results- HEART UK NHS Heart Age Calculator - What's your heart age? - NHS (www.nhs.uk) Let’s Talk Food e-books and courses - LetsTalkFood (thinkific.com) The Lancet women and cardiovascular disease commission: reducing the global burden by 2030 (2021). Vogel B et al. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00684-X/fulltext Recommendations from an international team of experts and leaders in the field have been generated with a clear focus to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease in women by 2030 Note: “We use the term ‘women’ throughout this talk with no intention of exclusion. It is important to highlight that it is not only those who identify as women who may experience menopausal symptoms. For example, some transgender men, non-binary people, and intersex people or people with variations in sex characteristics may experience menopause.” Useful reference: https://rockmymenopause.com/get-informed/transgender-health/ Please note that this podcast is not intended for use by non-medically qualified individuals or as a an alternative to any medical treatment.
