It’s great to establish a healthy and well-balanced diet for your day-to-day living, but this goes even further if you’re currently going through menopause. As with anything else in our lives, good nutrition can make a difference in how you feel, and this is especially true with menopause.

All these symptoms, like mood swings, hot flashes, exhaustion, bloating, and weight gain, could be easily avoided with the right steps. For instance, women who are currently at menopausal age should try to eat as many whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean protein as possible.

That’s the key to optimal health. There are plenty of studies to back this up: women who adopted a diet rich in fruits and veggies were less likely to suffer from difficult menopausal symptoms that other women might have because of all the fatty foods and sweets they ate. Moreover, decreasing the consumption of certain foods might ease the discomfort generally linked to the natural transition. Here are some of the foods that might harm you during menopause: