Sourdough Could Help Support Women During Menopause

In today’s world, there are more natural treatments than ever for health issues. Sometimes all it takes is a stroll down the grocery store aisle to boost your health.

For many women, hot flashes and mood swings make life unpleasant during perimenopause and menopause. While research is still evolving, some experts suggest that incorporating fermented and plant-based foods into the diet may help support the body amid this transition. One example is sourdough — a fermented bread that supports gut health and helps regulate blood sugar levels, both of which are important for overall well-being.

The Meno Food Range
British Baker highlights a new range of products developed by Charlotte Blacker that targets women in menopause and includes a crusty sourdough bread called Meno Bread among its offerings.

“Mena is the first functional food range to support ladies during menopause and peri menopause using natural plant estrogens to counterbalance the drop in biological oestrogen,” Blacker told British Baker.

She added that the plant estrogens in her products offer a natural alternative to HRT (hormone replacement therapy). These plant estrogens have a similar chemical structure to female estrogen. Most women stop producing estrogen and progesterone in their mid-40s, marking the end of the reproductive years and causing the changes we call menopause. Blacker said that foods rich in plant estrogens, such as soy, may help support the body during menopause.

What Is Sourdough?
A blog on the Marion Gluck Clinic explains that using sourdough starter as a rising agent is one of the oldest ways of making bread. Before commercial yeast was available to home bakers, people created sourdough starter through a natural fermentation process.

If products like Meno Bread are not available at local stores, maintaining a sourdough starter at home is simple. The King Arthur Flour website explains that starters can remain at room temperature and be fed daily, or stored in the refrigerator and fed weekly, depending on how much they are used. With regular feeding, the naturally occurring wild yeast and beneficial bacteria stay active.

Advantages of Sourdough Bread
According to the Gluck Clinic, sourdough bread is less likely to cause gas production in the gut, a common digestive issue. The long fermentation process in sourdough also helps the body absorb nutrients needed for good health. These include important elements such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins.

Sourdough bread has a low glycemic index, which slows the rate that glucose is released into the bloodstream, and helps to balance blood sugar and insulin levels, and may reduce inflammation.

Menopause Menus
The Health and Her blog provides ideas for meals that may help support women during menopause. These include ingredients such as healthy fats, whole grains, and foods that are rich in probiotics such as sourdough bread. Together, these foods can help keep the gut healthy, balance blood sugar, and support well-being.

Menopause can be a difficult transition. It is nice to know that adding a comfort food like sourdough bread to the diet may make life more pleasant.