Women Need To Eat Differently When They Hit Their 40s. Here's Why, And What To Do.

Ease into this next phase of life by making some smart nutritional choices to help yourself age as gracefully as possible.

If you’re a woman who’s in her mid-40s, you’ve probably witnessed a number of fad diets and nutritional holy grails over the past few decades. Now that you’re (just a little bit) older and wiser, you’ve likely settled into a pattern of eating that works for you and makes you feel energized and nourished, at least most of the time.

But you may have noticed a few changes to your body in the past few years. “For most women, perimenopausal symptoms might have been happening since your mid-30s,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The North American Menopause Society and director of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Women’s Health. “The typical age to begin menopause is 45.”