Choose smart carbohydrates whenever possible. These would be carb-rich foods that offer nutrients and fiber along with its calories. This may also help decrease the sleepiness. Steer away from carbs that don't have a lot of nutritional value and tend to have a higher glycemic index and move more toward the carbs that have what I call a lower glycemic load on the body. That would be your whole fruits and vegetables, dairy, all those things we've been talking about. It really all fits together nicely when you look at the big picture.

MODERATOR:
Elaine, any final words for us?

MAGEE:
I'm approaching menopause myself. Try to keep your sense of humor through this. We can get through this. As women, there are a lot of great things about this time of life we can focus on at the same time, and use as your motivation to make really healthy changes in your life that we should have been doing anyway. And that make us healthier people down the line at the same time.

If you want more information and recipes on flaxseed beyond menopause, check out my cookbook, The Flax Cookbook, on amazon.com. It's always a pleasure to be here.

MODERATOR:
Thanks to Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, for sharing her expertise with us today. For more information, please read The Change of Life Diet and Cookbook .

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