Information and advice around menopause has surged in recent years and there’s a lot of nutrition information available from books and online. It can be difficult to know where to start and how to find information that’s based on good quality research, and advice that’s relevant and helpful for you.
Whether you’re seeking to get better informed about women’s health or wanting to learn more about menopause, check out my suggestions below. I’ve listed some of my favourite books and resources to help you understand the science and advice related to women’s health and menopause. Remember that your local library is a great resource for getting books out on loan to read.
Women’s Health Books
‘The Knowledge: Your guide to female health, from menstruation to menopause’ – Dr Nighat Arif
This is a great resource for anyone wanting a better understanding of women’s health through the different life stages. From puberty, the fertility years, the menopause transition and beyond. It includes information relevant to different cultures, ethnicities, and the transgender community as well as discussing conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis and the symptoms of heart disease that women should be aware of.
It’s written in very readable, matter-of-fact way with lots of clear diagrams to help get the information across. It’s a book all women should read!
‘The Female Factor: Making women’s health count, and what it means for you’ – Dr Hazel Wallace
The author is an AfN Registered Nutritionist as well as a medical doctor. This book provides a summary of the science regarding women’s health. Its split into sections focussing on: nutrition, movement, mood and sleep, all from a female perspective. The evidence presented is all referenced which is reassuring and there’s useful diagrams throughout. There’s also a large selection of recipes for quick meals and simple nutritious snacks, including the time-saving recipe for ‘sheet pancakes’
Menopause Books
‘Menopausing: The positive roadmap to your second spring’ – Davina McCall with Dr Naomi Potter
The book that opened up the menopause conversation. First published in 2022, with an updated edition published in October 2024. This book explains the science – what we know, what we need more research on and understanding of, as well as debunking menopause myths. Every women has their own unique experience of menopause and the 2024 edition includes more personal stories which provide a real life perspective.
‘Making Menopause Matter: The essential guide to what you need to know and why’ – Diane Danzebrink
This book is a great resource – packed with information on what happens to hormones around menopause, how menopause impacts the body, and the various lifestyle, hormonal and non-hormonal therapies that are available. Although, it’s 250 pages, the text is presented in readable sections, with some shaded boxes with key points, and bullet points with practical tips scattered throughout. There’s also many personal experiences shared by individuals which shows the diversity of ways menopause can impact lives.
Diane Danzebrink is the driving force behind the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign which has helped get menopause education added to the curriculum for school pupils and medical students. This is a really useful guide for menopause.
‘The definitive guide to the perimenopause and menopause’ – Dr Louise Newson
Written by Dr Louise Newson, GP, menopause specialist and founder of The Balance App and The Menopause Charity.
This best-seller is a fantastic book providing information on a wide range of topics, particularly hormones and the menopause hormone therapies available. It also helps dispel the myths and misinformation around HRT and menopause.
Menopause and Women’s Health Resources
Balance, by Newson Health: https://www.balance-menopause.com
The Balance website provides a wide range of evidence-based resources with links to factsheets, videos and podcasts. The free Balance App is a useful tool you can use to track your symptoms and access expert content too.
Women’s Health Concern: WHC factsheets and other helpful resources – Women’s Health Concern (womens-health-concern.org)
The Women’s Health Concern is the patient arm of the British Menopause Society. They have a ‘help and advice’ section on their website that has a wide range of factsheets and other helpful resources on topics such as: HRT, Menopause and insomnia and Menopausal hair loss.
Rock My Menopause website: Rock My Menopause – Menopause Information
Rock My Menopause is the public-facing campaign of the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum, a group of 10,000 healthcare professionals with a special interest in women’s health. There’s a wide range of factsheets, guides and podcast episodes with information on topics like: when to speak to your GP, the impact of menopause on mental health and menopause considerations for trans people.
Women Positively Ageing podcast: Women Positively Ageing Podcast Series – Apple Podcasts
Barbara Bray, MBE is an AfN Registered Nutritionist and is currently researching a healthy ageing diet in her doctoral research. In each episode she speaks with experts in ageing and health research talking about the health challenges and how these can be prevented or reduced. Episodes include discussion of: Depression, anxiety and ageing well; How to protect your brain health and How good is your bone health.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society – Bone health checklist: Osteoporosis Bone Health Checklist (theros.org.uk)
Looking after your bones is really important for women. It’s never too early, or too late, to start taking positive diet and lifestyle action for your bones. The Royal Osteoporosis Society has information on a range of bone related topics, including a bone health checklist. You can complete the risk checker to identify your risk factors and ways to look after your bones.
NHS Inform – Menopause and your mental wellbeing: Menopause and your mental wellbeing (nhsinform.scot)
This webpage provides some information as well as signposting to where to find further support. There’s a self-help tool for ‘Menopause and mental wellbeing’ that outlines some things you can do to improve your mental wellbeing during perimenopause and post-menopause.
Our Eating Well for Menopause book provides advice and recipes to improve your health and well-being. If you’re a health professional who works with women, and you’re looking for approved or endorsed CPD on nutrition and menopause, check out our Eating Well for Menopause online course for Health Professionals.
