Menopause what’s going on?

Menopause occurs anytime from 40 through to 58 years old (with some exceptions outside of these ages) the average age is 51 but it seems women are experiencing menopause earlier in this modern age.  This may be due to hormones & hormone-mimicking substances in foods & the environment such as chicken, meats, the increase in soy consumption, plastics, personal hygiene products to name a few. Also, the stress women are under to keep a home, raise children & grandchildren, work full time and whilst this is all going on, the social pressure that you have to look fabulous at the same time.

Menopause occurs when the ovaries run out of eggs preventing the cascade of chemical reactions that ovulation creates. Ovulation is when the egg is released from the ovaries this causing chemical messaging to occur regarding hormone levels. With this lack of messaging hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone reduce as they are no longer needed in the role of creating life.

Before we enter menopause, we go into a time of peri-menopause as the body’s sex hormone levels such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone begin to reduce.  In peri-menopause, you will begin to see the signs of menopause, sometimes to a lesser degree.  

Menopause is when you have gone 12 months without a period before this time if you are having symptoms of menopause, you are in peri-menopause. Once you have experienced no period for 12 months you are then post-menopause. So this 12-month period is really menopause where you do not experience a period. Symptoms can continue post menopause as hormones continue to regulate themselves.

Signs of Peri-Menopause & Menopause

No period or speratic periods

Heavy periods, light periods

Periods more often

Change of mood and dramatic highs and lows.

Depression

Hot flushes

Vaginal dryness

Vaginal atrophy

Weight Gain

Loss of Libido

Bone loss

Sleep Disturbance (insomnia)

Tender Breasts

Dry Skin, Eyes & Mouth

Difficulty Concentrating

Headaches, Racing Heart

If you experience any of the above see your health professional.

With relaxation exercises, good nutrition, and lifestyle changes, many women do not have these symptoms occurring or to a lesser degree.

In menopause, the estrogen hormone levels can decrease by 40 to 50%

Testerone up to 50%

Progesterone 70 to 90 %

Within these ranges exceptions can occur.

Progesterone buffers estrogen, this can make estrogen appear dominant, but in fact, it is the dramatic drop in progesterone that is causing most of the issue. 

The adrenal glands located on top of the kidneys are the backup for the production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  Weakened adrenal glands through excessive stress and lack of key nutrients are one of the main reasons excessive menopause symptoms occur.  

Supporting your adrenal glands is the key.

To support your adrenal glands, the key is to de-stress your life.  Simplify, simplify simplify. 

Look at each aspect of your life and then have solutions to remove any stress where ever possible.  See the button below to print out your free pdf worksheet.

Move to a Keto-style diet, and consume healthy fat such as coconut oil, butter, olive oil, flax seed oil, avocado oil, fatty meats, and chia seeds these are very beneficial for making these much-needed sex hormones.  Cholesterol is required to make hormones and cholesterol comes from fats.  

 Protein is important for collagen, a protein in muscle and tissue this reduces as we age. Collagen is like elastic in our tissue and is extremely important for the heart, skin, and digestive system.   Lots of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are the key to detoxifying the liver and bringing vitamins and minerals into the body.   Reducing carbohydrates down to 5% and cutting out sugar which is one of the biggest stressors for the adrenal glands and body is the key to menopause.

Practice relaxation every day, upon waking and before going to bed.  Hypnotherapy is amazing for this, and you can find self-hypnosis audios on our website. If you find mediation difficult then self-hypnosis stops the chatter of the conscious mind and allow you to access the subconscious mind.

Our liver is a major detoxifier of the body and in menopause, excess hormones are released out of the body; supporting the liver with a keto diet, so it can work efficiently will greatly reduce symptoms. If the liver is receiving excess toxins and hormones if it can’t detoxify effectively these end up circulating around the body creating hot flushes, stimulating weight gain, and change in mood etc.

Start today with one thing you will change this week. It may be cutting out the sugar in your coffee. or doing one of the Intuitive Nutrition Hypnotherapy Audios each night. Just take one and start today to allow your body to move easily through menopause.