Menopause which begins when a woman stops menstruation and her
ovaries stop producing as much of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is used
by the body for the following: bones, smooth skin, body heat regulation, artery health,
and normal cell operations. The average age at which menopause occurs in woman is 50 years
old and lasts for about 5 years. Symptoms may include
hot
flashes, night sweats, mood
swings, depression, breast tenderness, skin dryness, burning and pain in sexual
intercourse, and sleeping problems. Reducing meat, dairy products, caffeine, and sugar
eaten will help. Stop smoking and avoid
alcohol. Drink at least 5-6 glasses of water a day. A good multi-vitamin
mineral supplement and a female herbal supplement may also help.
Menopause, also referred to as the "change of
life," is the point at which a woman stops ovulating and
menstruation ceases, indicating the end of fertility. When a
woman stops ovulating, her ovaries largely stop producing the
hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is normally thought of as a sex hormone
related just to reproduction, but
it also acts on many organs in the human body. Cells in
the vagina, bladder, breasts, skin, bones, arteries, heart,
liver, and brain all contain estrogen receptors, and require
this hormone to stimulate these receptors for normal cell
function. Estrogen is needed to keep the skin smooth and
moist, the body's internal thermostat operating properly, and
the arteries unclogged, for example. It is also necessary for
proper bone formation.
Although estrogen levels drop sharply
after menopause, the hormone does not disappear entirely.
Other organs take over from the ovaries and continue to
produce some estrogen and other hormones. The organs known as
endocrine glands secrete hormones to maintain proper bodily
functions. The menopausal period is different for every woman. Some
begin earlier and some later on, but the
average age at menopause is about fifty. The transition
normally lasts up to five years.
A woman who undergoes a hysterectomy
but who keeps at least one of her ovaries stops menstruating
after surgery, but she will still go through menopause. If the
ovaries are removed during hysterectomy, menopause occurs
suddenly, and symptoms may be more severe. Some women go
through menopause with few or no noticeable symptoms. However,
many women experience short-term or acute symptoms such as hot
flashes, night sweats, mood swings, fatigue, dizziness,
headaches, anxiety,
depression,
poor libido,
bladder
problems, vaginal dryness and itching, burning and
discomfort during sexual intercourse, breast tenderness,
dryness and aging of the skin, shortness of breath, heart
palpitations, and insomnia.
All of these symptoms are due to
estrogen and progesterone deficiency. Over the long term, the
diminished supply of estrogen increases the likelihood of
cardiovascular
disease, osteoporosis, and
vaginal atrophy. Osteoporosis is an especially major problem
for women after menopause. An estimated 80% of the 250,000 hip
fractures that occur in the USA each year are caused by osteoporosis.
Note it is important to remember that menopause is
not really a disease. But rather a natural process in the woman's life.
How
a woman looks at this time of her life may affect both how frequent and severe her symptoms are. If menopause is
viewed as the end of youth and sexuality, this time will be
much more difficult than if it is viewed as the next, natural
phase of life. With a proper diet, nutritional supplements,
and exercise, most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause
can be minimized, if not eliminated almost completely.
Nutrient
/ Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful
notes |
Multi-vitamin &
Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E , vitamin B ,
magnesium, calcium, boron, zinc
and selenium all which may be helpful for both treatment of hot flashes and
other female problems of menopause. A daily supplement provides
nutrients needed for general good
health and well being. |
Black
Cohosh |
10 |
herb that has been long used for menopause
and related female health issues |
vitamin B |
10 |
the B vitamin complex helps to improve blood circulation and also cell
operations. Vitamin B6 may help in reducing water retention. |
Omega
fatty acids |
10 |
found in flax seed oil, borage seed oil,
and omegas in fish oil |
Pyridoxine |
9 |
vitamin B6 helps with water retention and
relieve symptoms |
Royal
Jelly |
9 |
contains nutrients helpful for menopause |
Pantothenic
acid |
9 |
vitamin B5 is good for stress and required
for adrenal function |
Folic
acid |
9 |
works with B vitamins and also protects
the heart |
Dong Quai |
10 |
herb that helps to reduce hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and
depression. Works well in a formula that also has both ginseng and
vitamin B6. |
Damiana |
9 |
herb that helps enhance sexual desire and
pleasure |
Licorice |
8 |
herb that helps with the female hormone estrogen and works well in a general
herbal formula for women |
vitamin E |
8 |
vitamin E helps to reduce hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. |
Boron |
8 |
the mineral boron can help improve calcium absorption in the body which is
normally a problem for women |
Calcium |
8 |
aids with nervousness and irritability |
Magnesium |
8 |
mineral that works with calcium |
Bioflavonoids |
7 |
useful for hot flashes and general health |
Zinc |
7 |
can help reduce bone loss and improve healing and the immune system
problems resulting from menopause. It works well in a good multi-vitamin
supplement with B vitamins and vitamin E. |
Potassium |
7 |
replaces what is lost thru menopausal hot
flashes |
Selenium |
6 |
mineral that helps with hormonal balance |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|