What Exactly is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal event that means the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is the point when your period stops permanently. Menopause is officially when a woman has not had her menses for 1 full year. Natural menopause usually happens between the ages of 40 and 59, with the average being 47.5 years. This statistic is according to the North American Menopause Society.

What are Symptoms of Menopause Include:

• Sleep disturbances
• Fat on abdomen
• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Thinning hair
• Loss of breast fullness
• Irregular periods
• Decreased fertility
• Vaginal dryness
• Diminished sex drive

Every woman experiences her own variation of symptoms. Studies have suggested that the symptoms of menopause may be different between cultural groups. For example, 80% of women in America experience hot flashes during menopause.  And only 10% of Japanese women experience hot flashes. Researchers have speculated that the differences may be due to diet, nutrition, lifestyle, or cultural attitudes toward menopause. Adopting a healthy diet and nutrition plan will help reduce the negative symptoms of menopause.

Nutrition, Diet and Natural Remedies/Treatments for Menopause

It is estimated that 50 million women in the U.S. are in menopause. Many of the women suffer from a number of menopausal symptoms that interfere with their lives, both during and after menopause. Many women turn to hormone replacement therapy as a way to deal with there condition. However, adequate diet and nutrition can be a great natural remedy and treatment to help prevent or reduce menopausal problems.

How Can Nutrition, Diet and Natural Remedies/Treatments Help With Menopause?

Nutrition and diet changes for menopause can help in two ways: decreasing the symptoms that go with menopause, and preventing diseases commonly occuring with menopause.

Nutrition and Diet: Calcium, Vitamin D and Magnesium

There is a relationship shown in studies between the lack of estrogen after menopause and the development of osteoporosis, where the bones start thinning and weakening. Calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients from supplementation or diet increase bone mineral density. The calcium requirement goes up for women when they start menopause. The recommend calcium consumption for postmenopausal women can range from 1,000mg/day up to 1,500 mg/day. Sufficient vitamin D and magnesium are required to absorb the nutritional benefits of calcium.

The best source of absorbable calcium is found in goat’s products. Sardines, clams, broccoli and legumes also have calcium. Two to four servings daily of dairy products and calcium-rich foods are suggested. Calcium supplements that are high quality (taken in divided doses) should be consumed by women.

Nutrition and Diet: Phytoestrogens (plant estrogen)

Phytoestrogens are weak estrogenic compounds found in plants. Estrogen levels drop in women during menopause causing a host of the menopausal symptoms. While phytoestrogens are not as strong as our bodies’ natural estrogen, additional estrogen through proper diet and nutrition can have a balancing effect on the body. Phytoestrogens can make your body think it has more estrogen than it really has. This will relieve some of the negative symptoms caused by lower estrogen levels during menopause.

A large number of fruits and vegetables are good sources of phytoestrogens. Flaxseed and soy products contain phytoestrogens, which can be up to 75 to 800 times more than other plant sources. Flaxseed oil can’t be used as a supplement, because the oil does not contain any phytoestrogens.

Lower estrogen levels can put women suffering from menopause at a higher risk for stroke and heart disease. Eating more nutritious vegetables and fruit in the diet can lower the risk for heart disease. Fatty fish including salmon and sardines are a source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are important for heart health.

Who Can Use Nutrition and Diet for Menopause?

More and more women are looking to nutrition as a substitute for hormone replacement therapy to help with some of the more unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Women who have an interest in a natural approach to controlling menopause symptoms through nutrition and diet should consult a nutrition professional before beginning any program.

Australian researchers discovered that having a good diet with nutritional supplementation, lifestyle changes, and an herbal program improved menopausal symptoms, including low sex drive and hot flashes. There is evidence to support herbal medicine and diet/nutrition as natural remedies/treatments during menopause.

Who Should Not Use Diet, Nutrition and Natural Remedies/Treatments for Menopause?

Soy products should not be used by those with a family history of breast cancer and thyroid conditions. Scientist still don’t know for sure whether higher amounts of phyto estrogens in the body raise the risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers.

Recommendations For Diet, Nutrition and Natural Remedies/Treatment During Menopause:

• Maintain a low fat, lower animal protein diet. Spicy foods, aromatic oils, hot sauce, hot drinks, alcohol and coffee may trigger hot flashes.

• Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.

• Menopause symptoms are unique to each woman. One woman’s nutrition and diet changes may not work for another, and vice versa. Often it is, because of fluctuating hormone levels. This is another reason consulting with a nutritionist or a holistic doctor is highly recommend.

If you would to contact Dr. Robert to speak about your situation feel free to contact him by call 201.618.3534 or CLICK HERE.

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