Understanding Menopause What It Really Is and How to Manage It

Understanding Menopause  

What It Really Is and How to Manage It

Today, I want to talk about menopause and what it really means. Menopause occurs when a woman runs out of eggs. A woman typically has about 400 eggs, and one is released every month. Around the age of 51, give or take a few years, the last egg is released, leading to the end of menstruation and the possibility of pregnancy. This might sound like a time to celebrate, but menopause brings with it a host of challenges including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, weight gain, loss of libido, and bone loss.

Hormonal Changes During Menopause

What's happening during menopause is a shift in hormone levels. There are three main hormones involved: estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Here's a general pattern of how these hormones change:

• Estrogen drops by about 40-50%.
• Testosterone drops by around 50%.
• Progesterone drops significantly, by 70-90%.

Progesterone, which helps balance estrogen, experiences the most dramatic decrease. This imbalance can make estrogen appear dominant in the body, even though its levels are lower, leading to various symptoms.

The Role of Adrenals

The adrenal glands act as a backup system by producing these hormones. After menopause, although you don't need as much estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone as before, the adrenals should still provide sufficient amounts. However, if the adrenals are weak, they may not adequately support hormone levels, exacerbating menopausal symptoms. Approximately 70% of women experience hot flashes after menopause due to this issue.

Supporting Your Adrenals

To minimize menopausal symptoms, it's crucial to support your adrenal health before menopause. Reducing stress is key to maintaining adrenal function. Additionally, estrogen not only comes from the ovaries and adrenals but also from body fat. Excess weight can affect estrogen levels and worsen hormonal imbalances.

Dietary Considerations

Avoiding a low-fat diet is important because these hormones are made from cholesterol. A low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can negatively impact hormone production.

Managing Cortisol Levels

High cortisol levels, due to stress, can lead to various problems, including bone loss, muscle atrophy, and increased insulin levels, which can make weight management difficult. To combat this, maintaining healthy cortisol levels is essential.

Practical Steps to Take

  Support Adrenals: Focus on adrenal health before menopause.

Healthy Diet: Do not follow a low-fat diet; ensure adequate cholesterol intake for hormone production.

Control Cortisol: Manage stress to keep cortisol levels in check, which helps prevent bone loss and muscle atrophy.

Balance Hormones: Consider natural remedies like wild yam cream to increase progesterone levels and help balance estrogen.

Eat Cruciferous Vegetables: These help balance estrogen levels and provide protective benefits against conditions like breast cancer. Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale contain DIM (Diindolylmethane), which helps regulate estrogen.

Vitamin E: Supports the pituitary gland, which controls the adrenal and ovary functions. Opt for a natural tocopherol mix with tocotrienols.

Conclusion

To manage menopause effectively, it's important to support adrenal health, maintain a balanced diet, manage cortisol levels, and use natural remedies to balance hormones. For more tips and in-depth information on managing menopause, check out my other videos.

By focusing on these strategies, you can help alleviate menopausal symptoms and improve your overall well-being.