WOMEN'S HEALTH & MENOPAUSE

Nutrition supplies the building blocks for your health, happiness, learning, hormones, growth, repair, and energy. Across all ages and stages our body has different requirements for nutrients as we develop and mature.

Lifestyle, diet, activity, environment, spiritual and social aspects make a huge difference to our health.

The body is extremely flexible and geared to survive by re-balancing and correcting itself. At times, our lifestyle, diet, and ability to re-balance gets out of whack and we start to show signs and symptoms which sometimes go undetected until they become a health concern. The medical approach too often turns to medications as the first line of treatment where Dietitians and Nutritionists look to identifying the underlying causes and apply diet and lifestyle recommendations.

Getting a history of your health, your family history, medications and supplements, symptoms, your likes and dislikes and activity level is part of finding the best way forward for your uniqueness. Simply, one way does not fit all!

Categories that can affect your underlying health issues require investigation:

• Family history of disease

• History and journey of reproductive hormones

• Digestion

• Metabolic issues such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular health, blood pressure

• Food sensitivities and allergies

• Mood and cognitive function

• Energy levels

• Sleep

• Immunity and autoimmune conditions

• Other serious health issues

• Activity and reoccurring injuries

As women approach hormonal milestones, our health starts to change. We may need to pay more attention to finding a new balance. Often, we become more aware of foods, situations and activities that suit us better. Hormone levels do not increase or decrease overnight but usually start to cause symptoms and signals implying a decrease in hormones leading to menopause.

Hormonal changes are often influenced by our genetics but also by diet, weight, activity level and fitness, and stress. The three phases are pre-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. Ultimately, the body reduces the amount of estrogen produced and to finally stop releasing eggs.

Common symptoms:

• Hair thinning

• Dry and thinning skin

• Mood swings, anxiety, and stress

• More frequent urge to urinate

• Weight gain

• Insomnia and trouble concentrating

Vasomotor symptoms:

• Vaginal dryness and loss of libido

• Night sweats and hot flashes

• Sleep issues

• Dizziness and vertigo

• Heart palpitations

• Migraines

Symptoms are individual and some women sail through this time while others really struggle. It is not a time of illness but a time of transition! Hot flashes are not dangerous but they can be uncomfortable and untimely. Hormone therapy can be the answer for some women, but not suitable for everyone. Whatever choice you make, a few tweaks to lifestyle, diet, activity level, relaxation and supplementation all play a role.

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