- Sidra
WOMEN'S HEALTH & MENOPAUSE
Updated: Aug 20, 2020
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.