During menopause, many women have unpleasant side effects, like more sweating, mood swings, and a slower metabolism. You might be able to get rid of these symptoms by changing what you eat and how you live. It has also been shown that dietary changes can alleviate symptoms.
Changing Your Way of Life and Using Natural Remedies
The majority of menopause symptoms, fortunately, don’t last forever. Use these suggestions to mitigate or avoid their impact:
Chill out, hot flashes.
Put on some extra clothes, drink some cold water, or go to a cooler place. Find out what brings on your hot flashes and try to avoid them. Many women are sensitive to heat, so many things can set it off, including hot drinks, coffee, spicy foods, alcohol, stress, hot weather, and even a warm environment.
Decrease vaginal discomfort.
Try a silicone-based lubricant or moisturizer (like Astroglide, K-Y jelly, Sliquid, or others) or a water-based vaginal lubricant (like Replens, K-Y liquid beads, Sliquid, or others) from your local drugstore.
If you have a sensitivity to glycerin, which can cause burning or irritation, you may want to select an alternative product. Keeping your sexual life busy can ease vaginal pain by bringing more blood to the area.
Spend sufficient time to sleep.
Keep away from caffeine and alcohol, as both can make it difficult to fall asleep. Do some exercise during the day, but not right before you crash. If you have trouble sleeping because of hot flashes, you may need to find a strategy to control them.
Take some time to relax and unwind.
Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, timed breathing, visualizing, massage, and progressive muscle relaxation can help with the symptoms of menopause. Several publications and resources available online demonstrate various methods of unwinding.
Work on building up your core strength.
Kegel exercises, which work on the muscles in the pelvic floor, have been shown to help with different levels of urine leakage.
Have a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Be sure to eat a wide range of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Reduce your intake of sugar, oil, and saturated fat. If you are worried about getting the right amount of calcium or vitamin D, talk to a medical professional.
Avoid tobacco products at all costs.
Heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer, and many other diseases and conditions are all made more likely by smoking. This could lead to more and stronger hot flashes and an earlier start to menopause.
Make regular time for physical activity.
Avoid age-related health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and bone loss by exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes, five days a week).
Therapies outside the mainstream medical system
While numerous strategies have been advocated as helpful in alleviating menopause symptoms, very little data supports their effectiveness. Some examples of CAM that have been explored or are currently being investigated are:
Oestrogen-like compounds are found in plants (phytoestrogens). Estrogens can be found in foods in their natural forms. Isoflavones and lignans are the two most common forms of phytoestrogens. Soybeans, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes are good sources of isoflavones. Flaxseed, whole grains, and certain fruits and vegetables all contain lignans.
Hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms may be alleviated by oestrogens found in some foods, but this has not been proven. Because of the possibility of mild estrogen-like effects from isoflavones, women who have had breast cancer should see their physician before adding isoflavone supplements to their diet.
There is good evidence that the chemicals in the herb sage, which have estrogen-like properties, can help control the symptoms of menopause. Those who are allergic to sage, as well as pregnant or nursing mothers, should avoid the herb and its oils. When using this product, people with epilepsy or high blood pressure should be careful.
Hormone replacement therapy with bioidentical hormones Hormones like this are derived from plants. If a product is labeled “bioidentical,” it means its hormones are molecularly equivalent to those your body already generates. Bioidentical hormones that have received FDA approval are currently on the market.
But the FDA does not watch over the process of compounding, so the quality and risks of different preparations could be very different. There is no evidence that bioidentical hormones are more effective than traditional hormone therapy at relieving menopause symptoms. Also, there is no proof that they are safer than other treatments for hormone replacement.
Black cohosh.
Several women who suffer from menopausal symptoms have found relief with black cohosh. However, there is scant evidence that black cohosh is helpful, and the supplement may be dangerous for women who have had breast cancer or who are at risk of developing the disease.
Yoga.
Yoga has not been shown to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause. But doing balancing exercises like yoga or tai chi can make you stronger and more coordinated, which may make you less likely to fall and break a bone. Before beginning any balance activities, you should consult with your doctor. Take a session to learn the correct way to hold poses and breathe deeply.
Acupuncture.
Several studies have shown that acupuncture can help with hot flashes for a short time, but these results have not been repeated. Further study is required.
Hypnosis.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health says that hypnotherapy may help some menopausal women have less hot flashes. The research also found that hypnotherapy helped people sleep better and had less of an effect on their daily lives.
Some of the dietary supplements you may be familiar with include red clover, kava, dong quai, DHEA, evening primrose oil, and wild yam (natural progesterone cream). Without supporting scientific proof, many goods may even be dangerous.
If you are going through menopause, you should talk to your doctor before taking any herbal or dietary supplements. Herbal remedies are not governed by the Food and Drug Administration, and some of them can be harmful or have negative interactions with other prescriptions you may be taking.
These are 10 all-natural remedies that can help ease menopause discomfort.
1. A diet high in calcium and vitamin D is recommended.
The risk of osteoporosis is raised because of the hormonal changes that occur after menopause.
Consuming sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D has been linked to healthy bones.
As an added bonus, postmenopausal women who get enough vitamin D have a decreased chance of suffering bone-weakness-related hip fractures.
Dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and cheese are just a few examples of calcium-rich foods.
Calcium can also be found in abundance in green, leafy vegetables. Tofu, beans, sardines, and other foods are also available in large quantities.
Certain breakfast cereals, fruit juices, and dairy-free milk substitutes also contain added calcium.
Since your skin makes vitamin D when it’s exposed to sunlight, the sun is your main source. But your skin becomes less effective at producing it as you age.
Taking a supplement or boosting dietary sources of vitamin D may be helpful if you don’t spend much time in the sun or if you cover up to avoid becoming sunburned.
Fatty fish, eggs, cod liver oil, and foods with added vitamin D are all great sources.
For healthy bones, it is important to get enough calcium and vitamin D before, during, and after menopause.
2. Take care to stay at a healthy weight.
During menopause, weight gain is frequent.
Hormonal shifts, aging, lifestyle choices, and genetic predisposition are all potential causes.
A higher likelihood of disorders like diabetes and heart disease is associated with gaining weight, particularly around the waist.
Menopause symptoms could also be influenced by being overweight.
In a study of 17,473 postmenopausal women, a weight loss of at least 10% of body weight, or 10 pounds (4.5 kg), over a year was associated with a significant reduction in hot flashes and nocturnal sweats.
Getting to and staying at a healthy weight may make menopause symptoms less severe and lower the risk of some diseases.
3. Load up on fruits and vegetables.
By eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, you can avoid many of the symptoms of menopause.
Fruits and vegetables are beneficial for weight loss and maintenance since they are low in calories and might make you feel full for longer.
They have been linked to a lower risk of several ailments, including heart disease.
This is important because women who have gone through menopause already have a higher chance of getting heart disease. Natural aging, weight gain, and low estrogen levels are examples of such causes.
The consumption of fruits and vegetables may also be beneficial for halting bone loss.
Observational research involving 3,236 women aged 50 to 59 found that eating a lot of fruits and vegetables may slow down bone loss.
In short, eating a lot of fruit and vegetables may help keep your bones healthy and keep you from gaining too much weight and getting sick.
4. Stay away from foods that cause reactions.
Hot flushes, nocturnal sweats, and mood swings could be brought on by eating certain foods.
When consumed late at night, they may be much more potent as triggers.
Caffeine, alcohol, and sweet or spicy foods are common precipitating factors.
Document your symptoms in a journal. Reduce or eliminate your intake of these foods if you find that they bring on menopause symptoms for you.
CONCLUSION It has been shown that eating or drinking certain things might bring on hot flashes, nocturnal sweats, and other mood swings. Caffeine, alcohol, and foods high in sugar or spice all fall into this category.
5. Regular exercise.
There is not enough data to say whether or not exercising can help with hot flashes and nocturnal sweats.
Yet, additional benefits of exercise, including Pilates-based exercise programs, have been shown to be real. Some of these advantages include more energy and a faster metabolism, stronger bones and joints, less stress, and a better night’s sleep.
In a study involving 40 postmenopausal women, researchers in Korea found that after 12 weeks of walking, the participants saw significant improvements in their physical and mental health, as well as their quality of life.
Cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis are just some of the diseases and ailments that can be avoided with regular exercise.
Some studies show that regular exercise may help lower the increased risk of heart disease that comes with menopause.
Regular exercise might help with menopause symptoms like not being able to sleep, feeling anxious, having a bad mood, and being tired. In addition to helping prevent weight gain and disease, it also has other health benefits.
6. Eat more phytoestrogen-rich foods.
Phytoestrogens are phytochemicals found in plants that can produce estrogen-like effects.
Hence, they may aid in achieving hormonal equilibrium.
In Asia, women who have gone through menopause are less likely to have hot flashes. This could be because countries like Japan eat a lot of phytoestrogens.
Examples of high-phytoestrogen foods are:
- soybeans
- tofu
- tempeh
- flaxseeds
- linseeds
- seeds of the sesame plant
- Beans
However, different preparation procedures result in different levels of phytoestrogen in the final product.
Menopausal women who had a diet high in soy had lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and hot flash and night sweat intensity, according to a single study.
However, the question of whether or not soy products are healthy remains unresolved.
Based on what we know so far, phytoestrogens found in whole foods are better than dietary supplements or processed foods with added soy protein.
The phytoestrogen content of food may have a small effect on hot flashes and cardiovascular disease risk. The data, however, is contradictory.
7. Get plenty of fluids
Menopause is a time when dryness can be a problem. The drop in estrogen levels is probably to blame for this.
These signs and symptoms can be alleviated by drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water daily.
Hormonal fluctuations can cause swelling, but drinking water helps alleviate the discomfort.
Because water makes you feel full and also slightly speeds up your metabolism, it can help you lose weight and keep it off.
If you drink 17 ounces (500 ml) of water 30 minutes before a meal, you may consume 13 percent fewer calories overall.
Regular water intake has been linked to a number of health benefits, such as preventing weight gain, making it easier to lose weight, and easing the symptoms of dryness.
8. You should cut back on processed foods and added sugars.
If you eat a lot of processed carbohydrates and sugar, your blood sugar levels can rise and fall quickly, making you feel tired and angry. This could make menopause even more uncomfortable for certain people.
In fact, one study indicated that postmenopausal women who ate a lot of refined carbohydrates were more likely to experience sadness.
Bone health may be negatively impacted by eating a lot of processed foods, especially if those foods are used as a substitute for a healthy, well-balanced diet.
A large observational study found that women between the ages of 50 and 59 who ate a lot of processed and snack foods had weaker bones.
Women who have gone through menopause and eat a lot of processed foods and refined carbs are more likely to feel sad and have weaker bones.
9. Eat regularly.
When going through menopause, it could be helpful to maintain a regular eating schedule.
If you don’t eat regularly, it could make your menopause symptoms worse, and it can be hard to stay at a healthy weight.
Meal skipping was linked to a 4.3% decrease in weight loss in postmenopausal women who participated in a weight control program for a year.
It has been suggested that irregular eating habits can exacerbate menopause symptoms. During and after menopause, it can be hard to keep a healthy weight, so skipping meals might not be a good idea.
10. Consume Meals High in Protein
Keeping your protein intake high throughout the day can slow or stop the natural decline in muscle mass that comes with getting older.
Some research suggests that eating protein at each meal can mitigate the muscle tissue breakdown that comes with getting older.
A high-protein diet can aid in weight loss by preventing muscle loss and increasing metabolic rate
Meat, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, and dairy are all excellent sources of protein.
Disclaimer:
This information is for educational purposes only, and no medical advice should be inferred from it. Before changing your diet or adding supplements, please talk to your doctor.
The author’s views are his or her own. The facts and opinions in the article have been taken from various articles and commentaries available in the online media and Eastside Writers does not take any responsibility or obligation for them.
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