For a woman to
enter menopause, she would generally be somewhere between the age of 48 and 53
and would have been without a monthly period for a minimum of 12 months. At
this time, her body has stopped producing the hormones estrogen and
progesterone. However, just before she goes into menopause, she will go through
what is called pre-menopause. During this time, the woman will begin to notice
a change in her monthly menstrual cycle. Some months she may have a very short,
light period while the next month it may be heavy and last longer than normal.
In addition, the
woman will begin to experience many different symptoms, which are discussed in
this article. The age for pre-menopause varies from 35 to 50, although the
average age is around 45. In addition, the length of pre-menopause could be
just a few months to several years – again, the average is about four to six
years. While pre-menopause is a stressful time, there are things you can do to
make it more tolerable. Typically, the woman would experience symptoms to
include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, depression, difficulty
focusing, lack of concentration, headaches, joint pains, and more!
When menopause
occurs, it is important that the woman get her hormonal system balanced. This
can be done through proper nourishment, supplements, and even exercise.
Remember, while the ovaries are no longer producing the same level of hormone as
before, other things are occurring within the body. For example, the pancreas,
thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and pineal glands are all going through changes.
Therefore, glandular nourishment is crucial.
Another way to help
with menopausal symptoms is to increase the amount of calcium being consumed
whether in foods or through supplements. The reason this is important is that
menopause causes bone loss, which in turn, creates problems with osteoporosis
and/or osteoarthritis. Therefore, extra calcium is needed by the body to
protect the bones. However, calcium supplements and calcium-rich foods do much
more. In this case, you would also find the mood swings leveling out and the
risk of heart disease being decreased. Therefore, be sure to eat dark, leafy
vegetables, increase dairy, and take a good calcium supplement.
As mentioned,
exercise is very valuable for women going through both pre-menopause and
menopause. This will help strengthen bone mass, improve the cardiovascular
system (heart), help improve blood flow, and promote better sleep. In addition,
women want to talk to their doctor or healthcare practitioner about herbal
remedies for the loss of estrogen and progesterone. By taking supplements to
balance out what the body is no longer producing, bone mass is not lost and
vaginal dryness, another common symptom associated with menopause, is no longer
a problem. Remember, a better diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and
whole grains, coupled with daily exercise, supplements, increased calcium, and
balanced hormones will do wonders for getting through the menopausal years.
