Did you know that in the United States the average age for menopause is between 45 and 55? No matter whether you experience menopause earlier or later than that age, menopause management can always be a hard problem to deal with. Some of the symptoms such as hot flushes and sweating can be hard to tolerate and they can make many women feel powerless.
However, by following a few smart choices and holistic options, you might find that menopause doesn’t have to be a horrible thing in your life. Keep reading and learn more about how to deal with menopause below.
The Symptoms of Menopause
The symptoms of menopause are different for every woman and for that reason, managing menopause can be difficult. Menopause is a time when a woman’s sex hormones change and, as a result, a lot of changes start to happen in the body. Many liken menopause to a second puberty, but the changes are the opposite of the changes that occur in puberty.
For example, when a woman goes through menopause, she no longer has a period and she can no longer get pregnant. If you have gone 12 months without having a period, you can say that you have successfully gotten through menopause. Menopause can last for several years and, depending on the severity of your symptoms, it can interfere with your social life, work, and sex life.
For example, menopausal women tend to experience diminished libido which can interfere with their romantic relationships. Even if they don’t experience this drop in libido, they still might experience vaginal dryness. This dryness can make it difficult or even painful to have sex.
The walls of the vagina may also feel thinner and weaker. This is the result of the drop in female hormones that are associated with menopause. Other common symptoms include hot flushes.
Treating hot flushes can be difficult because they can happen at any time of the day or night and are often unexpected. They can cause excessive sweating, the feeling of extreme heat, and even the feeling of panic. Some other common symptoms of menopause include weight gain, bloating, hair loss or thinning, and thinning of the skin.
While some symptoms can’t be avoided, you might be able to try some natural remedies to improve or eliminate certain symptoms. Doing this can make your menopausal years much more bearable.
Stay at a Healthy Weight
Weight gain is a common problem that many menopausal women experience. As women age, they tend to accumulate fat around their abdomens, breasts, and hips. However, fat may also accumulate in the upper arms and thighs.
Middle-aged women tend to gain weight because their metabolism is starting to slow down. Menopausal women may eat the same amount of food as they did in their youth, but because their bodies can no longer break down that food and turn it into energy as quickly, the food often turns into body fat. Being overweight can exacerbate the symptoms of menopause in a variety of ways.
But besides that, being overweight is also unhealthy in general. Studies have shown that overweight women are more likely to experience more hot flashes and night sweats. When these women lose weight, the studies found that these women experienced fewer of these symptoms and some were able to eliminate these symptoms altogether.
Being overweight can also put a strain on your heart and joints. Any extra weight you have can eventually start to damage your knees and ligaments. More than that, being overweight increases your risk of heart disease and other vascular problems.
Consume More Vitamin D
When it comes to natural remedies for menopause, you can’t forget about vitamin D. A menopause symptom you might not notice is the weakening of your bones. As women age, their bones become weaker and more porous, making them more prone to fractures.
You can prevent this from happening by consuming more vitamin D. You might already know that your body makes its own vitamin D when you go out in the sun. However, the body only produces very small amounts of vitamin D on its own.
For that reason, it’s best to supplement your diet with vitamin D pills. This will ensure that your bones will stay as strong as possible as you age.
Eat the Rainbow
Eating the rainbow refers to eating all sorts of fruits and vegetables, especially fruits and vegetables of different colors. Imagine broccoli, mangos, carrots, bananas, blueberries, and so on. Eating all these different foods will supercharge your body with nutrition.
Many menopausal women make the mistake of stress-eating. Stress-eating usually involves unhealthy junk food such as cookies, pretzels, or chips. These foods are loaded with salt and carbohydrates while also lacking any real nutrition.
When you snack on these foods, you will be more likely to gain weight and you won’t be any healthier from it. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables can help you maintain your weight and even lose weight. Besides that, fruits and vegetables are full of natural nutrients that can improve the overall health of your body.
Many fruits and vegetables are also full of antioxidants. Antioxidants are very helpful for reducing any inflammation you might have in the body. This is because antioxidants can fight against free radicals which are substances in the body that cause inflammation in the first place.
Menopause Management Made Easy
Menopause management doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you know how to approach it. You can conquer many of your menopause symptoms with a few lifestyle changes such as losing weight, taking supplements, and following a healthy diet.
To learn more, check out the health section on our website.