Menopause is the transition during a woman’s life where her menstrual cycles come to an end. Typically this occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, when her ovaries stop producing new eggs. At this stage of life, her body begins to produce less estrogen and as result, a gradual or sudden end to the menstrual cycle occurs. Typically this is confirmed about 1 year after her last period, but the symptoms can last from months to years after the transition. At Anti-Aging Centers of New Jersey, we help women who are going through menopause handle the change and help minimize symptoms experienced with a variety of therapies. Do you know how your diet affects hormones during menopause?
While many women will agree that menopause is not the most comfortable time and that they may experience uncomfortable symptoms, there are things that can be done to help ease the discomfort. Your diet plays an important role in how you may feel during this transitional time.
Symptoms of Menopause
No two women are the same, and the symptoms associated with menopause can vary in severity from person to person. In addition to a gradual reduction and loss of her period, a woman going through menopause may also experience:
- Heart palpitations
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Diminished libido
- Memory lapses
- Headaches
- Urine leakage
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal infections
- Joint pain
- Mood swings such as irritability, depression, and anxiety
Diet and Menopause
Recent studies have shown evidence that certain foods may help relieve, or minimize, some menopause symptoms, such as low bone density, poor sleep and hot flashes.
With a quick decline in estrogen levels, many women may experience lower bone density. Increasing the consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurts, the body will get the essential bone health nutrients it needs to help keep bones strong. In addition, studies have also shown that dairy is linked to helping menopausal women sleep more deeply, since they’re high in glycine.
Omega-3 fatty acids are amazing for all people, but particularly for women who are going through menopause. Incorporating an omega-3 rich foods or supplements into their diets have shown to decrease the frequency of hot flashes. Time to stock up on salmon, flax seeds and chia seeds! This article lists a variety of foods great to eat during menopause.
Treating Menopause
The menopause experience can be a challenging one, but it doesn’t have to be faced alone. Although menopause is considered a natural stage of life rather than a medical condition, women can still turn to their health care professionals for help in coping with symptoms of menopause. At Anti-Aging Centers of New Jersey, we can help!
Diagnosis
The first step in any menopause treatment is to determine whether or not the symptoms experienced are actually caused by menopause. Urine, saliva and blood tests are typically used to check for declined hormone levels associated with the onset of menopause.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy can be used to treat symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. The process involves increasing the body’s estrogen levels through the use of oral medications, patches, or vaginal creams.
Whether your symptoms have begun to impair your quality of life or not, we always recommend that you pursue some type of treatment plan. Ignoring severe menopause symptoms can lead to more serious conditions over time such as a weakening of bone and muscle mass. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and would like to learn more, please contact us for an appointment today. You can click here to fill out a form or dial (973) 998-7770.