"Menopause"
Today we're going to talk about a new chapter in a woman's life. So to my male follower . . . if you'd like to skip this Health Tip, I totally understand. Or if you're willing to learn for your female loved ones . . . I commend you!
As we know "Menopause" is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. Peri-menopause normally starts in the early 40s, with 1 in every 1000 women starting as early as their 30s. Menopause happens because a woman's ovaries stop producing the hormones "estrogen" and "progesterone". And we know we've reached "menopause" when we haven't had a period for 1 year. After this point we are now in post-menopause.
Through this process, many changes can happen to our body such as hot flashes, weight gain, or vaginal dryness. Menopause can also increase your risk for certain conditions like osteoporosis. And unfortunately, many symptoms may continue for an average of 4 to 5 years after, but they do decrease in frequency and intensity. Thank goodness!
So first let's talk about how as peri-menopausal women we can make this journey easier. Most important is preparing the body with things like regular exercise, stop smoking, get more sleep and try going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day, drink less alcohol, get to a healthy weight and stay there and get enough calcium in your diet. These are all early measures we can take to prevent having a "menopause from hell"
Okay . . . so now we're smack dab in the middle of menopause . . . what can we do to help stop some of the unbearable symptoms? Because hot flashes and mood swings aren't fun for any of us. You or your partner!
Well . . . there are certain "teas" that will give some menopausal relief such as:
Black cohosh root - has been found to reduce vaginal dryness and hot flashes - this tea works well because it contains "phtoestrogens" which are key plant compounds that imitate the body's own estrogen
Ginseng - helps reduce hot flashes and night sweats and recent research has found it can lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease in "postmenopausal" women
Dong quai - helps to balance and regulate estrogen levels - it has also been found to lessen cramps and PMS and can ease the pelvic pain in menopause as well.
There are many other options I haven't listed such as vitamins.
Now what about post-menopausal women? Well . . . the biggest factor that seems to linger on for years are the "hot flashes" and "night sweats" which affect about 75 - 85% of post-menopausal women.
So what's the answer for you ladies? . . . Well . . . that would be my favorite little spice "Ginger"!!!!