menopause

Every woman has to go through it, menopause, or the transition from fertility to infertility. It is a period that many people take too lightly but it has a huge impact. There are though, many things you can do to soften the effects, especially in the areas concerning nutrition, lifestyle and exercise. Here are the facts, tips and tricks:

The facts

Every woman goes through menopause. About 80% experience complaints and 34% so intense that their daily lives are affected. Menopause usually begins somewhere around the age of 50 but can also start much earlier. It is the period before, during and after the last menstruation. The menopause actually takes place on one day: the day of the last menstruation. The menopause complaints will then slowly start to disappear after the last menstruation.

Hormonally, the menopause has two phases. During the first phase, the perimenopause, progesterone levels fall meaning that the oestrogen levels, relatively seen, rise. During this phase we speak of oestrogen dominance. Menstruations become more painful, you gain weight, suffer headaches, retain fluid, experience mood swings and often sleep poorly. During the second phase, the post menopause, the oestrogen levels drop as the ovaries cease to work. This is often the period around the menopause when the menstruation becomes irregular and finally stops. During this phase moods become intense, you experience hot flushes, night sweats, loss of concentration, incontinence and osteoporosis (decreased bone strength). The last period is often the heaviest but there is a light at the end of the tunnel ………. most women regard the period after menopause as one of the happiest periods in their life.

The symptoms

Overweight

During menopause you only require 65% of the calories that you required in your twenties. Falling progesterone levels mean that your metabolism slows down and this process occurs quite rapidly. Also, a falling oestrogen level can result in more stomach fat which means the waist can unfortunately disappear. As well as this you may experience an increased feeling of being hungry. It is, therefore, advisable to adjust your eating habits in time and to learn to deal with that feeling of being hungry. Read the tools Mindful Eating & Don’t eat too much.

Belly and strength workouts

Building muscle mass is incredibly important during menopause. Keeping the big muscles in the legs strong will help to stay strong, in shape and active. It also keeps your skeleton strong and helps with keeping your balance. Other benefits can be an increase in energy and strength and improved bone density. Therefore, choose a strength programme in the hot cabin or HIIT in the cabin or studio.

Decreasing bone density

Bones are protected by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Around and after the menopause there is a decrease in these hormones, causing bone breakdown. Sufficient calcium-rich products (such as green leafy vegetables, no dairy products because this is counterproductive) and products with vitamin D are important for the prevention of osteoporosis. You can also supplement calcium and vitamin D. It is also important to choose workouts that put stress on your bones. For example cardio, HIIT, strength training, kickboxing and TRX training. Walking and climbing stairs are also healthy activities.

Mood swings

Falling oestrogen also means a lower activity of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps us feel happy. Women in the menopause suffer up to three times as much feelings of depression and feelings of anxiety. Ensure that you get enough daylight and walk/jog regularly. This stimulates the production of serotonin. Through meditation and yoga and taking the supplement female support, you can help to regulate mood swings.

Hot flushes

During menopause your body’s heating system is disrupted. The hypothalamus sends a message to the brain saying that the temperature must be lowered. So that you don’t overheat, your body starts to sweat and your blood vessels swell which results in your face going red.  Through a peak in your adrenaline you can often experience an ominous feeling just before a hot flush. This is completely normal and passes eventually. Hot flushes take about one to five minutes. By sporting regularly you can train your temperature regulation. This is why sporters are better able to cool their bodies. By regularly training, going to the sauna and exercising in a hot cabin, you sweat more resulting in lesser hot flushes.

Sleeping poorly and stress

During menopause your cortisol levels drop which means your tolerance to stress lowers and your sleep cycle becomes disrupted. In the first phase of menopause extra progesterone may help and in the second phase extra oestrogen. Magnesium supplements can also help against sleeplessness and feelings of anxiousness. For a good nights rest it is important to go to bed before 23:00. Sleep in a cool, dark bedroom and avoid computers and television before going to sleep. To help yourself fall asleep peacefully it can help to do a bodyscan or yoga nidra before going to sleep. You can find many bodyscan meditations on internet as well as some very good meditation apps such as Insight Timer. Many women experience tiredness during menopause resulting in feeling less motivated to train. This results in feeling even more tired. Sport can help to break this cycle.

Loss of concentration

During menopause women often experience a dip in their cognitive performances. The lowering levels of oestrogen and testosterone influence the memory and concentration functions. As a result you are less alert and your ability to reason also lowers. Perform tasks one at a time and do everything with your full attention.

Libido

As the last eggs present themselves some women experience a peak in their desire for sex. Women in their early and middle 40’s often feel flirty and strongly attracted to genetic material. As menopause starts the testosterone levels remain constant meaning your libido remains good. Later on in menopause, many women experience a lower libido but this can be caused by many things. Exhausting children, a relationship in a dip, a badly functioning thyroid or a magnesium deficiency. Bad circulation and a drop in collagen can result in your vagina drying out. There are many creams available for this which can be purchased from the drugstore (for example coconut oil based). Is your libido very low? Then there is a good chance that your testosterone is too low. Keep having sex in this period as it will help to keep your libido up.

Food

Peri-menopause

In the first phase the progesterone levels drop which means the oestrogen levels, relatively seen, are higher. We also speak of oestrogen dominance in this phase. Do you have the idea that you are in this phase, then the foundation ‘Be Happy’ would fit you.

Preferably not

Coffee, alcohol and soya products.

Preferably

Fibre, cinnamon, onion, garlic, leek, bee pollen, citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, radishes, rucola and cabbage).

Supplement advice (bbb has her own label)

• Female support helps by mood swings and has an harmonious effect.
• Magnesium citraat helps relax the body and soul.
• Vitamine D3 is important for muscle strength and healthy bones.

Post menopause

In the second phase the oestrogen levels drop as the ovaries cease to function. Moods become more intense, you experience hot flushes, night sweats, loss of concentration, incontinence and osteoporosis (decreased bone strength). It can help to add vegetable oestrogen to your diet.

Preferably not

Coffee, alcohol and nicotine.

Preferably

Fresh vegetables and vegetable oestrogen

The following products contain vegetable oestrogen:

• Legumes, such as: soya beans, lentils, peas and kidney beans
• Garlic
• Seeds, such as: linseed, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds.
• Grains, such as: oats, barley, rye.
• Fruit, such as: apples, pears, plums, cherries, cranberries, lemons and grapefruits.
• Vegetables, such as: broccoli, carrots and rhubarb
• Certain herbs, such as: cinnamon, sage, red clover, hops, fennel and parsley.

The amino acid tryptophan can be a natural way to help lessen mood swings. There is plenty of tryptophan to be found in protein rich foods but also in pumpkin seeds, lentils, bananas, dates, grains, unpolished rice, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and nuts.

Supplement advice (bbb has her own label)

• Female support helps by mood swings and has an harmonious effect.
• Magnesium citraat helps prevent osteoporosis, sleeplessness and anxiety.
• Vitamin D3 is important for energy, muscle strength and healthy bones.

General nutrition advice

• Add to all the recipes and daily menus the ingredients that fit with the phase you are in. Prepare smoothies from vegetable oestrogen for an extra high concentration.
• Would you like to loose weight? We would advise that you follow start & motivation for the first 5 days. You could also choose to use the basic nutrition as your guideline and add products that fit with the phase you are in. Start & motivation is a good way to get weight loss (back) in motion. Your body is cleansed in 5 days time allowing you to find balance and rhythm in healthy eating.
• After these 5 (or 3) days it is best to continue with the basic nutrition. In the preference list you can see which products you can best choose. The inspiration list is there to give you extra inspiration! On our website you can find delicious and nutritious recipes.