Supporting you body during menopause doesn’t have to involve HRT unless that’s what’s right for you. There are several ways in which you can relieve menopausal symptoms with a natural approach, if that’s what you’d prefer.

Menopause brings with it a myriad of uncomfortable and sometimes more severe symptoms. Ranging from hot flushes and headaches to an increased risk of blood clots.

One of the best places to start is with some natural and easy approaches. These are based around improving your hormone balance, in particular improving oestrogen metabolism. Too much oestrogen in the body causes low muscle mass, increases body fat percentage, water retention and increases risk of cancer. As with many other conditions, the best way to manage symptoms is with a healthy lifestyle.

What dietary changes can you make that will ease menopause?

• Fishy Fats – Omega 3 rich foods are found in oily fish, such as salmon and mackerel. They help to improve your oestrogen metabolism as well as reduce levels of aromatase, an enzyme which transforms testosterone into oestrogen. Swap your full English for avocado, salmon and poached eggs on toast for a delicious breakfast to start your day.
• Allow Antioxidants – Good news if you are partial to a glass of red wine! Red wine is rich in antioxidants which work to remove oestrogen from the body. Be aware, you need to drink in moderation. It’s important to reduce or remove your intake of spirits and other forms of alcohol which increase levels of aromatase.
• Super Seeds – Add a quick hormone balancing boost to your meals with handfuls of seeds. Try adding to salads, stir fries and even a top toast or porridge. Sesame, linseed, flax and fenugreek are all great to have on hand to help protect the body from increased levels of oestrogen, all whilst adding texture and variety to your meals.

Herbal or vitamin supplements can also help…

• Hot in Here – Hot flushes are arguably the most well known symptom of menopause, causing discomfort both during the day and at night with many women experiencing night sweats. From vitamins to herbal supplements, there’s a range of remedies available to help cool you off. For example, Vitamin E, not only does this help support healthy skin and eyes but it can help to reduce both frequency and severity of hot flushes. A supplement or tea containing sage could help to reduce hot flushes over prolonged use, and the powerful herb can also help with mood swings.
• Time for Tea – There might not be any proof that Green Tea might solves all the world’s woes but it my opinion, it comes pretty close! Green tea has high anti-aromatase action, helping with hormone balance. It’s also been found that women who drink green tea are at lower risk of breast cancer. Not to mention it’s full of antioxidants to protect your cells. Why not ad a slice of zesty lemon to your green tea for another antioxidant boost. This protects from oestrogen damage, whilst providing fibre for improved gut function.

The way you manage your menopause is up to you.

As we’ve mentioned some women opt for Hormone Replacement Therapy and others will prefer complementary therapies. I hope this gives you an idea of the power of the natural remedies available to help you manage menopause.

For more information on our Menopausal Weight Loss Programme and to book your initial consultation with Andrea, click here.