As women age, changes take place, which affect their temperament and often cause needless confusion.
A number of symptoms can signal menopause is approaching or occurring. She may become more emotional, as her menstrual cycle becomes sporadic and blood flow fluctuates from light to heavy. Her sensitivity to environmental elements may become heightened. She may become more easily irritated beyond the monthly mood swings since puberty. Night sweats and daytime heat flashes are common, as her body temperature may quickly flare. Sleep patterns, therefore, are usually interrupted. Being around her may become a challenge. But being her is likely even more challenging.
She and her companions need to understand the typical phases in a woman’s life. Making efforts to truly understand helps her and everyone around her to more easily appreciate and embrace the aging process. In the early phase, “estrogen and progesterone fluctuate the most in the female brain.” Since puberty, these two female hormones have been sufficiently secreted by ovaries to maintain fertility. But now the ovaries are shrinking in preparation to bring to a close the baby bearing years.
Gentleness and patience are the order of the day.
Thankfully, it doesn’t last forever. For some, however, it may feel like it really does. “How long it takes depends on each individual woman, her own body and her state of overall health.“
It is important that she be more intentional about her diet, especially eliminating excess animal protein, which causes allergic reaction. Improving the lifestyle, especially exercising in fresh air, reduces stress levels and helps her endure more easily. And being more supportive of her efforts to improve her diet and lifestyle during this transition is helpful to everyone.
Women typically agree to hormone replacement therapies, which can increase a woman’s risk for several serious diseases. But taking the more natural approach is similar to following the manual for a car. The Creator of the body, during Creation Week, provided the manual for maintaining a healthy body.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat” [food] (Genesis 1:29).
Fearfully and wonderfully made, God designed that the adrenal glands take up the production of estrogen. But the adrenal glands become stressed and cannot function properly when “too much sugar, caffeine, and refined foods” have been consumed. The body responds best to a simple diet of nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables in their most natural state and in proper combinations.
For instance, “cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and kale contain indole-3-carbinol, which naturally helps to balance estrogen levels.” High fiber foods help balance estrogen production. “Research also indicates that phytoestrogens improve heart health, specifically in postmenopausal women,” and help increase bone density, especially when taken alongside vitamin D. But of course, the best source of vitamin D is sunlight. Exercise is best done outdoors in the fresh air and sunlight for at least 20 to about 30 minutes.
For heart health and weight management, avoid reclining or taking another snack or meal, until food has been fully digested. Consult this or some other chart to determine digestion time. And plan accordingly to allow the body adequate rest to renew itself, especially between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am.
Water is best taken between meals, about an hour apart from them. The amount of water the body needs depends on one’s personal body weight. Ideally, drink half the body’s weight in ounces. For example, if a person weighs 140 pounds, 70 ounces of water per day is the ideal intake. Distilled or purified water helps keep the blood alkaline.
Keeping the blood pure is key to healthy living, as “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). But consuming blood as food, however, is not to be taken into the body (Leviticus 17:10-14). It is toxic and is often at the root of many health challenges. Therefore, consuming flesh as food is not recommended.
It is important to keep the hormones balanced. “Many herbs and foods contain natural hormones (such as phytoestrogens) or hormone-balancing properties that can help you ease into this transition period.
“Some of the most commonly used herbal remedies to treat menopause symptoms include:
- Ginseng [Various types of ginseng are available to relieve stress and address adrenal fatigue. “Panax ginseng, also known as red ginseng and Korean ginseng, is the classic and original that has been renown for thousands of years. . . . This form can also help with weakness, exhaustion, type 2 diabetes, erectile dysfunction and poor memory.”]
- Evening primrose oil [Taking two 500 mg capsules daily help reduce the intensity of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.]
- Licorice root [For healthy adults, without any contraindications, licorice root (not the red imitation candy) can address adrenal fatigue, PMS and pain.)
- Black cohosh [It’s ability to relieve hot flashes is its greatest and most well-researched asset.
- Wild yams [Yams are not potatoes. But they have similar nutrients and are a great source of complex carbs that won’t easily spike blood sugar. ]
- Red raspberry leaves
- St. John’s wort
- Chaste tree [Also called vitex, the chaste berry reduces uterine fibroids, because it can help to balance the ratio of estrogen to progesterone.
- Sarsaparilla
- Red clover
“It’s wise to consult with a naturopathic doctor first, especially if you have other medical conditions and take medications.”