Having recently read an article on the menopause written by a man….
I decided to research the subject to see if I could find ways that “we the women” could alleviate some of the symptoms that our bodies experience during this time of re-adjustment.
Change does not always have to be negative, it should not be “abandon all hope, all is lost and frigid” it’s all about perception. Don’t forget girls, 40 is the new 30…
My research comes from a natural organic stand point, one that looks at the positives in this inevitable rite of passage. I am sure there are many women in the world today who do not consider the menopause as an issue, many of them have had years and years of monthly periods, some incredibly painful and difficult to deal with, whilst either working or bringing up small children.
Not to mention, from the age of 12 upwards, organising our periods during school hours- that can be tough. So the first positive news for us women is no more monthly cycle. Yippee!
The best-kept secret of good health and well-being during the menopause is to eat as naturally as possible and when I say naturally, I mean plenty of fresh raw fruits and vegetables.
Researchers have found that it is better to eat smaller but more frequent meals which will help stabilise blood sugar levels and to avoid tea, coffee, white flour, refined sugar and alcohol, which not only disrupt these levels, but also deprive the body of vital nutrients often creating an imbalance in the pH levels of the body, which in turn can lead to many of the known diseases of today.
If we took note of dietary advice, not only would our passage be much smoother but we would lose weight, feel fitter and have much more energy. I have seen mature, beautiful women who follow a healthy raw diet, who drink juice each day and don’t consume very much alcohol, with more energy, brain power, libido and drive than most twenty year olds.
If women by their 40th birthday have not begun to look at their health then, yes… I can see how they would have a rough ride come 45 to 50. However, if you consider that a healthy diet and moderate exercise will keep you fit, toned and will build muscle and bone strength - by just 50 skips a day you can increase bone density by a small but significant 4% - just think what could be achieved if you started a real lifestyle change.
If you are going through the menopause now, you need to eat a diet that is rich in nutrients – many foods are known as nature’s stress-busters and nutrients need to be replaced every day. Imagine filling a Ferrari with diesel… see how far you could drive before it would just stop working! Ladies, our bodies are a little like a Ferrari… If you put in the wrong fuel, you will stop working and sometimes quite literally.
The very best present a girl can give to herself on her 40th birthday, or any age really, is a total body purification program, re-program and clear out the old, making way for a new way of being. It could set you up for the next 40 years of your life, why would you not want optimum health and vitality.
After you have purified your system, your body will be ready to take on effective herbs that help to rebalance hormone levels. These have adaptogenic properties and include Agnus castus, (or chaste berry) which can help prevent hot flushes for many women. Valerian is used to ease tension and Korean (Panax) Ginseng will boost the activity levels of the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys and produce adrenaline in response to stress signals from the body.
B vitamins, which are known as nature’s stress-busters must be replaced every day. Good healthy food sources of this important nutrient include poultry, salmon, eggs, almonds, cheese, bran, brown rice, fortified breakfast cereals and yoghurt.
Magnesium is the second most commonly deficient mineral in women. Known as nature’s tranquilliser and found in brown pasta, nuts, coconut water and pulses. It also plays a key role in the absorption of calcium that will help protect against osteoporosis during menopause and help to lighten the mood swings.
If you have to choose just one herb to ease you through what is, after all, our perfectly natural rite of passage, then take the Chinese herb, Dong quai - which has oestrogenic properties and nourishes and thickens the thinned walls of the vagina and bladder. Dong quai can also help ease menopausal rheumatism and is rich in magnesium to deepen sleep disturbed by night sweats.
A cautionary note however, supplements can work well, but to be honest: if you are eating an unhealthy diet, drinking and smoking, you will not only be damaging your body but you may as well just pop the pills into the loo and flush the toilet. If your colon is full of old faecal matter, possibly acquired over the last 25 years, then the nutrients and herbs cannot be absorbed making them a waste of time and money …
And for those of you that think that a woman’s life is over once she has entered the menopause, bear in mind that a girlfriend of mine who had been through the menopause and had separated from her husband, found love again at 52 and within the year was having her monthly cycle. So, to any men out there… the menopause for woman is not a disease, it’s a time of absolute freedom on so many levels...so enjoy it; and tell her everyday that she is amazing…..

Deborah Williamson is the founder of Puriti programmes for Life. info@puriti.org