Menopause 411 - Understanding Hormones
The key to understanding menopause begins with a pearl-sized area of the brain called the hypothalamus, the body’s central command center for hormones, which is responsible for instructing glands to release the right balance of hormones to keep body temperature, thirst and hunger, blood pressure, heart beat, fat metabolism, and even emotions and sex drive in balance.
When you are younger, the hypothalamus sends a message each month to the pituitary gland to produce hormones needed to release an egg. This in turn signals the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone to support fertilization and growth during a women’s reproductive stage of life.
This process continues through perimenopause. Women often describe this time frame as “going through menopause,” but perimenopause is a natural stage of life that can last up to 10 years and starts when estrogen and progesterone production decline. Often during this phase, hormones can fluctuate more, making some women feel like they are on a “hormone roller coaster.” While some women may not experience any symptoms, many women can experience symptoms like a change in periods, hot flashes, brain fog and sleep disturbances. While there is no standard age, the average age most women start feeling symptoms is 42.
After 12 full months without a period, the body starts to rapidly lose estrogen production, and the next phase of life is called post-menopause. This experience is different for every woman, but some of the most common symptoms are hot flashes and night sweats, trouble sleeping, change in libido and mood swings. Aside from potential symptoms, bone health becomes a concern due to the decline and imbalance in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These hormones contribute to the healthy bone remodeling process. Because of this imbalance, women can lose 7-10% of their bone density in as little as three to five years of perimenopause, and 20-50% of postmenopausal women are affected by low bone density.
Supporting your hormones
There are many things you can do to support your own hormones, starting with getting plenty of protein. Amino acids from protein are the building blocks of hormones. Great sources include organic eggs, tofu, quinoa, yogurt, nuts, whey, hemp or pea protein powders, or an animal protein like grass-fed red meat, organic chicken or wild fish. Try to get a palm-sized amount at each meal, and snacks that contain about a third of that amount.
Physical or emotional stress disrupts adrenal glands and overall hormone balance. Meditation and breathing exercises can significantly reduce stress, stabilize mood and improve sleep and energy. Using stress reducing techniques has been shown to benefit the immune and endocrine systems as well. Getting good sleep is also critical as it gives the brain and body time to recharge, relax and heal. Chronic insomnia and poor sleep can reduce testosterone levels by 40%.
Supplementation
Hormone imbalance can be the root cause of the symptoms experienced during peri and post-menopause. As supplement science is advancing, there are now proven supplements that are focused on balancing hormones, rather than just chasing symptoms. In fact, recent research on the hormonebalancing ingredient Maca-GO® shows the highest success rates of any natural product—84% percent! New science on specific types of maca focused on women and the hypothalamus has, for the first time demonstrated in published clinical trials, statistically significant effects on hormones in peri and post-menopausal women.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Learn more about these published clinical trials here: https://www.femmenessence.com/clinical-research .html
Kim Ross is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) and Certified Dietician Nutritionist (CDN) with 9 years of experience in the nutrition industry. She is one of approximately 300 practitioners worldwide to receive the designation of an Institute of Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP). She operates a clinical practice, Functional Medicine by Kim Ross in New York, and serves as the Medical Education Manager for Symphony Natural Health.
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