It comes to all us gals in due course, but how do we minimise the effects of the menopause. I invited Dr Hannah Short to share her recommendations:

 

GENERAL

  • Stay hydrated (fresh water, herbal teas) – minimise/cut out caffeine & alcohol (common triggers for worsening symptoms)
  • If relevant, seek support to stop smoking (common trigger for hot flushes and worsens bone & heart health)
  • Layer light clothing (and bedlinen). Wear natural, breathable fibres when possible.
  • If you suffer with hot flushes, use a fan; small portable ones are available to take out and about.
  • Fill a small spray bottle with water and use this to spritz yourself if you feel overheated.
  • Consider keeping a journal/using an online app (e.g. Daylio) to see if you can identify any symptom triggers.

 

Healthy Food

NUTRITION

  • Centre diet around plant-based wholefoods: women who follow a plant-based diet have a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. Recent evidence suggests that they may also suffer fewer menopausal symptoms.
  • Think “right carbs, good fats” not “low-carb, high fat” or “no fat”: complex carbohydrates (e.g. root vegetables, beans, oats, wholegrains) and plant-based fats (e.g. nuts, seeds, avocado, good quality olive oil) are essential for good hormonal health.
  • Eat the rainbow AND the alphabet: fill your plate with a wide variety of brightly coloured fruit & veg. Aim to include at least ten different types of vegetable in your meals each week (aim for 30 varieties over the month) – diversity is key to a healthy gut microbiome (and good hormonal & emotional health). Leafy greens and dark-coloured berries are particularly beneficial.
  • Include a serving (or two) of beans/lentils/hummus in your daily diet – a fantastic source of fibre, protein and micronutrients. If you do not already regularly consume these, build up intake slowly and consider short-term digestive enzymes (e.g. BeanAssist)
  • Consider switching cow’s milk for fortified soya/oat/hemp milk (more heart-healthy)
  • Include minimally processed soya foods in your diet: e.g. edamame beans, tofu, tempeh, miso – helpful for menopausal symptoms, heart and breast health.
  • Flavour your food with all manner of herbs & spices (rich in polyphenols – plant-based micronutrients)
  • Minimise refined/processed carbohydrates and junk food (e.g. refined sugar, white bread, baked goods, take-aways) and animal products (meat, eggs & dairy).
  • Aim to eat all meals within a 12-hour window e.g. between 7am & 7pm. This helps with weight maintenance and hormonal balance.

Cookbook recommendations:

The Happy Pear: Recipes for Happiness – David & Stephen Flynn, The Oh-She-Glows Cookbook – Angela Liddon, River Cottage: Much More Veg – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook – Del Sroufe, Virtually Vegan – Heather Whinney, The No-Meat Athlete Cookbook – Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine.

 

SUPPLEMENTS

Recommended for everyone, irrespective of diet:

  • Vitamin B12: Aim for 10 micrograms (mcg) daily or at least 2000 micrograms once a week
  • Vitamin D3: Aim for 10 mcg/400 IU October-April (in spring/summer ensure sun exposure to skin on arms/legs/back for at least 20 minutes daily; continue to supplement if not possible)
  • Iodine: RDA 140 mcg daily (do not exceed 0.5 mg/day; avoid kelp-based supplements)

For the above, I recommend the VEG 1 Supplement (affordable & reliable) available online from The Vegan Society

  • Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): Algae derived EPA & DHA (250 mg/daily) or 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed (e.g. added to cereal/smoothies/salad/soups) and 6 walnut halves daily.

 

sleep

SLEEP

  • Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night
  • If you suffer from hot flushes/night sweats, sleep naked or wear cotton nightclothes. Consider investing in a cold gel pack or cooling pillow. Avoid hot drinks before bed; take sips of cold water instead.
  • Ensure your bedroom is comfortably cool. Keep the window slightly open and/or a fan near your bed.
  • Switch off electronic devices at least one hour before bed and/or consider wearing blue-light blocking glasses in the evening
  • Do not drink caffeinated beverages after midday.
  • Avoid alcohol before bed – not only does it reduce good-quality sleep, it is an endocrine (hormone) disrupter and can affect HRT.
  • Aim to get up at approximately the same time each day to establish a routine (this will help with hormonal balance)
  • Aim to get outside in the morning daylight (whatever the weather) for at least 20 minutes each day. If this is not possible, try and have your breakfast/morning drink close to a window/in a naturally lit area.

EXERCISE/MOVEMENT

  • Aim to move your body daily – this is important for mental & physical well-being, as well as hormonal balance.
  • If you don’t already have an exercise regimen, start slowly – even a ten-minute walk around the block has its benefits https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/active10/home, or consider a five-minute morning online yoga session e.g. https://yogawithadriene.com/5-minute-morning-yoga/
  • Weight-bearing exercise (e.g. hiking, running, dancing, weight-training, tennis) – at least twice weekly – is essential for bone health after menopause. Swimming and cycling are great forms of exercise for heart health and general well-being but will not prevent osteoporosis.
  • Consider joining your local Park Run http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ or Great Run Local https://www.greatrunlocal.org/ – great not only for exercise, but also community-building, social inclusion and gets you out into nature (which has enormous benefits for our mental health). Do not be put off if you do not run (yet!); many people walk or walk-run around the courses. Children and dogs are welcome too
  • Balance and core-strength are increasingly important as we age and reduce the risk of falling in later life. Another reason to consider a regular yoga practice, or why not sign up to a local Pilates or tai chi class? Find something you enjoy and can look forward to.

 

relax

STRESS REDUCTION/SELF CARE

  • Stress reduction is important for all of us and is paramount during the menopausal transition
  • 5-10 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation/breathing exercises can provide enormous benefits and lower the stress response: Headspace, Calm and Insight Timer are all meditation apps you can trial for free. Clarity is an app designed specifically with menopause in mind.
  • Take at least 15-30 minutes a day, every day, to do something you enjoy (and solely for you) e.g. reading a novel, playing an instrument, having a bath with relaxing essential oils, listening to your favourite music/podcast, walking in nature.
  • BE KIND TO YOURSELF

 

Suggested reading (holistic health, exercise, inspiration):

The 4 Pillar Plan and The Stress Solution: Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Sorted: The Active Woman’s Guide to Health: Dr Juliet McGrattan

 

Podcasts (health, wellbeing, inspiration):

Feel Better, Live More https://drchatterjee.com/blog/category/podcast/

Deliciously Ella Podcast https://play.acast.com/s/deliciouslyellapodcast

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations http://www.oprah.com/app/supersoul-sessions.html

 

logo HS

www.drhannahshort.co.uk