Natural Anti Aging

What happens at menopause to the successful career woman?  You’ve worked hard all your life and success arrived at what seems like a long time ago. Time management, multi-tasking, goal achievement and long hard hours seem to come naturally to you. Nothing can stop you. You work hard; you are driven by adrenaline and power. Then suddenly in your mid to late 40s – early 50s, you are stopped in your tracks, you’re feeling symptoms of moodiness, depression, hot flashes creep up on you at the most inconvenient times, your sleep pattern is disturbed and your weight is out of control. Menopause has arrived.

How do you handle this unforeseen change of life that grips you physically, mentally and emotionally? Before, you were in control of everything that surrounded you and now suddenly there are menopause symptoms affecting your daily life which are out of your control. How do you deal with these changes while still expected to “take charge” as the accomplished executive you are.

The first thing you must do to feel better is find a doctor who understands hormonal change in perimenopausal and menopausal women. Regular training of doctors does not include a massive amount of education on menopause and hormonal change in women. A doctor needs specialized training to be able to advise his patient who has arrived at this stage of life. A doctor who is not educated in menopause will only prescribe you a one size fits all chemical hormone replacement therapy and probably an anti-depressant.

A doctor who has had training in bioidentical hormones will test your hormone levels and prescribe you natural bioidentical hormones compounded to replace what hormones are low or or missing in your body. He or she will monitor your hormone levels to ensure you are getting the correct amount of progesterone, estrogen and perhaps testosterone. You will feel symptom relief in anywhere from two weeks to one month’s time. They will also be able to coach you to eat the things you need to eat at this stage of life. They will recommend the nutritional supplements you need to take to fortify your body. For a doctor in your area, check either our doctor’s page for doctors in Canada or the United States.

A visit to a naturopath can be worth it because they can also recommend the dietary changes you need to make in your diet as well as the nutritional supplements you need take to maintain your body’s health.

For yourself, you can begin an exercise program if you haven’t already, one that will not only keep your joints and muscles limber, but aid in relaxation from your daily stresses. Yoga will do you wonders at this time in your life. It does all of the above.

If you find yourself dealing with incredible amounts of stress, now is the time to learn to deal with it. Stress itself causes 90% of the diseases of aging. Enduring it is not the solution. Read our article on stress and the ways you can reduce the levels of stress in your life. Learn first to relax and take time to “get away from it all”.

For other wonderful things you can do for yourself, pamper yourself regularly with a good hair cut, facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. Discover ways you can eliminate chemicals in your life by following a more organic way of living. And if you are worried about the competition and want to maintain your most youthful look, check out what type of cosmetic surgery and fillers are available to you to help you look your best.  All of these things you can do for yourself to help you cope with the onset of menopause.

Perimenopause is the medical term for the time before menopause which can begin 10 to 15 years before actual menopause. The average age for menopause to begin is about 51 years of age, but it can occur sooner or later than that. Perimenopause can occur in women as young as 35 years old. At this time, your body is changing and producing less hormones. You can experience some or all of the following physical and emotional symptoms:

• Menstrual changes – your periods become sporadic, some months you begin to skip your period or you could have heavier or lighter flow
• You could experience hot flashes or night sweats
• Unexplained weight gain – especially around the waist area as your body begins producing less estrogen
• Mood changes – depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings due to fluctuating hormone levels
• Vaginal dryness – caused by decreased levels of estrogen
• Urinary problems causing increased urinary tract problems
• Loss of libido due to hormonal fluctuations – declining levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA
• Sleep problems due to hormonal fluctuations which cause hot flashes and night sweats
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating

Healthy Solutions:

• Eat a healthy low carb diet, supplemented with vitamins and plenty of vegetables
• Have your doctor monitor your hormone levels and supplement if necessary with bioidentical hormones
• Quit smoking if you haven’t already
• Eliminate stress from your life
• Follow a regular exercise program
• Reduce your alcoholic consumption
• Add organic soya milk to your diet
• Switch to organic foods
• Consult a naturopathic doctor for information on nutritional supplementation for this stage in your life.

Speak with your health practitioner.  You can deal with the symptoms of perimenopause or premenopause naturally and have a high quality of life.