Month: April 2019

  • The key to success: unmask your self-defeating behaviors

    Do you have a friend, relative or co-worker who keeps making the same mistakes over and over? For example, shopping while their credit cards are maxed out, paying them, and getting in debt again. We all have behavioral patterns, some are good and some not so good.

    I had a friend who used to tell a story. She was a Catholic and knew her priest well. One day during confession, the priest told her: “Jane, do you realized that you have been telling me the same sins, gossip and jealousy, every time you come here since many years ago. Are you going to change?” And I can tell you she didn’t.

    I was reading a fascinating interview with a therapist and author in the New York Times and something caught my attention, the term “self-defeating patterns.” It is not a new term but it is a very powerful concept.

    The author described that her patients have “self-defeating patterns that are contributing to their struggles, and once they see why the same thing keeps happening over and over — the same fight with their spouse, the same difficulty with family or bosses at work, the same fear of not being good enough … — they realize that the reason their lives feel like “Groundhog Day” is because of something they’re doing that they can change or do differently.”

    What are self-defeating patterns?

    These are behavioral patterns that are producing results that you do not want. They are stopping you from getting what you want. They are distracting you from the life you want to live. They are a form of self-sabotage. They cause troubles, destroy relationships and make you sad and sick. Nothing good comes out from them.

    Why do we have self-defeating patterns?

    We all have some of these patterns. In some people they are more destructive than in others, but we all have them. We have acquired them unconsciously through our lives. They mostly originate with limiting thoughts and manifest in bad results. They are also defense mechanisms that we no longer need. They can be the result of fear, insecurities and feeling unlovable. They can manifest in the form of:

    • Controlling personalities
    • Abuse
    • Criticism and judgement
    • Jealousy
    • Envy
    • Gossip
    • Playing the victim
    • Procrastination
    • Anger
    • And many more

    Many of these patterns affect our health, others our happiness and peace, and the remaining our success.

    Destroying the self-defeating behavioral patterns

    Sometimes it is easy to see the results of the patterns such as broken relationships, anger, incomplete projects, unhappy careers, abandoned diets, lack of exercise, procrastination, etc. It is up to us to look for the patterns, their causes and break the cycle. And how do we do that?

    The therapist in the interview said that:

    “The work of a therapist is to hold a mirror so the patient can see the causes of the problems and resolve to change the behavior”.

    Lori Gottlieb

    During therapy sessions we listen to ourselves, the therapists ask questions and we answer them. Somewhere else I read that we go to therapy to learn to be our own therapist and solve our own problems.

    In real life, we can hold that mirror ourselves if we choose to, and see our behavior and its results. This is a very powerful exercise that can be done using many techniques such as:

    • Journaling
    • Guided imagery
    • Affirmations
    • Meditation
    • Circles of friends
    • And many more

    We can also see our patterns when we read other peoples’ stories and relate to them, but this can be an indirect way and too time consuming.

    Hold the mirror

    The trick is to see and accept that we are producing the results we do not like and we need to correct the pattern or behavior. We do not need to feel guilty or sorry or bad for our self-defeating patterns we just need to see them and be willing to correct them if we want to change the results.

    Some people think that they cannot change, that “that is the way they are”. This is the first limiting thought to change. But we are not our patterns or our behaviors, we can change, we can grow, we can improve. If we are willing to see and analyze we can break self-defeating patterns.

    You can find the interview of therapist Lori Gottlieb author of “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed” written by Judith Newman in NYT

  • Should you take HRT or bioidentical hormones during menopause and perimenopause

    I remember a beloved youtuber in a video showing how to apply certain makeup and suddenly saying, “I am having a hot flash.” As her well made-up face got drenched in sweat, all I was thinking was, “But she said that she takes hormones (HRT).”

    Many women suffer a lot of symptoms during perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Some of the symptoms are, depression, hot flashes, weight gain, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, etc. Most of these symptoms are caused by hormonal imbalance. Get our free menopause symptom tracker

    Hormone replacement therapy

    If you go to your doctor with those symptoms, normally you will get one of these treatments: hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

    What is better: HRT or bioidentical hormones?

    There is no one answer in conventional medicine. The doctor recommends what he or she thinks is the best treatment for every patient depending on the severity of the symptoms and the overall health condition and risks. So there is no one better than the other for every person. Your doctor can recommend either treatment. The natural practitioners and some pharmacies can sell you only bio identical hormone replacement therapy and therefore they will tell that their treatment is better.

    What is HRT?

    HRT is hormone replacement therapy. The treatment replaces some of the estrogens and progesterone that we lose during perimenopause, menopause and post menopause to try to balance our hormones. The hormones used in this treatment are synthetic drugs, and some of them are made using animal hormones.

    The advantage of this treatment is precision, because they are created in a lab, it can be personalized and the amounts of the active ingredients are exact. They can also be more potent.

    HRT has many drawbacks and health risks and it is not the best treatment for many women, including women with higher breast cancer risk. As you may have read, HRT increases the risks of heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. There are also indications that it does not protect against osteoporosis, heart disease, and dementia, as some in the medical community believe.

    Pretty scary drugs, if you ask me. As a functional medicine consultant, I think this treatment should be used only when absolutely necessary. I disagree with the medical advice that it is recommended to people with moderate menopausal symptoms. In extreme cases, I think it can be used to stabilize the hormones while a healthy lifestyle and natural techniques are followed. Ideally this should be a temporary solution.

    bio identical hormone replacement therapy

    What is BHRT?

    BHRT is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Same as before but using plant based hormones. There are creams, pellets, pills and other forms to deliver these hormones.

    The plant based hormones are identical on a molecular level to those created by our bodies. The fact that they are plant based may make it appears as if they are safe, but according to the FDA, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy has not been studied long enough and it may not be safer than the synthetic versions. They come from plants, but they are made in a lab just like the regular HRT.

    Some studies indicate that they are safer, but we do not have enough data. Some doctors express that BHRT is not as precise as conventional HRT.

    Alternatives to HRT or BHRT

    Many women can get great relief from perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms with just lifestyle changes. Besides a healthy lifestyle, there are also many natural treatments using supplements, herbs and natural techniques that offer relief. Ideally HRT and BHRT should be the last resort or a temporary resource.

    We are more than hormones

    In functional medicine we believe that the hormonal imbalances addressed with HRT and BHRT are normally caused by deeper health issues affecting vital organs such as the liver and adrenal glands.

    Most natural health practitioners will not only try to balance the hormones, they will also try to determine what organs are causing the imbalance, and will try to solve the root cause of the problem. Usually a natural or functional medicine practitioner looks at the person as a whole and not only the illness or symptoms.

    Many menopausal symptoms can be caused by emotional reasons or too much stress. In addition to treatment, most natural practitioners will recommend many lifestyle changes, most regular doctors will also recommend some changes but with less emphasis.

    HRT and BHRT work faster than natural treatments and lifestyle changes. But they will never beat a healthy lifestyle and actually solving the health problems that are causing the menopause related symptoms.

    Other risks of HRT and BHRT

    As previously said, when our hormones are imbalanced there are causes that need attention. If we only take hormones, we are not addressing those underlying issues and without treatment probably they may get worse.

    Another aspect is that hormonal replacement, just as in the case of that youtuber I mentioned earlier, may not eliminate all the symptoms. In some cases HRT and BHRT only improve the severity of the symptoms. Some women will need to try different protocols to reach an ideal state and more often than not, it may not be reached. HRT and BHRT, just like contraceptives, can have side effects such as facial hair growth, acne etc.

    Conclusion

    Although HRT and BHRT have many risks, if a woman’s quality of life is severely affected, these treatments can offer a bridge while trying to improve general health and embracing a healthier lifestyle. Long term a drug or supplement is never a good substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Both treatments work better if the patient also follows a healthy lifestyle.

    A word of caution

    If you take hormones, do not discontinue them without consulting with your doctor. There is a safe way to do it and it must be followed.

  • Aromatherapy for menopause and perimenopause

    Can you smell something delightful to reduce or eliminate perimenopause and menopause symptoms? I am talking of essential oils and aromatherapy.

    I love essential oils. I started to study aromatherapy in the early 90s, almost 30 years ago. I have used aromatherapy for many conditions and I find it works really well for hormonal and mental balance. These attributes make essential oils perfect to improve some of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

    Aromatherapy for menopause and perimenopause

    Why aromatherapy for perimenopause and menopause?

    There are many essential oils that can help us during this time. This is in part because aromatherapy is very good at lowering stress and promoting joy. By lowering stress, our estrogens are available to fulfill their role instead of helping to keep cortisol in the body.

    Those preserved estrogens will help in many aspects, including to sleep well, avoid hot flashes, keep weight under control and protect the skin and vagina against dryness. (Suggested reading: stress during menopause and perimenopause).

    Promoting joy and wellbeing is another important role of essential oils. Depression, insecurity, irritability, and sadness are very common in women during perimenopause and menopause. These feeling are bad enough, but in addition they can help to trigger other bad symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia and low libido.

    Essential oils with phytoestrogens

    Many aromatherapy experts and fans believe that some essential oils have molecules that have similar effects as sex hormones. There are only small studies on this subject. Only a few essential oils have been found to have a possible phytoestrogen (estrogens from plants) effect; these oils are geranium and rose otto. However there are studies proving that certain essential oils alleviate the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. With or without phytoestrogens, essential oils are still very effective.

    Which are the best essential oils for menopause and perimenopause?
    There are two ways to approach this question. We can treat specific symptoms or use oils to balance hormones.

    Essential oils for hormonal balance

    Essential oils for hormonal balance

    Geranium

    There are a few small studies suggesting that geranium has an estrogenic effect on the body and it helps to balance hormones. I have noticed that when people have too much estrogen they tend to dislike geranium, finding it too strong, too floral or too sweet. Maybe it is a natural body response to avoid more estrogen. During menopause and perimenopause we normally need more estrogen, so it works very well.

    Geranium has many other properties and benefits including reducing stress and improving blood circulation.

    Rose otto

    I could write a book describing this marvelous oil. Imagine holding sixty beautiful roses on your hands, picked for you at dawn, so they are at their peak. Imagine the incredible aroma and the lavish, delicate beauty of these flowers. Imagine how many bushes it took to produce those roses. From all these 60 roses it is said that one precious drop of essential oil will be produced, that’s right one, uno, eins.

    This oil is the stuff of legends, from queens in biblical times to the Maharanis of India. It is one of the most expensive oils and one of the most adulterated ones, it is difficult to buy the real thing.

    Ok, back to menopause and perimenopause. Rose otto may be estrogenic, this will help increase our estrogens and alleviate some menopausal symptoms. It has been used for a long time as an aphrodisiac. Beyond that it is very powerful for relaxation, happiness, and to induce calm.

    At a spiritual level, rose otto helps to resolve anger, fear, and jealously, and it boosts confidence and happiness. We all can use these benefits.

    Clary sage

    This is the most recommended oil for women’s issues, including perimenopause and menopause. Many people with expertise in aromatherapy believe that it has phytoestrogens, but some experts who have studied the chemistry of the oil believe that that is not accurate. In any case this is a wonderful oil.

    Many studies have confirmed that it is very relaxing, antidepressant, calming, and can produce an almost anesthetic effect. Clary sage oil has been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety and stress, and boost memory. This will help many menopausal symptoms.

    Other oils

    Other oils commonly used are fennel, cypress, angelica, lavender, peppermint and coriander.

    Beyond hormones

    We can also use essential oils that treat specific issues such lack of sleep, depression, irritability etc.

    A study to lower menopausal symptoms

    There was one study with about 52 women with perimenopause symptoms. The women got massages every day for 8 weeks. Half of the women had massages with essential oils and the other half without essential oils. The women with the essential oils experienced a lot of relief in their symptoms, the other women did not. (I am surprised with this result as I believe both groups should have benefited from stress reduction).

    The oils used during this experiment were:

    4 parts lavender, 2 parts rose geranium, 1 part rose (not clear which type), 1 part jasmine (not clear which type).

    The carrier oils were almond 90% and primrose 10% at a 3% concentration of essential oils.

    For people not used to essential oil preparation this is a more of a do-it-yourself recipe that I prepared for you if you want to try it.

    Massage oil for menopause and perimenopause symptoms

    You will need a 4 ounce (120 ml) bottle to store the oil
    Carrier oil
    3 ounces (90 ml) almond oil
    1 ounce (30 ml) primrose oil

    Essential oils (EO)

    • 36 drops lavender EO
    • 18 drops rose geranium EO
    • 9 drops of rose EO
    • 9 drops of jasmine EO

    Mix the essential oils separately, let them settle for a few minutes and add it to the carrier oils. You have now got your massage oil.

    Conclusion

    Aromatherapy is without a doubt a good solution to treat perimenopause and menopause symptoms. It is easy to access and normally without side effects. The essential oils can be used in personal care products, inhalers and in diffusers and burners. You can use essential oils to treat specific symptoms or to balance hormones. Get our free menopause symptoms tracker

  • Stress is really bad during menopause and perimenopause

    Stress is really bad during menopause and perimenopause, it is worse than bad food and lack of exercise. You probably have read things like this: Eat this, eat that, do not eat that cake, it will kill you. Yes it has sugar, bring the priest we need an exorcist to get the sugar out and the gluten and the milk and the joy. No doubt sugar is bad, but the stress produced by the scary headlines is worse, at least for your hormones.

    stress affects estrogen during menopause and perimenopause

    Stress is really bad during menopause and perimenopause because as you know those pesky menopause and perimenopause symptoms are the result of hormonal imbalance. In order to alleviate or eliminate the symptoms we have to balance our hormones. In the natural community there is a lot of emphasis on food to control or manage the hormones.

    Without a doubt food is important; however, I think stress is equally or more important to balance your hormones.


    Do you know anybody who eats super clean, super healthy and that person is bitter, judgmental, and she or he looks stressed out or with anxiety? I know more than a few. Food alone is not the answer. And more importantly, food should not create stress or deprive us of joy.

    Why is stress really bad during menopause and perimenopause?

    Let me simplify it: every time we stress out, two hormones rush out, adrenaline and cortisol. The one that keeps lingering to help us escape danger is cortisol.

    stress lowers estrogen during menopause and perimenopause

    In the past, we used these hormones when we needed to escape from a predator, in other words we ran to save our lives. Stress is a response to danger. In the present time, stress is caused by many factors, which are mainly harmless or at least nonlethal. In fact most of our stress is caused only by our thoughts. However, the body’s stress response is the same as if it were in danger.

    The organ that creates cortisol are the adrenal glands. These glands are depleted in many people in our age bracket. They are depleted and not working properly because of a few factors: we have had too much stress throughout our lives, we may have taken hormones such as birth control pills and our lifestyle is not very healthy. So we may not be producing enough cortisol to support a lot of stress.

    More cortisol less estrogen

    Our body is always trying to protect itself. It will always give priority to immediate protection than to other bodily functions. Since the body believes that the stress hormones are so important for survival, when it does not have enough cortisol, it uses other hormones, including estrogen, to make more cortisol. During menopause and perimenopause, we have less estrogen and if we have stress it may be used to create cortisol instead of working as estrogen.

    In conclusion

    During menopause and perimenopause we have lower levels of estrogens and progesterone. We also have a lower capacity to make cortisol. If we have a lot of stress our body maybe using our little estrogen to make cortisol in order to supply fuel for our useless stress.

    In other words your stress is depriving you of your estrogen, and we feel it in the form of all the menopausal symptoms.

    Xassy.com

    Stress is really bad. And the good news is….. you can control it, no prescription required.

    Read Why do we gain weight in perimenopause .

  • Spring self-care for women in their 50

    “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough,” brought to us by the unforgettable Mae West. Self-care should be part of that life, right? Of course it should be, especially for women in their 40s and 50s. We have given so much and worked so hard already; we need some self-care aka “me time.”

    What is self-care?

    There is no one definition, but most people agree that it is doing something just for pleasure, just because we like it. There is no profit, no benefits (other than pleasure and satisfaction) and no obligation. With this out of the way, here are some activities to inspire your Spring Self-Care journey:

    self-care in midlife

    Try to go to bed early (and sleep)

    The long days of spring and summer bring a lot of activities and sometimes we sacrifice sleep. As you know, sleep is super-crucial for our wellbeing and health. If you are going to take care of yourself, this is an easy, wonderful activity that will yield great results.

    Do more of what …

    Do more of what makes you happy. What makes you happy? Dancing, singing, painting, and pottery-making, just watching a great movie or reading a book. Pick an activity and try to do it at least a couple of times in this season. Put it on your calendar to make it real, to make it happen.

    Cook

    If you like to cook, try a couple of recipes using seasonal ingredients. For example asparagus, artichokes, arugula, beets, leeks, radishes and others. Use one or more of these vegetables to create something yummy like a soup, salad, smoothie or a great dish.

    self-care 50

    Go outside, enjoy nature

    There is nothing more relaxing than nature. Go out and enjoy your garden or just take a walk in a park. Being in nature helps us to calm down, reducing the levels of cortisol and helping us to balance our hormones, and it is easy and nice.

    Spa treatment at home

    Prepare a space to have your favorite treatment. For example, a pedicure, manicure, facial, self-massage, foot massage, head massage, hair mask, whole body exfoliation, etc. Play some great music, or enjoy silence if you like, spray essential oil and prep reading material if you want. Put your phone far, far away, where you cannot reach it. Prepare everything, get your favorite herbal tea and do your treatment. Book yourself time and put it on your calendar; make a do not disturb sign, so that family members leave you alone for a bit.

    Prepare a new music list

    Include new and old music. Include one or more songs from your childhood, from teen years, college, late 20, 30s, 40s and whenever else you like.

    Learn new makeup

    If you use makeup, learn a new technique with videos, a free Sephora class, or a paid lesson or makeover.

    Have a tea party

    With friends or family. Or an ice cream party if you prefer, or any type of small party with minimum effort.

    self-care spring 50

    Take a weekend off

    Even if it is only one day and even if it is in your house. Do only activities that you will do during vacation.

    Put positivity in your social media

    Delete or unfollow people who post negative things or do not bring joy to your life in social media. Such as negative politics, news, scares, conspiracy theories etc.

    Take a mental health day.

    We all need it. Plan it out and do something you love

    Other ideas

    • Make or buy an awesome herbal tea
    • Make or buy a flower arrangement
    • Go karaoke with your friends
    • Visit a museum. Ideal activity for a rainy day
    • Get a massage.
    • Try a new hair style
    • Write a list of 10 things that make you happy
    • Make infused water with fruits you love and try to drink it at room temperature
    • Doodle

    What else would you add to your list of spring self-care?

    If you like these type of topics please subscribe to our weekly free newsletter

  • You Will Want to Know these 3 Easy Exercises For Firmer Butt And Better Sex

    What do you do when you are lining up in the supermarket? Check your phone? In addition to this, you can do three awesome exercises that will help you to keep your butt firm, your tummy flat and your pelvic floor strong so there are no leaks and sex is better.

    exercises women over 50

    These exercises are very simple, you are not going to break a sweat with them, they are discreet and they deliver good results if you do them often. Here they are:

    Contract the tummy

    This will strengthen your abdominals, your core. This is very important because it will help you to keep good posture, to created more room for your vital organs and your tummy will keep firmer and smaller. A strong core is the foundations of any good exercise program and this exercise can help you get there.

    This is how to do it: stand up straight, not military-style but normal posture. Lightly contract your belly, imagine that you are pulling in your belly button. This is not a big push, it is a light contraction. Now also pull in the upper abdomen. Hold the position for as long as you can while breathing normally, repeat 3 times.

    Practice this position as many times a day as you remember. You will start seeing results after a few days. It will not give you a flat tummy, but your core will be firmer and your posture will be better. Remember good posture, less pain, and you will look slimmer.

    Contract the butt

    This will help to firm up the butt. Stand up straight as in the previous exercise. Concentrate on your butt. Imagine that you are holding a pencil between the two butt cheeks and you cannot let it fall down. Hold the position for a few seconds and let it go, repeat a few times. You may not get JLo’s butt, but it will help to firm up your butt.

    easy exercises for women during menopause

    Sexy Kegels

    This is important for women after labor and in midlife. Our pelvic floor tends to get flaccid just like any other muscle. The muscles in our pelvic floor help us hold the urine. If these muscles get loose, we can have leaks. To avoid this is fairly easy, Kegels are some of the easiest exercises to do.

    Kegels can be done standing up or sitting/laying down. You probably know how to do them, but just in case: Contract the pelvic floor as if you would do it to stop the pee or urine flow, hold for a second or two and release, repeat at least 5 times. A more flexible and stronger pelvic floor helps us to have better sex.

    Bonus: Standing calf raise

    If you are wearing sneakers and you have been walking or moving you can do this easy exercise. It helps to strengthen your calves, stretch your legs and feet and increase circulation. It is super easy and very effective if done often.

    Try to stand up straight. This is just like standing on your toes. Push through the balls of your feet and raise your heels until you will be standing on your toes. Then slowly lower the heels and return to the starting position. Repeat 5 times.

    Do you have other exercises that can be done while standing up washing dishes or lining up in the office or supermarket?

    If you like these topics subscribe to our free weekly newsletter

  • Can you have peri or menopause without bad symptoms?

    The short answer is yes, many of us do. The next question is why some women experience a symptomless menopause and others (the majority) experience many symptoms during perimenopause and menopause. And what can you do if you are already experiencing some unpleasant symptoms? Can you improve? Yes, you can, and it is not difficult or expensive and you do not have to join a cult.

    easy, healthy menopause and peri menopause without bad symtoms

    Most women who do not experience a bad perimenopause and menopause share some attributes and it does not look to be a genetic thing. The attribute most of these women share is a healthish, happish life. It is not necessarily super healthy or super happy. Many women who are experiencing perimenopause and menopause symptoms can benefit by copying “our secrets.”

    Let me start by saying that there are some symptoms, but they are fewer and not severe. For example I started to gain weight and my body shape changed (but I stopped it), other women experience lack of sleep, depression, etc., these symptoms are not as bad or as many as in most women.

    It is not difficult to avoid most of the perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms and I am going to tell you some the most important things you can do to avoid them. This is not a complete list, but I think it includes the most important aspects.

    What you eat

    Model Christie Brinkley is a lacto-vegetarian. She has a very active life, but nothing crazy. She has said that her menopause was painless. I have a friend who eats very healthy, but eats everything and works out moderately; she did not experience any bad symptoms. I know many other women who follow different types of diets and their menopause has been good. I am a fishetarian (or pesco vegetarian), a vegetarian who eats fish occasionally. So there is no one diet, but most of us eat a healthy diet without processed foods and rich in nutrients. Read Menopause and microbiome

    easy, happy menopause without any bad symtoms

    Movement

    An active life is important but most of us are not gym rats or super fit.

    Don’t worry

    A happy, healthy attitude is important, but life does not need to be perfect. What matters is the attitude.

    Help

    Some of us take supplements and vitamins, but not all of us. I rotate supplements, right now it is a multivitamin, omega 3, K2, calcium, magnesium, liver support and adrenal support. The adrenal and the liver support are not permanent and sometimes I take a thyroid support supplement.

    More about the food

    A woman like me who does not experience bad symptoms during menopause or perimenopause can be healthy vegan, a healthy vegetarian, a healthy omnivore, a healthy Paleo, Keto or other. The key here is to eat healthy.

    Eating healthy means different things to different people. These are the most important aspects of a healthy diet during perimenopause and menopause:

    Nutrients

    The first characteristic is that the food has to be nutrient-rich. Many women in our age bracket have a mineral deficiency and they may be low in some vitamins. This is not about protein, it is about minerals and vitamins and most of them are in fruits and vegetables.

    We need good fats.

    Do not go on a low fat diet at this time of your life; your liver needs good fats. Avocados, nuts, good quality olive oil, good quality coconut oil, high quality butter (pasture raised and organic) and high quality, preferably fermented ghee.

    Fresh and home made

    When we eat out a lot we are eating low quality foods with lots of salt, bad fats and artificial ingredients. Processed foods are worse, they have all of the above and even more salt and ingredients that are not found in nature and many of them lack natural nutrients.

    Lower the sugar

    This is super important. I am not saying eliminate it, because that is difficult, but at least lower it to the lowest level possible without creating stress. Sugar is not only in sugar, but pastas and breads are processed like sugar in the body. All of those ingredients need to be consumed in moderation. Sugar alters insulin and this causes major hormonal imbalances in the body. You can eat whole grains and preferably as a grain and not as a flour. You can also have healthy normal bread in moderation.

    Timing

    Try to eat during a 12 hour or less window. Your body, especially your liver, need time to process food and eliminate toxins.

    Other aspects

    Low stress

    Worry, stress, frustrations etc. have a very important effect on hormones. We can eat super healthy and become sick if our emotions are negative.

    Thoughts

    If we have a negative views of menopause or aging, we are more inclined to get bad symptoms.

    Healthy environment

    This is a big topic but in general avoid environmental risks such as candles and fragrances with artificial ingredients. Prefer essential oil burners or diffusers. Avoid anything that smells of plastic. Choose natural cleaning products.

    If this topic is of interest to you, I invite to subscribe to receive our free weekly newsletter where I cover topic of interest for a happier, healthier midlife.