Three Steps to Stop Menopause Suffering Before It Starts
The approach to menopause can be a daunting time. Symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats loom on the horizon, and you may not feel like there’s much you can do. However, if you understand the causes of the symptoms of menopause, you can be proactive and halt them before they begin.
Menopause symptoms are due in large part to adrenal issues. The adrenal glands control the output of DHEA, cortisol, epinephrine (also called adrenaline), and norepinephrine, all of which are hormones related to our stress response. When the adrenal gland is stressed, cortisol levels go up, and the level of hormones like estrogen go down.
Diminished amounts of estrogen have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling appetite, sex hormones, sleep, and body temperature. Thus changing levels of estrogen causes symptoms like hot flashes.
Additionally, when adrenal function is impaired or weak, a person may suffer from low blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature as well as a total feeling of exhaustion. Prolonged stress begins to weaken the organs, and other health related problems such as hypoglycemia can result.
Some factors that contribute to adrenal exhaustion are continued stress, poor diet, excessive consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates, too much caffeine, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and vitamin B and C deficiencies. To compound the issue, when the adrenals are weak, the thyroid gland tries to pick up slack. So when I treat my patients approaching menopause, it is imperative to treat both the adrenals and the thyroid simultaneously.
To strengthen your adrenal and thyroid function and head off menopausal symptoms, try taking these steps:
Eat a whole-foods based diet.
The body’s ability to metabolize refined sugars decreases with age. The inner aisles of the grocery store are filled with foods high in sugar and salt. Get ahead of the curve by shopping in the outer aisles of the grocery store, where all the fresh produce is located, and cut out the processed foods that ultimately make you gain weight.
Waist away.
Many women notice a huge shift in their weight distribution to the abdomen as they head into menopause. To combat this, try incorporating yoga into your fitness regime. Research has shown that women who do yoga once per week don’t gain any weight as they go through menopause.
Burn, baby, burn.
It is imperative to incorporate heavy weight lifting into your fitness regime three times per week. This not only boosts bone density but also does wonders for your figure and your hormones. The key is proper technique: you must lift the heaviest weights you can and complete three sets of twelve repetitions. Twenty minutes of intense weight lifting can be just as effective as an hour of cardio if done correctly.
As you begin taking these steps, give yourself four weeks for the behaviors to become habits. In time, it will become a lifestyle that changes both how you look and feel about your magnificent body!
Esther Blum, MS, RD, CDN, CNS
Registered Dietitian
NV Perricone, MD Flagship
791 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
212.734.2537
Dear Esther
I have had hot flashes for the past 23 years. I have tried different ‘natural’ alternative products without success. I do not wish to have HRT as there is a history of breast cancer in the family. I am approaching my 66th birthday, I hope you can help me.
Many thanks
Kay
My skin is so thin. I take predisome every day along with other immune suppresive medications. Is there something to improve 15 years of damage to my skin.
Dear Kay
Thanks for getting in touch. I would love to help you delve deeper into your concerns and help you eliminate hot flashes for good. But I will need to have a few consultations with you.
We are proud to offer a Perricone Prescription package that covers 3 visits: an extremely comprehensive one-hour nutritional intake and health history, a one-hour report of findings, and a 30-minute follow-up visit. The entire series is personally tailored to your unique biochemical needs. When you come in for your appointment, you and I will complete a detailed health history. If you have blood work that has been drawn within the last year, you are welcome to fax or email it in (but not required) so I can give you feedback on your results.
Between the first and second visit, I will complete a Report of Findings for you that will be the crux of our future work together. This will encompass your eating and supplement regime, as well as your short-term and long-term goals. I’ll be assessing your physiologic needs, health and weight concerns, and your past medical history. Based on your questionnaire, I’ll be able to determine what foods will give you better energy and blood sugar balance, and offset high cortisol levels that can contribute to excess body fat. I will design a personally tailored eating and supplement regime (all in a PDF, emailable format) that will be based on Dr. Perricone’s research and philosophy; the benefit here is that it will be customized just for you. The session is very interactive and informational, and I welcome any and all questions you bring! The hour is yours, and we will focus mainly on how to incorporate the Perricone way of eating into your regime.
At the third visit, you will receive a 30-minute follow-up visit to tweak and refine your regime if necessary, and to monitor your progress.
The cost of the first and second visit is $200 per session; the third visit is $100. If you are interested in booking an appointment, you can reach me directly at the Flagship: (866) 791-7911 x466, and I will be happy to take care of you.
Cheers,
Esther
Dear Mary,
Vitamin C Ester is an antioxidant that helps to boost collagen production in our cells, which helps thicken the skin. Dr. Perricone offers Vitamin C Ester supplements as well as a few topical products, which may help. Topical neuropeptides can also increase collagen and elastin production. Several topical facial neuropeptide products are offered on our website at http://www.perriconemd.com.
Dr. Perricone also discusses the importance of diet and supplementation for healthy skin in his book, The Perricone Prescription.
If this is a serious concern, I would recommend consulting your personal physician.