Page 105 - Natural Health (February 2020)

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SPECIAL• SPECIAL• SPECIAL•

HOW YOU CAN HELP IT percent after four weeks and by 64
“In order to try and reduce the impact percent after eight weeks. It also helps LIZ EARLE’S
of age and genetics on your weight, it’s with reducing insomnia, irritability, TOP TIPS
important to have a healthy, predominantly anxiety, physical and mental exhaustion Wellbeing entrepreneur,
plant-based diet, to exercise regularly with by up to 47 percent. Hops have been TV presenter and
a mixture of aerobic (cardiovascular) and shown to help with both hot lushes and author Liz Earle has
anaerobic (strength) exercises, to improve night sweats and red clover is proven some sage advice for
your sleep pattern and reduce your alcohol to signiicantly reduces the vasomotor anyone approaching
intake,” advises Dr Corda. symptoms mentioned previously.” the menopause.
Photo by Georgia
Glynn Smith
MOOD SWINGS SLEEP
What does wellbeing mean to you?
WHAT’S GOING ON WHAT’S GOING ON
IN YOUR BODY IN YOUR BODY And how do you think it changes
during middle age?
“Mood swings are a common symptom “Your oestrogen and progesterone
In a nutshell – health and happiness. As
during the menopause, so you need levels decrease during menopause,”
we age, we need to take care of ourselves
to make sure that your blood-sugar is says Dr Corda. “This is partly because
to help ensure our continued wellbeing.
balanced,” says Dr Glenville. “When progesterone is our chill-out hormone. For me, this means feel-good food and
your blood-sugar drops, your body will Hot lushes and night sweats can also
embracing seasonal, local, organic produce
release the stress hormones, adrenaline add to the problem as they’re caused by
wherever possible as the mainstay of my
and cortisol, and this can trigger mood a surge of adrenaline, the same chemical
meals and starting my day with some form
swings, irritability and aggressive outbursts. responsible for your reaction to stress or or exercise, whether it’s a quick jog around
This means not only thinking about the a ight-or-light scenario. Your body may
the park or following a Pilates app at home.
quality of the food that you eat but also the have a hard time recovering from this
timing.” Signs that your blood-sugar might sudden surge of energy, which makes it What are your tips for menopause?
be low include feeling hungry, sweating, diicult for you to fall back to sleep.”
Now is a good time to look at your diet
tingling lips, feeling shaky or trembling, and to think about avoiding sugar (which
dizziness, a fast or pounding heartbeat HOW YOU CAN HELP IT
quickly gets converted into fat), cutting back
(palpitations), or becoming easily “You can naturally help improve your on cafeine and alcohol, eating foods rich in
irritated, tearful, stroppy or moody. chances of falling asleep by being mindful
calcium and vitamin D (to help compensate
of the environment you’re creating in your
HOW YOU CAN HELP IT bedroom, lowering the temperature, shutting for bone density loss), exercising daily
“Eliminate added sugar, reined out all light, removing electrical appliances, and considering talking to your doctor
about HRT.
carbohydrates and eat little and often,” staying hydrated, reducing alcohol, changing
advises Dr Glenville. “What you eat your sleep patterns to ensure you get eight
Can exercise help with
at this stage can make the diference hours of sleep and eating food rich in easing some of the symptoms
between having diicult or easy tryptophan, such as oily ish, which naturally
of the menopause?
menopause. Try and avoid going more induces sleep,” says Dr Corda. “If this doesn’t Many women are defying outdated
than three hours without eating.” help, HRT may beneit, but do consult with
your GP irst.” stereotypes of what it means to be
menopausal, and are stronger and itter in
HOT FLUSHES their 50s than they have been for decades.
WHAT’S GOING ON MENOPAUSE MARVELS Stretching every single day at this time of
IN YOUR BODY our lives helps protect back, leg and hip
FOR VAGINAL DRYNESS
“Increased blood low to the face, mobility and I’d also recommend a few
YES VM, £9.99, yesyesyes.org
triggered by hormonal reactions to weight-bearing exercises every day. These
certain foods or situations can cause hot FOR exercises help maintain our strength and
lushes and these can include spicy foods, DISCOMFORT strong muscles are vital for protecting our
cafeinated drinks, alcohol and stressful Holland & Barrett bones and preventing fractures as we age.
situations,” says Dr Glenville. Natural Evening
Primrose Oil Liz Earle, wellbeing entrepreneur
120 Capsules, £19.99,
HOW YOU CAN HELP IT and founder of Liz Earle Wellbeing,
hollandandbarrett.com
“There are a number of herbs that are is a speaker at Live Well London
helpful for the menopause including soya, FOR MOOD SWINGS taking place February 2020 at
sage, laxseeds, hops and red clover,” Magnesium Oil Body Spray, Old Billingsgate. Find out more at
explains Dr Glenville. “Sage has been £12.95, betteryou.com livewelllondon.com
shown to decrease hot lushes by 50

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