Menopause Relief

Menopause can be a difficult time for many women. Reductions in circulating estrogen hormone levels result in a number of physical and physiological changes, which in turn may lead to mental and emotional stress. While short-term hormone replacement therapy helps many women, most symptoms of menopause can be relieved with simple lifestyle changes.

Weight gain during menopause can be distressing. Shifting to a low-fat, high-fiber diet and controlling overall dietary intake can help control weight gain. Diets rich in phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, may offer additional relief. Soy products, such as tofu, soy milk and soy powders are rich in phytoestrogens, and help lower cholesterol. Linseed products are also a good source of phytoestrogens. Regular exercise, for approximately 30 minutes several times a week, can also help control weight gain. Added benefits of regular exercise are conversion of fat into lean muscle mass, which helps burn off excess calories even while resting. Furthermore, exercise may help improve conditions such as low energy levels, mood swings, sleeplessness, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Many women suffer from irritability, mood swings, and depression during the onset of menopause. While some of this may be attributable to the stress of undergoing a major life change, any such symptoms should be carefully evaluated by a physician and appropriately managed. Depending on the severity of symptoms, lifestyle or drug treatments may be prescribed. While there is no scientific proof of its efficacy, some women claim the herb St. John?s Wort offers relief in depression. Any attempts at self-medication should be discussed with a physician.

Dry and wrinkled skin is a common complaint among menopausal women. Estrogen skin creams may help; these can be prescribed by consulting a dermatologist. Stopping smoking helps maintain healthy skin and has numerous other health benefits. Avoiding excessive exposure to direct sunlight, and using UV-ray blocking skin creams, can also offer relief.

With a healthy diet and exercise, menopausal women can improve distressing symptoms such as weight gain and mood swings. For more serious depression, drugs may be prescribed, and for wrinkles, estrogen cream and avoiding the sun can help.

Early Menopause provides detailed information on menopause, early menopause, male menopause, menopause and osteoporosis and more. Early Menopause is affiliated with Endometriorsis And Infertility.

Menopause And Your Attitude ? Does It Make A Difference?

If you?re experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, such as hot flashes, weight gain or difficulty sleeping, there?s a good chance that you?re also noticing you?re frequently moody or feeling somewhat depressed. Your moods during this transitional period may be affected by a decline in your hormone levels, as well as life events that can be common ? yet unsettling ? during midlife. It?s been well documented that taking care of yourself, as well as maintaining a positive attitude will help you ease into menopause with few bumps in the road.

I have found this to be especially true for myself and others I?ve interviewed for this piece. Allow me to take a few moments to briefly summarize my experiences since I?ve entered midlife and began noticing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. A few years ago I started waking up during the night, drenched in sweat. I knew without a doubt that I must have had cancer or some other medical condition; I was too young to be experiencing ?night sweats? associated with menopause and middle age. So, off I went to the doctor, describing my symptoms and explaining that I would face whatever illness I had with confidence and bravery. If I must endure radiation, chemotherapy or some other type of treatment I would willingly do so in order to stay on this earth and witness the upcoming events of my children and future grandchildren. Well, no need to worry; I was simply experiencing what so many other women go through as they enter midlife and the transition into menopause.

No big deal, right? I could handle sleep interruptions, waking up soaking wet. Then, the next symptom popped up, although it was probably gaining momentum without my notice. I was fat; my midsection looked like it came straight out of a cartoon. Once again, I quickly got into ?solution? mode and decided to tackle the stubborn and unwelcome fat that had become my midsection. Fortunately, I eliminated the extra weight gain and was able to lose several inches, regaining what resembles somewhat of a youthful and toned physique.

I decided this ?midlife thing? wasn?t so bad, but then life events have come into my world, thus testing my resolve to get through menopause with a positive and uplifting attitude. You see, I was so very proud to witness my oldest daughter graduate from college; she would be experiencing life and all of its glory, getting a good job and becoming an independent, successful and confident young woman. It was soon discovered that she and her fianc? (also a college graduate) were expecting a child. Prior to my grandson?s birth I was living with a constant worry for the happiness of these two young people ? hoping they would be mature enough to handle the responsibility of a child, marriage and all that goes with these life-changing events. Fortunately, my daughter, son-in-law and grandson are a beautiful family and excitedly expecting a new addition. So, yes, I was able to get through this particular time in my life. I didn?t sink into a deep depression, even though my hormone levels and life situation could have easily triggered such a downward spiral. I continued taking care of myself, eating well, exercising and always trying to see the positive side of situations; after all, constant worry doesn?t fix anything, right? As long as I have my health and my family, nothing can be that terrible.

Again, my ability to remain positive would be tested over and over again. As I write this particular piece, I?m at the gym on this beautiful morning working out, riding a stationary bike. Normally, I would be on the elliptical, but my leg is in a cast. Still, I keep going. Also, under normal circumstances I would be at the gym in the evening, but ? oh yeah ? I was forced to leave my job (I?ll save that story for another article). Still, I keep going. My husband is working out with me this morning and it?s nice to spend some time together. You see, he can be here right now because he?s currently without a job too (laid off due to a sluggish economy here in the Midwest). Still, I keep going.

As you can see, I?ve recently faced many life events that should keep me a little bit down, at the very least. But why? I have good health, despite my menopausal symptoms (as well as my cast), I have a wonderful family and I look forward to my future and all of the challenges and joys that will come my way. My husband is somewhat miffed about the fact that my glass always seems half full, and I guess I question why his is just plain empty. Much research has proven that there really is power in positive thinking. I'm living proof that having a positive attitude can assist women in having the ability to experience this next phase of their lives with confidence and good health, likely reducing many symptoms that can result from entering the menopausal years. I challenge you to look at life a little differently ? with much hope and anticipation. I do believe you?ll begin to feel a greater sense of well being, which may make a tremendous difference in how severe your symptoms of menopause will be.

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that menopause can be a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life. Susan Megge is the author of "Being Beautiful Beyond 40," a book dedicated to helping women to be inspired, confident and beautiful as they approach menopause.

Birth Control and Perimenopause: When do I stop taking the Pill?

Perimenopause is the time just before menopause. Officially, menopause starts the year after you have finished menstruating, and perimenopause starts three to five years earlier. As your body changes, should you be reconsidering your birth control options?

So you're in your late forties, or your fifties. Your body is acting differently. You aren't sure if the changes are your birth control or your body, how do you react? If you are still getting your period, you can still get pregnant. You should still use birth control until a year after your last period, because often periods become irregular and have a longer time between them during perimenopause. If you have been relying on fertility awareness based methods of birth control, they will no longer work, because you will no longer be able to track your cycle accurately. If you are using barrier based methods of birth control, then you can continue using your regular method (diaphragm, sponge, condoms, etc). The difficulty at perimenopause comes if you are using hormonal birth control, such as the pill, the patch, or the vaginal ring among others.

Some doctors recommend switching birth control pills to a low-dose birth control pill at perimenopause. This would mean switching to a pill that has 20 micrograms of estrogen (such as Alesse or Loestrin), instead of the normal 30 to 50 micrograms of estrogen in a combination pill. The benefits of changing to a lower dose hormonal birth control are that you will still be protected against pregnancy, and your final periods will probably be more regular. Many women find that their side effects are fewer with lower doses of estrogen. NuvaRing is a vaginal ring that is inserted once a month and removed 21 days later; it also has a lower dose of estrogen than most birth control pills.

You are going to have to stop taking birth control at some point in your life. In the past, doctors would randomly choose when to stop you on birth control and when to begin you on hormone replacement therapy for menopause. This often happens around the age of 50. Now, doctors can measure your FSH, or follicle-stimulating-hormone to tell if you are in menopause. This way you can switch hormone therapies directly when it suits your body.

However, being medicated on hormones your entire life is not appealing to many women. You might choose to change to alternative forms of birth control. These include getting an IUD, or switching to a barrier method of birth control (like a cervical cap, condoms, etc.).

Going off birth control can cause difficulties for some women. A woman's body can become accustomed to being on contraceptive pills for years. It will take months for the pill to leave your body. Your body will learn to create different hormone levels for you.

There are many natural ways to deal with the side effects of perimenopause. The most important thing to remember is to maintain a balanced diet and exercise. It sounds overly simple, but for most of us, it can be one of the biggest challenges we face in our busy lives. Proper diet and exercise can help minimize side effects of perimenopause, and it will help you to feel better about yourself.

If you want to try going off birth control pills, you can stop at any time (though many women choose to finish one monthly cycle before ending. Try lowering your caffeine and alcohol intake. Other women use progesterone-cream to help lessen their side effects.

Perimenopause and menopause is a time of great change in a woman's life. This is a time to step back and begin listening to your body. Many women rush around their lives putting everyone else first: take this time to improve your own life by talking to your doctor and making informed decisions about your hormone use during perimenopause.

For more information on birth control, including hormonal, barrier-based, and biological methods, and more information on your fertitility, visit The Guide to Birth Control

Menopause Weight Gain ? You Can Lose It

It?s probably safe to assume that the reason you found this article is because you?ve gradually, but progressively gained some unwanted weight, especially around your mid-section. This is somewhat surprising since you?ve not necessarily changed your lifestyle or eating habits. As a matter of fact, there?s a good chance you?ve even cut your caloric intake, but still the weight remains. Could this weight gain be associated with menopause? If you?re a woman in your thirties of forties, the answer is ?yes ? most definitely.? Weight gain, as you approach menopause, is quite common and often one of the first symptoms of menopause that women notice. This is true even if you?re still experiencing regular periods.

You see, as you approach menopause your body?s hormone levels are declining, thus causing many changes to occur. As your estrogen levels decline, your body will naturally look for other places from where to get the needed estrogen. Unfortunately, fat cells are capable of producing estrogen, which results in your body working harder to convert calories to fat.

In addition to the declining levels of estrogen, your body?s testosterone levels are also declining. As you may know, testosterone is the hormone that converts your calories to lean muscle mass. Obviously, with lower testosterone levels you?re now losing muscle mass. Since muscle burns far more calories than does fat, your body is no longer capable of burning calories the way it used to.

As you can see, your declining hormone levels are the main culprit behind all of the weight gain you?re now noticing. Don?t think for one minute that you need to accept or welcome this unwanted enemy because you can easily lose this menopausal weight gain. I recently published some inspirational quotes on my website to assist women in their everyday lives. One of my favorites comes to mind when I think about what makes so many women complacent when they?re faced with symptoms of menopause and weight gain. Jim Rohn once said ?Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.? If your goal is to lose the weight you?ve gained, the only thing that can possibly stop you from accomplishing this goal is a lack of discipline.

If you?re willing to put your discipline into high gear you will undoubtedly lose the weight you?ve gained due to declining hormone levels associated with menopause. It?s important that you understand what?s taking place inside your body so that you?re well aware that simply cutting calories will not significantly reduce or eliminate the weight around your mid-section. You must build muscle to turn your body into a calorie-burning machine. You needn?t be extreme, but an exercise routine that includes weight training at least three days a week will give you results that will astonish you.

Remember, ?Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.? Don?t be complacent. You're headed in the right direction because you researched the Internet seeking information regarding weight gain during menopause. Consider this the first step in your walk across the bridge to accomplishment.

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. She is a grandmother, who started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life.

8 Ways To Prevent Osteoporosis And Heart Disease During Menopause

Osteoporosis causes bones to lose mass and density. As the bones become porous and brittle, the chance of fracture is greatly increased. Often there are no symptoms and a person only discovers that they have osteoporosis when they suffer a fracture.

Heart disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They includes coronary artery disease (including heart attack), abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, vascular disease (blood vessel disease).

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. thus, it is essential to learn how prevent heart disease.

During menopause, many women are easily getting osteoporosis. Indeed, it would also be easy for them to get heart disease.

How is that?

Women, during menopause, might be lack of estrogen. This causes bones to lose calcium and become weaker, putting them at risk for severe bone loss or osteoporosis. A lack of estrogen also increases risk of heart disease.

However, there are steps you can do to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease, such as:

1. Get enough calcium to keep your bones strong. Before menopause, you need about 1,000 mg of calcium per day. After menopause, you need 1,500 mg per day. You also can talk with your physician about taking medicine to help preserve bone and slow down bone loss. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Try weight-bearing exercises, like walking, running, or dancing.

2. Eat healthy by including plenty of whole grain products, vegetables, and fruits in your diet. Choose a diet low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

3. Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider what a healthy weight is for you.

4. Control your blood pressure. Ask your health care provider what a healthy number is for you and how often you need it checked.

5. If you have diabetes, control and monitor your blood sugar levels.

6. Lower your cholesterol to the right level. Ask your health care provider what a healthy level is for you.

7. If you smoke, try to quit. Ask your health care provider for help or visit this special section of the NWHIC web site: www.4woman.gov/QuitSmoking

8. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink per day.

So, if you think that your menopause has begun, it is important for you to pay attention to the eight essential ways to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.

Riana Lance has a deep concern on health. Get her inspirational guides on How to Cure Insomnia at http://healthifica.com/guides/menopause-stress/ Also, grasp her other motivational health tips at http://www.healthifica.com, a worth-to-visit daily updated blog.

Menopause And Headache

Menopause And Headache

This midlife phenomenon is known as menopause. This type of headache saps the energy out of you. At the end of the headache, you feel that you have been down with some sort of sickness for days together. You feel tired and exhausted. At the peak level of the headache, you feel a throbbing sensation, shooting pain within the head, some corners of the head almost bursting out. The slightest noise, switching on the light or for that matter, even if you open your eyes, you feel terribly uncomfortable. This is the style of menopause headache.

It is the type of headache, not experienced by women, till this stage of their life. It is one of the important turning points in their life. During menopause, estrogen is not produced at normal rates and therefore a woman's hormone system goes out of control. At the end of the menstrual life cycle the progesterone level becomes much less in most of the women, and the types of headaches they never experienced before, fall to their lot.

What is the main cause of this type of unbearable headache? Blood vessels in the brain contract and widen at a fast pace, and the pain nerves are unable to cope up with type of activity, and they stimulate pain.

Watch out for certain other unwanted developments during this period. There could be a sudden change in your eyesight. You may experience a double vision, and in extreme cases, partial blindness is not ruled out. Your hands and limbs may experience a peculiar type of weakness. Inactivity shall be your activity. Your lips will become numb and cold.

Take care of your diet. Remember, you can never be the same person, you were a few months ago. It is an important biological change, and each of such change brings forth its quota of suffering or enjoyment in the life of an individual.

In the case in point, the change may add to your suffering for some time. You may become physically and mentally tired. With no initiative left, you may be a confused individual. Your speech may falter. You may suffer migraine headache attacks.

These types of headaches are common in women. The duration of the headache may be for some hours or for days together. In such conditions you are extremely sensitive to noise and light. You may continue to have a vomiting sensation.

Over the counter medications is not the solution for this type of headache. Certain breathing exercises, yoga asanas and light food will go a long way in providing you the necessary relief.

Many Headache articles are available at Headache & http://www.headacheupdates.com/migraine/

Many Headache articles are available at http://www.headacheupdates.com/migraine/ for Headache.

Menopause Weight Gain ? You Can Lost It

It?s probably safe to assume that the reason you found this article is because you?ve gradually, but progressively gained some unwanted weight, especially around your mid-section. This is somewhat surprising since you?ve not necessarily changed your lifestyle or eating habits. As a matter of fact, there?s a good chance you?ve even cut your caloric intake, but still the weight remains. Could this weight gain be associated with menopause? If you?re a woman in your thirties of forties, the answer is ?yes ? most definitely.? Weight gain, as you approach menopause, is quite common and often one of the first symptoms of menopause that women notice. This is true even if you?re still experiencing regular periods.

You see, as you approach menopause your body?s hormone levels are declining, thus causing many changes to occur. As your estrogen levels decline, your body will naturally look for other places from where to get the needed estrogen. Unfortunately, fat cells are capable of producing estrogen, which results in your body working harder to convert calories to fat.

In addition to the declining levels of estrogen, your body?s testosterone levels are also declining. As you may know, testosterone is the hormone that converts your calories to lean muscle mass. Obviously, with lower testosterone levels you?re now losing muscle mass. Since muscle burns far more calories than does fat, your body is no longer capable of burning calories the way it used to.

As you can see, your declining hormone levels are the main culprit behind all of the weight gain you?re now noticing. Don?t think for one minute that you need to accept or welcome this unwanted enemy because you can easily lose this menopausal weight gain. I recently published some inspirational quotes on my website to assist women in their everyday lives. One of my favorites comes to mind when I think about what makes so many women complacent when they?re faced with symptoms of menopause and weight gain. Jim Rohn once said ?Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.? If your goal is to lose the weight you?ve gained, the only thing that can possibly stop you from accomplishing this goal is a lack of discipline.

If you?re willing to put your discipline into high gear you will undoubtedly lose the weight you?ve gained due to declining hormone levels associated with menopause. It?s important that you understand what?s taking place inside your body so that you?re well aware that simply cutting calories will not significantly reduce or eliminate the weight around your mid-section. You must build muscle to turn your body into a calorie-burning machine. You needn?t be extreme, but an exercise routine that includes weight training at least three days a week will give you results that will astonish you.

Remember, ?Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.? Don?t be complacent. You're headed in the right direction because you researched the Internet seeking information regarding weight gain during menopause. Consider this the first step in your walk across the bridge to accomplishment.

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. She is a grandmother, who started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life.

5 Simple Ways to Reduce Menopause Hot Flashes

You?re going about your business when you start feeling a bit warm, hmmm is it warm in here? Nope, no one else is stripping off their clothes and fanning themselves wildly. Guess it?s your own internal inferno causing you to feel like your burning from the inside out, another menopause hot flash, the number one complaint from perimenopausal women. This classic symptom is thought to be triggered by a decrease in estrogen and an increase in follicle stimulating hormone. This in turn causes dilation of the blood vessels in your upper body allowing more blood to the surface and abra cadabra you feel the heat and become flush (red). This can last for a few minutes or hours but most hot flashes last 30 minutes or less. You can find relief. Different approaches work for different women. Here are my top 5 picks for hot flash relief.

1.) Relax ? Yup I know, you?re a busy woman, who has time to relax anyway. But studies show that even 10 minutes of deep breathing exercises can help decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes. They also show that at the onset of a hot flash a few minutes of deep breathing exercises can help avert the hot flash. Kind of gives new meaning to ?heavy breathing?.

2.) Dress the Part ? Almost goes without saying but dressing in layers and wearing natural fibers like cotton and linen can help. The point is when you?re heat is on you can do the strip down with some dignity. In the ?heat of the moment? your focus is on cooling down not what you?ll look like when it?s over. I know I?m not up for showing off what?s underneath my pretty exterior.

3.) Exercise ? Sounds completely illogical I know, exercise gets you hot and sweaty and ditto for the hot flash but exercise improves circulation which in turn can help your body cool down more efficiently during a hot flash. Just think two birds with one stone get fit and fewer hot flashes.

4.) Watch What You Put in Your Mouth ? No I?m not suggesting a diet. My thought is that they don?t work anyway. Many women do find that certain foods and beverages will trigger a hot flash. I suggest paying attention to what you were eating and/or drinking before a hot flash and watch for a pattern. The more common culprits are alcohol, caffeine, sugary foods, and spicy foods. Though not a food or beverage smoking is also a fairly common trigger.

5.) Flaxseed ? I know you hear about the benefits of flaxseed from all over these days, but it really is extremely beneficial. Along with its many health benefits it can also help reduce hot flashes and ease other menopause symptoms. The common recommendation is 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed each day. Be sure to give it some time though it can take up to two months for the full effect to be felt.

You can see the pattern here. The first line of defense boils down to taking care of yourself. Many women are so used to putting themselves last on the list that this is foreign to them. I want you to know that no, the world will not stop turning if you put yourself on the top of your ?To Do? List. Actually you may find you have a little more zing in your step and a bit more zip in your engine. That may help you tackle the other 823 things on the list and you?ll be a lot cooler!

Cathy Brennan, owner and lead coach of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can?t wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and in the health and wellness field has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner.She has had coach training at Coachville and is a member of the ICF and IAC. Cathy lives in rural Connecticut where she enjoys gardening, yoga, reading, and hiking. Married to Tom for 20 years, they enjoy their 4 innovative, fun loving children, an adorable grandson, a sweet golden retriever, a lively bernese mountain dog and 3 very active cats. To contact her call 860-774-0006, e-mail coach@pathwayscoach.com, or go to www.pathwayscoach.com. For a free menopause assessment go to http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/H/cRcoachcmb1156881430.html

Helpful Things To Know About Menopause

Menopause is a traumatic time that has to be faced by every female. It causes a host of changes in your body, and the more you know about it, the better fit you will be to get through it smoothly. In this article, we'll discuss some facts about menopause so that you can be better informed about this turbulent period in a woman's life.

- Approximately four thousand women begin menopause per day.

- Roughly one third of a woman's life occurs after menopause.

- Exercise is a key factor in getting through menopause with a minimum of complications. A regular exercise pattern helps to limit the effects of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause: hot flashes, depression, sleep disorders and irritability can all be lowered through a proper exercise plan. In addition, exercise has merit in preventing the physical aspects of menopause. Osteoporosis and heart disease are more prevalent in those post-menopause, and regular exercise can help to curb these risks.

- While hormone replacement therapy is commonly used to help women get through menopause, it is by no means a complete solution and it has problems associated with it. Estrogen that is used in hormone replacement therapy has been shown to increase the risk of uterine cancer. For this reason, it is important for women who have had past cases of cancer to have a thorough conversation with their doctor discussing the merits and risks of getting hormone replacement therapy.

- Low dosage anti-depressants have long been used to help women get through some of the more mental issues associated with menopause. In addition to helping with post-menopausal depression, anti-depressants can help to reduce the amount of hot flashes that are experienced. Another drug that is commonly prescribed to help menopausal patients with hot flashes is clonidine. This agent is used to help patients with high blood pressure and it has been shown to be effective in reducing hot flashes.

- Eating healthy is a key factor in just how many of the menopausal symptoms are experienced by you. Ensure that you are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D, as these two compounds help your body to deal with bone mineralization, thereby decreasing your risk for osteoporosis.

- Smoking can really affect a woman in menopause. Your risk of heart disease is increased when smoking, and certain studies have shown that smoking may increase hot flashes and actually cause menopause to occur earlier than it should.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://iwomensinterests.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://universeofbeauty.net/ and http://forahealthywoman.com/

The Importance Of Fitness During Menopause

Learn About the Crucial Links Between Fitness and Menopause

Did you know that a regular fitness or exercise routine plays a major role in reducing the symptoms of menopause? One particular symptom of menopause is weight gain, which, unfortunately seems to develop just as a woman finally reaches a point in her life when she's mature and self-confident, and then the fat starts piling on. This weight gain is quite common and the result of declining hormone levels which causes the metabolism to slow down significantly, even in pre-menopausal women.

The majority of women will especially notice an increased amount of fat deposition around their mid-section, which plays a significant role in contributing to heart disease, the number one killer of middle-aged and older women. Not to worry; this weight can be managed quite easily by simply getting into a regular fitness and exercise routine. Fitness and consistent activity really are the keys to decreasing weight and avoiding the pitfalls of aging. By committing to a regular exercise routine, one which includes weight bearing exercises, women will change the muscle-to-fat ratio, enabling them to increase their metabolic rate and burn calories, even at rest.

In addition to weight gain, women in their thirties begin to lose bone mass at a rate of approximately 1% per year and that rate increases to 2%-3% per year after menopause. Studies have shown that exercise can actually increase a woman's bone density, thus reducing the risk of osteoporosis and the incidence of falls and bone fractures associated with osteoporosis. Unfortunately, osteoporosis often goes undetected until bone fractures occur, but by taking preventative measures, such as getting into a regular fitness routine, women can indeed reduce this risk.

Exercise and fitness can also be beneficial in reducing the incidence of hot flashes, a common symptom of menopause. Hot flashes can contribute to impaired sleep patterns and a decreased energy level. Additionally, hot flashes can also affect one's overall mood, which has the potential to negatively affect both personal and professional relationships. While estrogen replacement therapy has been shown to decrease these symptoms, for many women a regular exercise routine appears to be a very viable alternative.

Simply stated, making fitness and exercise a priority will benefit most women who are approaching or experiencing menopause, and the positive results, both physically and emotionally, are well worth the extra time required to begin and continue a regular exercise routine. It's easy to make excuses to not make time to ensure that fitness is a priority, but it's crucial to understand that being regularly active will lead to overall good health now and in the future. The only results you'll see from your added physical activity will be those that are very beneficial to you and those you love. Susan Megge founded http://www.40isbeautiful.com to assist women with issues related to menopause, such as weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings, etc. Susan Megge is the author of "Being Beautiful Beyond 40," a book dedicated to give women the confidence and inspiration to experience menopause with minimal symptoms and learn to embrace these years.

An Effective Natural Menopause Treatment

Natural menopause treatment is truly appreciated by many women having the symptoms of menopause. They seem to prefer alternative medicines because the use of hormone replacement therapies might be harmful. Natural menopause treatment is known to be effective with its teas, elixirs and topical applications.

Natural menopause treatment is truly appreciated by many women having the symptoms of menopause. They seem to prefer alternative medicines because the use of hormone replacement therapies might be harmful. Natural menopause treatment is known to be effective with its teas, elixirs and topical applications. Natural menopause treatments decrease the symptoms and this is why so many women try them before starting traditional hormone replacement.

The old saying that the cure can be worse than the disease can be applied here. The side effects of traditional menopause treatment are not really pleasant and you should pay attention to the correct dosage. Apart from that, symptoms are not fully controlled even when having traditional treatment. After all natural menopause treatment is much safer than the traditional hormone replacement therapy. Herbal remedies are commonly used in natural menopause treatment. They might be black cohosh, dong quai, maca root and red clover.

All of them contain phytoestrogens which are like the natural estrogen and their main function is to increase the level of the hormone in the body. Black cohosh is the thing that decreases menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. It also helps to reduce the irritability and it stabilizes mood swings. If you are taking black cohosh, it is also good to know that it reveals depression and anxiety. It also fights against night sweats and heart palpitations. Dong quai is herb that also treats menopause symptoms naturally. What this herb does best is to dilate blood vessels. When dong quai is combined with black cohosh is it most effective.

Another herbal medicine is maca root. It works as a hormone regulator and helps the stimulation of hormone production. It's most vital function is that it restores libido and increases sex drive. Red clover is the last herb mentioned-above which is used in a natural menopause treatment. It contains high levels of phytoestrogens which work against mood swings and hot flashes. Red clover also protects the organism against osteoporosis. Another thing this very effective herb does is to increase good cholesterol in the blood stream which automatically means lower risk of heart disease for those women taking it.

Even when using natural menopause treatments you should not exceed the recommended dosage and should also be directed. Whatever type of alternative medicine you want to try, it's best if you consult your primary care provider. He might give you sound advice which remedies and therapies are the most suitable for you. Another thing you should do is keep a proper diet and exercise. These two things definitely have positive impact on our health in general, so they also help the reduction of menopausal symptoms.

There are some women who shouldn't use natural menopause treatments because they are not right for them and might have negative effects on them. Before starting any kind of natural menopause treatment you should very carefully read the labels. To conclude with, natural treatments have helped many women live easily in their menopause. If they can work for the others, they might be effective for you, as well.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning women's health. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Natural Menopause Treatment

Menopause Weight Gain ? Why You Have It And How To Lose It

You?re mature. You?re confident. You?re fat. Okay, maybe you?re not fat, but weight is starting to accumulate around your mid-section and no matter what you do, it?s not going away. You?ve cut your caloric intake, you?ve started doing stomach crunches, you?re parking further away from the entrance at work and you?ve even started taking walks through your neighborhood to burn some calories and lose this additional weight. Still, the pile of mush that overlaps your waistband remains. It?s ugly and it jiggles, but it loves you and it?s going nowhere. Why? These remedies worked just fine when you were younger, but they?re not quite as effective now that you?re approaching menopause.

There?s a very good reason for the stubborn weight surrounding your abdomen. As a matter of fact, this explanation is quite simple ? it?s your hormones. I know they?ve caused numerous problems for you from the day you started menstruating, but your hormones are not quite finished wreaking havoc just yet. You see, as you approach menopause your hormone levels have begun to decline drastically, thus causing the weight gain you?re now experiencing. Many women become complacent and accept this gain in weight as just a normal part of the aging process. While this is certainly an option, it?s not the only avenue that can ? or should ? be taken.

It?s inevitable ? every woman approaching menopause is going to experience symptoms associated with declining hormone levels. As a matter of fact, the decrease in your estrogen level plays a significant role in the weight gain you?re now noticing. You see, estrogen is the hormone which is responsible for causing monthly ovulation. Obviously, as you enter the menopausal years your estrogen level decreases, thus causing your body to eventually cease ovulating. Since your body is producing less estrogen it?s only natural that it will look for other places from where to get needed estrogen. It just so happens that fat cells in your body are capable of producing estrogen, therefore, your body works harder to convert calories into fat to increase estrogen levels.

Unfortunately, you?ll also experience a decrease in your level of testosterone. Why is this unfortunate? Well, testosterone is the hormone that helps your body to create lean muscle mass out of the calories you consume. As you may know, muscle burns more calories than fat cells do, which will contribute to increased metabolism. Obviously, your body burns more calories with a higher metabolic rate.

With the combination of a decrease in estrogen and testosterone levels working against you, you?re now faced with a body determined to be a walking pile of fat. Is it the end of the world? Must you accept this terrible fate bestowed upon you? Absolutely not. Now that you know what?s taking place inside your body, you?re armed and ready with the tools you need to combat these changes, right? You?re well aware of the significant role muscle plays to burn calories, so if you want to be lean and toned you?ll need to build muscle to help your body burn calories.

You?ll benefit tremendously by committing to a regular exercise regimen, which includes weight training to lose the extra weight you?ve gained. It?s not rocket science; it?s simple common sense ? build muscle, burn calories and keep the weight off. By making a few simple lifestyle changes you will reduce many of the menopausal symptoms you?re experiencing and you?ll begin to feel beautiful, youthful and energized once again.
Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. She is a grandmother, who started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life.

How To Lose Weight After Menopause..

I was recently asked this question by a female customer:

- Since I've been going through menopause, I can't seem to lose one pound. Do you have any special advice for me? It's very hard to just keep dieting and dieting and see no results.

My answer:

Seeing results in your weight loss program is the best motivator there is. As we age, it gets harder to build muscle and lose fat. We will all go through this phase. Now, should we surrender? Of course not. A woman in her 50+ can still totally transform her body...

First of all, make sure you follow the fundamentals:

- Drink a lot of water

- Eat six smaller meals a day instead of three big ones

- Exercise

Weight training in particular becomes EVEN MORE important as we age. This will allow us to age with grace and not be "crippled".

Women especially tend to suffer from osteoporosis after menopause. Weight lifting helps keep your bones stronger and "denser". By following the proper steps, you can lose fat - no doubt about it. However, the older we get, the less forgiving our body becomes so we don't have that wide of a margin for errors or for "messing around".

If you follow a proper fat loss plan, you will lose fat and increase muscle - it's just that this will happen at a slower pace than if you were in your early 20's or 30's.

I'm not a doctor and I try to avoid answering "medical" questions - but I'll give you a hint: Talk to your doctor about hormone-replacement therapy. There may be a way for you to "turn back the clock" so to speak. Don't talk to just any doctor who is clueless. Find a smart endocrinologist who is "human" and understands what you are trying to do (lose fat and build muscle so you are stronger and look sexier) and see if he can recommend something that will help you. Ask questions and see if he has experience with this type of treatment. You don't want to be nobody's guinea pig...

Something else that is important is your mental perspective. Did you know that many people die a few years after they retire from their job? This can happen in their 70s or even their 60s or 50s. Age isn't really important. What's interesting is that these people say: "Ok, since I'm retired, that's it, I'm finished." Then, they get depressed and give up on life completely.

Going through menopause can have a similar effect on a woman's body. The trick is to know how to fight back. In any case, DON'T QUIT. Some people live up to 120. Being 52 years young is far to early to say that you are "finished". See? It's all a matter of perspective...

Why Almost Everyone Is Dead Wrong About Weight Loss - Including How To Lose Up To 28 Pounds in 4 Weeks And Keep it off - Without Diet Pills or Aerobics and Without Feeling Hungry. Lose weight with this simple weight loss program.

Menopause and Vaginal Dryness

Many women feel vaginal dryness during menopause due to the thinning of the mucus membranes and the loss of elasticity in the walls of the vagina. The reduction in the production of estrogen in the ovaries may cause the thinning of the vaginal lining. This, in itself, does not cause any problems, unless the lining of the vagina becomes inflamed and dry; then it is painful.

Vaginal dryness is medically known as 'atrophic vaginitis,' and it sounds like a disease, though it is not. It can be overcome with simple remedies, such as, a good nutritional program during your menopause. This is an excellent way of preventing your vagina from becoming dry and thin. Other solutions to the problem are the estrogen replacement creams, tri-estrogen cream or triple estrogen cream, and pills that your doctor can prescribe. Certain Over- The-Counter (OTC) vaginal lubricants could be helpful too. Applying Vitamin E oil helps hydrating the vaginal membranes.

If you are on medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants or other drugs with drying potential, these can cause drying of the mucous membranes, aggravating the problem. Doctors suggest a perineal wash (area between the posterior vulva junction and the anus in females) once a day. Women need to rinse the vulvar region (the external genital organs of the female, including the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and entrance of the vagina) with plain water. Opening the labia gently with one hand, water is either sprayed from a squirt bottle or poured gently from a square container.

Menopause, Vaginal Dryness and Sex Though menopause is nature's contraceptive, women need to wait at least a year before giving up on contraceptives.

During Perimenopause, the period leading to menopause, the sexual desire gets diminishes often. The thinning of the genital membranes and vaginal dryness often lead to discomfort during masturbation and sexual intercourse.

Women who have infrequent intercourse could gently stretch the vaginal tissues by inserting a couple of fingers in the vagina during bath. This may prevent vaginismus, a muscular contraction causing the vagina to close, and pain on penetration. Maintaining regular sexual activity, and/or masturbation will help. To aid vaginal lubrication, which is delayed with age, women can ask their partners to prolong foreplay. This could make penetration easy and comfortable.

Treating Thinning of Membranes and Vaginal Dryness ?? Start with drinking 2 liters of water and herbal tea every day. ?? Consumption of soybean stimulates estrogen production, leading to elimination of vaginal dryness in many women. ?? Adding canola, olive, sunflower, or soybean oil to your diet will add lubrication to your body. ?? Doctors suggest applying intra-vaginally, natural progesterone cream once a day. ?? In doses of 200 IU at a time, take 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin E daily. Vitamin E is contra-indicated for hypertension, diabetes or a rheumatic heart. You will need to consult your doctor. ?? One effective way of easing vaginal dryness is to insert a Vitamin E capsule intra-vaginally.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 26 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development as well as management of communications nad public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications; creative-com@cox.net or by vistiing www.everythingmenopause.com, www.everythingandropause.com or www.howtoconquermenopause.com

Peri-Menopause

Peri-Menopause

Natural midlife changes have begun when your periods become irregular. Peri-menopause refers to the time leading up to menopause when the cycle length and menstrual flow can vary significantly. You may skip a period or your flow may become heavier or lighter. A common symptom is the commencement of hot flashes, which many women describe as a sudden rush of heat that spreads over the upper part of the body and face making the skin flush and causing a sudden burst of perspiration. The onset of hot flashes can often cause embarrassment for women as they can occur at anytime without warning. Night sweats and mood swings are also common during this time and you may find that your sleep patterns change.

What is menopause?
Every woman will experience menopause and every woman will experience menopause in her own unique way. For some women, menopause will be a gradual phase that is hardly noticed. For others it can be marked with severe symptoms that make going about your daily life close to unbearable.

Menopause literally means the last monthly period of a woman''s life. However, it is confirmed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The gradual decrease in the ovaries production of estrogen during this time is simply the body''s natural evolution from the fertile child-bearing years to a whole new stage of life.

For most women, menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 to 55 years.

Estrogen levels play an important role in a woman''s life. They rise at puberty with the onset of childbearing years and then increase and decrease rhythmically with your menstrual cycle. They peak during pregnancy and then decline as you reach menopause and your menstrual cycle ceases.

This decline in estrogen levels during menopause gives rise to common symptoms such as:

Hot flashes
Night sweats
Mood swings and irritability
Other symptoms associated with menopause include:

Reduced libido
Insomnia
Headaches
Urinary frequency
Dry vagina
Inability to concentrate

If you are currently going through menopause, chances are you are accustomed to more than one of these symptoms. Perhaps it''s the intense hot flash when you want it the least, or it''s the on again, off again tug of war with the blankets at night as you experience night sweats. The fact is thousands of women begin menopause everyday, so you are not alone.

Many women are also unaware that decreasing estrogen levels can have a less obvious but more harmful effect on your body, such as an increased risk of osteoporosis (bone loss) and high cholesterol.

When estrogen levels drop, the risk of osteoporosis increases. This can mean bones become more brittle and more prone to fracture. Cholesterol health may also decline in some women after menopause.

Both osteoporosis and high cholesterol levels are major long term health issues for women after menopause.

For more research articles kindly visit our website:http://www.getnutri.com/articles/default.asp

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Cessation Menopause

Menopause refers to the physiological stopping of menstrual cycles that is associated with advancing age in species that experience such cycles. More specifically menopause occurs as the ovaries of the species stop producing estrogen, which in turn causes the entire reproductive system to slowly come to a halt. During this time of shutdown, the body is continually trying to adapt to the changing level of hormones which is the cause of the symptoms we commonly know: - Increased depression - Anxiety - Irritability - Mood swings - Lack of concentration

It isn't uncommon for a woman to have increasingly scanty and random menstrual periods along with the above symptoms. The typical time for this cycle is about one year, but can swing to as little as 6 months, and to as great as 5 years in extreme cases. Physiological Menopause is part of a normal aging process, and on average occurs as 50.5 years of age. Some woman experience menopause at a younger age, at it should be noted that it can also be surgically induced by procedures like hysterectomy.

There is several different factors which can attribute the timeline of menopause. An example of such is: both fraternal and identical twins will on average reach menopause before other women; approximately five percent of twins will reach menopause before they turn forty. There is no way to predict in advance how long, or when menopause will exist, but if you spend some time going over it with your doctor you will be able to have a better idea.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Menopause Area - http://www.menopause-area.com, which is the best site on the internet for all menopause related information.

Natural Remedies For Perimenopause And Menopause Symptoms.

More and more women are seeking natural alternative treatments for symptoms of menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason for many is the association between conventional hormone replacement therapy and a number of serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots, although the link has by no means been proven, and the issue is currently the subject of serious debate among women?s health experts. Many women have experienced unpleasant side effects resulting from conventional HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal bleeding. Many women simply feel apprehensive at the thought of taking drugs which have been manufactured synthetically.

The whole notion of returning to old fashioned herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal medicines which are being rediscovered have been used to treat a range of ailments for literally thousands of years. There is a commonly held belief that medicines derived from natural sources are necessarily free from the risk of negative side effects, harmful interactions and allergic reactions. This is simply not true. Whatever kind of medication you choose to take, it?s essential that you fully understand how it works, what dosage level is appropriate for you, and what objective research has been done on its effectiveness and its potential hazards. Your doctor is the best person to provide you with professional, individual advice and attention. Information you find online and in women?s health publications is a useful supplement to your doctor?s advice, and it?s wise to read as widely as you can to get an overall picture of the issues. Your health is the most important thing you have, and while you are free to make your own choices about treating menopause symptoms, it?s vital that you make these choices with your eyes open.

Most experts believe that all of the common symptoms of menopause are caused by the dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body?s levels of estrogen and to some extent progesterone, and the imbalance between them. Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally focus around restoring these hormone levels. Natural treatments are typically made from extracts of plants containing substances which are very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of these treatments relies on the assumption that these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones have a similar effect in the body to the body?s own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones more effectively, rather than restoring the hormones artificially.

Another approach is to treat each symptom individually. There is a range of natural treatments which focus specifically on alleviating common symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

Estrogen treatments.

Soy

By far the richest source of phytoestrogens (sometimes called ?isoflavones?) is soybeans, and foods made from soy extracts. Soy can be consumed in the form of tofu, soy cheese, meat substitute products such as soy burgers, breads and muffins made with soy flour, and soy drinks, sometimes known as ?soy milk?. Some studies have shown that consuming soy beverages or breads made with soy flour twice daily can reduce the severity or the number of hot flashes, but results have been inconclusive and inconsistent. Soy powders and pills contain much higher levels of phytoestrogens than soy foods, and may have a more significant effect in alleviating menopause symptoms than soy foods, but little is known about the potential hazards. Consuming soy extracts and soy foods may have a range of other health benefits, including reducing the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease, and lowering cholesterol. Some studies suggest that phytoestrogens may actually help to reduce the risk of breast cancer by blocking the overproduction of natural estrogen in the body.

Herbs containing phytoestrogens

Red clover has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat skin conditions, asthma, bronchitis, kidney stones, joint disorders and breast inflammation. It is thought to work by improving circulation and stimulating urine and mucous production, or ?purifying the blood?. Red clover has been recently discovered to contain high levels of phytoestrogens, and its usefulness in the treatment of menopause symptoms is being investigated. Some studies have shown the herb to be very effective in reducing hot flashes and improving bone density and strength, while others have been inconclusive.

Dong Quai is an important herb used in Chinese medicine, and has been used to treat PMS, menstrual irregularities and menopause symptoms for thousands of years, although its effectiveness has yet to be clinically verified by Western health practitioners. It is also believed to dilate blood vessels, and is used to treat high blood pressure and circulatory problems.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is commonly believed to contain phytoestrogens, although clinical studies to confirm this have been far from conclusive. It is a perennial plant native to North America, and is also known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot and macrotys. The plant has a long history of usefulness as a medicinal treatment, first by Native American people and more recently by alternative health practitioners, and has been used to treat a range of gynecological ailments including menopause symptoms, infertility, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries, and to induce lactation, bring on menstruation, and alleviate labor pains. It has also been used to treat rheumatism, fever, coughs and colds, hives and backache. Some studies have shown that taking pills made from black cohosh extract is very helpful in providing short term relief from a range of menopause symptoms including hot flashes, depression, mood swings and anxiety. However, little is known about the effects of taking the treatment in the long term, and some negative side effects have been reported, including headaches, stomach and gastric discomfort and weight gain.

Maca

Peruvian Maca root is believed to work by stimulating glands in the body to produce their own estrogen and testosterone. Maca has been cultivated in the Andes region for perhaps thousands of years, and has been used as a treatment to increase energy, enhance libido and increase fertility. Maca root is claimed to provide a range of benefits, including alleviating PMS symptoms, reducing depression and stress, increasing athletic ability and creating a general sense of well being. It is also claimed to be effective in treating a wide range of menopausal symptoms, including mood swings, depression, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, reduced libido, sleep disturbances and breast tenderness. Objective clinical research into the effectiveness and the potential hazards of taking Maca root supplements is very scant.

Progesterone treatments.

An alternative view of the causes of menopause symptoms places more emphasis on the role of progesterone, and the imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. ?Estrogen dominance? is a recently identified syndrome, and is believed by a small number of doctors to be the cause of severe PMS and menstrual problems in early adulthood, and a range of severe symptoms as menopause approaches. Advocates of progesterone treatments believe them to be free from the health risks and side effects associated with estrogen based treatments.

Natural progesterone cream

Natural progesterone creams usually contain extracts from Mexican wild yam, which contains a substance which is believed to be similar to the progesterone produced in the body. The creams are applied to the parts of the body where the skin is thinner, such as the breasts, inner thighs, inner forearms or stomach, and are believed to pass through the skin and circulate through the body. Many women have found natural progesterone creams to be very effective in treating menopause symptoms, but there is no evidence to show that the creams lower the risk of breast and uterine cancer, or are free from the risk of side effects as is sometimes claimed.

Chaste tree berry

Chaste tree berry, sometimes known as Chasteberry or Vitex agnus castus has been used since ancient Greek times to treat a range of ailments. It is believed to stimulate the production of progesterone, and has been shown to be very effective in alleviating severe PMS and a range of menopausal symptoms

Lynn Donn is the webmaster for http://www.menopause-symptoms-perimenopause.com Her website includes helpful articles on perimenopause and menopause symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. Site offers suggestions on how to ease symptoms of menopause and perimenopause naturally using black cohosh, soy and natural progesterone cream etc.

Promensil Natural relief from Menopause Symptoms

Promensil Natural relief from Menopause Symptoms

Promensil provides natural relief from the menopause symptoms such as night sweats and hot flushes. Promensil also maintains general well-being and bone health at this important stage of a woman's life. Promensil has been the subject of medical tests worldwide which show its ability to relieve menopausal symptoms.

Promensil tablets are derived from red clover, a legume which contains isoflavones beneficial to human health. It is also used as dietary supplement. As a dietary supplement, Promensil provides you by means of natural isoflavones which are effective within relieving menopause disorders, such as hot flushes, as well as maintaining well being in addition to quality of life.

It has been researched has that the reason menopausal symptoms is due to differences within diet, in addition to specifically within the low intake of isoflavones phytoestrogens within the Western diet.

Falling estrogen levels during menopause bring physical changes requiring lifestyle adjustments that can be debilitating for some women. With increasing age in addition to declining estrogen production, isoflavones become increasingly important, taking over the role of the body's estrogen.

This is where the unique combination of isoflavones within Promensil helps the women. Promensil assists women by the supplementation of isoflavones to help in managing the symptoms of menopause naturally.

Advantages of Promensil

Natural relief from Menopause Symptoms Helpful in maintaining bone health after hot flushes

Promensil Cautions

Promensil is not recommended for use during pregnancy or lactation. It is not recommended for use by children. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.

Promensil Natural relief from Menopause Symptoms

For more details or any query go to: http://www.herbsmd.com/sp/xq/asp/store.nov/qx/default.htm

Easing menopause naturally

IF MENOPAUSE IS A NATURAL PHASE of womanhood, why not treat the symptoms the natural way? Although some healthcare providers recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the standard treatment for menopause, there remains much controversy on the advantages and risks associated with the treatment.

IF MENOPAUSE IS A NATURAL PHASE of womanhood, why not treat the symptoms the natural way? Although some healthcare providers recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the standard treatment for menopause, there remains much controversy on the advantages and risks associated with the treatment.

If natural is the way you would like to go, here are seven alternatives that are tried and proven by many women around the world:

TAKE MORE GOOD BACTERIA: To help with metabolism and utilization of oestrogen during menopause, it is essential to have Lactobacillus and Bifidus (good bacteria) cultures in our intestines. Some believe these "good" bacteria help reduce the occurrence of yeast infections. You can find a good dose of these helpful bacteria in various nutritional formulas in the supermarket.

PUMP UP ON CERTAIN VITAMINS AND MINERALS: According to registered pharmacist Steven D. Ottariano in his book, Medicinal Herbal Therapy: A Pharmacist's Viewpoint, certain vitamins and minerals can be advantageous for menopausal women. These include:

• Vitamin E (400-8001U daily) - helps reduce night sweats and hot flashes
• Vitamin C (1,000-2,000mg daily) - aids in the absorption of vitamin E and decreases capillary fragility
• Calcium citrate (1,500mg daily) - helps circulate lipid concentrations in postmenopausal women
• Magnesium (500-750mg daily) - aids in the proper absorption of calcium

WATCH YOUR DIET: Women who are entering the menopausal phase have to monitor their fat intake, as due to the loss of oestrogen (a woman's natural heart protection) her risk of heart disease will go up. This is why every woman should limit her consumption of meats high in saturated fats such as beef and chicken as these meats might reduce the body's ability to metabolize oestrogen.

Also avoid foods high in caffeine and carbonated beverages which contain phosphorous and can elevate bone loss. Limit your intake of excessive sugary foods as these restrict your liver's ability to metabolize oestrogen and impairs the immune system.

Healthy foods include Soya which contains phytoestrogens. Grains, wheat, brown rice, almonds, cashews, oats, tofu, and fresh fruits and vegetables are also highly recommended for menopausal women.

GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE: This is probably the best way of addressing menopausal symptoms, and every other physical problem known to women. Regular exercise (at least three or four times a week) helps prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and reduce the risk of many types of cancer. It improves a woman's overall health and well-being throughout every phase of her life.

NATURAL PROGESTERONE AND OESTROGEN: Many women count on progesterone for effective menopausal symptom management. It is available in the market in compounded prescriptions. Some women prefer using a cream product over an oral form as the former method requires a lower dose (because it does not have to be metabolized by the liver). Furthermore, natural progesterone causes virtually no side effects. As for oestrogen compounds, there are three types available by prescription from pharmacists - Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol. Natural oestrogen compounds can contain a combination of these three kinds of oestrogen.

The most common formulation is called Tri-oestrogen made up of 10 per cent Estrone, 10 per cent Estradiol, and 80 per cent Estriol. A combination of two types of oestrogen compounds is called Bi-oestrogen.

RED CLOVER ISOFLAVONE: Red clover isoflavone supplements have been shown to have a significant positive effect on the rate of bone loss, boost cardiovascular health, and may offer protection against breast cancer. The findings is based on a research published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of the British Menopause Society.

Further evidence suggests that red clover reduces the occurrence of hot flashes, one of the most common complaints of menopausal women.

BLACK COHOSH: In olden days, black cohosh was used by native Americans to treat gynaecologic symptoms. Europeans have also used the herb extract since the 19th Century. Its widespread use was based on observations that black cohosh successfully relieved menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, fatigue and palpitations. Lately, clinical studies have shown that it has beneficial effects on our bones too.

The health-promoting properties of black cohosh have been extensively researched to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness. The extract is taken from the root to produce standardized black cohosh formulations. Women can now get the safe, clinically proven herbal supplement at any traditional food, drug or mass retail store.

When taken according to proper directions, the supplement has little or no side effects. Every woman should consult a doctor or a pharmacist before she begins black cohosh supplementation.

All menopausal women are different, and it may take some time for you to find the best form or combination of treatments to suit your needs. Again, a healthy lifestyle can make a real difference to how you feel and prevent some of the long-term effects of oestrogen deficiency (e.g. heart disease and osteoporosis).

Equally important too is having a positive outlook on life; to help you cope with the changes in your body.

www.medical-explorer.com

Menopause Symptoms, Diet, Exercises, Weight Gain: Tips to Sail through Menopause with Ease!

Menopause literally means the last menstrual period. It generally occurs in mid-life, that is around the age of 40. It is characterized by hormonal changes. Menstrual cycle stops and so does the production of some hormones like estrogen. Menopausal women often experiences weight gain along with weakening of bones.

Post menopause, women have have higher risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases because of the inherent hormonal changes. Hot flushes with sudden bouts of sweating are commonly felt by women. Other Symptoms being failing eyesight, hair loss, weak bones, dry skin and erratic sleep patterns. The key to staying youthful and active even after menopause is to follow regular exercise routine and a nutritious diet.

Regular Exercise Routine :

Going in for an exercise program which addresses the entire body is always beneficial. Even exercises like walking, swimming, jogging, dancing are useful. To get a complete cardio workout, involve yourself in some aerobic exercise. You can also hit a gym for some weight training which will increase your strength. Training with dumbbells at home, but under guidance, can serve the purpose for you. It is important to stretch and relax too. Relaxation helps you overcome depression related to menopause. Exercise will also combat weight gain which a women generally experiences during menopause. Yoga is the most effective way to work out. it not only keeps your body active but also keeps your mind stress-free.

Balanced Diet:

Other important issue to handle the most difficult stage for women is to eat a balanced diet with little add-ons. Diet should be particularly high in Calcium and Phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds, similar to estrogens, found in plants. Phytoestrogens can be easily found in soya and tofu. Diet high in phytoestrogens reduces the hot flush by 40%. This is the reason why Japanese women face less severe menopausal symptoms than their western counterparts. Recommended amount: 10-15g of tofu or 2 cups of soya milk. Dairy products, which are high in Calcium, also reduces bone loss to great extent. Recommended amount: 1000gm. Since Vitamin D promotes the consumption of calcium, it is essential to provide enough amount of vitamin D to body. Normal exposure to sun should provide the body with right amount of vitamin D.

--> Learn more about balanced diet here at http://www.weightloss-health.com/balanced_diet.htm

Since drop in estrogen can lead to weight gain, it is wise to undertake some weight loss program to avoid complexities later in life such as diabetes, joint pains, heart-related diseases.

It is also believed that some vitamins are beneficial, specially during perimenopause. For eg Vitamin E relieves hot flushes, Vitamin B2 alleviates perimenopausal headaches, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 help fight depression.

Tip: If you find having sex uncomfortable due to thinning and drying of vaginal lining, use a water based lubricant.

About the Author

Ashley Green: for http://weightloss-health.com/ your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

To learn how to combat menopause weight gain and a chance to go through other informative articles targetting various health issues at Menopause Symptom and Weight Gain

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