Sail Through Perimenopause & Menopause Naturally!

MENOPAUSE BASICS...

Before menopause, a woman enters a four- to 10-year phase during which she stops ovulating but continues to produce estrogen and progesteron in limited amounts. Called perimenopause, this phase of life is often marked by irregular bleeding and the onset of subtle psychological problems, such as moodiness, memory loss and/or anxiety.

True menopause occurs when estrogen levels plummet, menstruation becomes irregular and finally stops. Many menopausal women have hot flashes and other obvious symptoms. For some women, this process takes as little as six months; others have symptoms for three years or longer. Even in the absence of these symptoms, however, the body is undergoing dramatic physiological changes;. bones weaken, cholesterol levels rise. Over a period of years, these changes can lead to osteoporosis and heart attack.

The natural remedies in this article, and guidence from a qualified nutritionist, may not only lessen the severity of the symptoms of perimenopause and memopause, but the risk factors as well. Why not sail through menopause symptom free? It is quite possible to breeze through menopause without a symptom if you give your body the proper nutrients it needs to support it through the changes taking place within your body during this time. But first you have to recognize that a change is occuring in your body. It may be subtle mood swings, irregular periods, memory loss or even anxiety. These symptoms mark the stage of perimenopause. Ideally it is here that you would want to begin to support your body with natural remedies so you can sail through this process and into menopause. However, for those of you that are already in menopause don't fret, you too can sail through menopause with specific natural remedies designed to support your menopause type. There are 12 plus types of menopause dependent on the level of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in your body. By identifying which menopause type you are based on hormone testing and a symptom survey, a specialized program can be designed for your type.

Since all women experience menopause differently, shouldn't there be more than one treatment? For decades, it was estrogen that ws supposedly the ultimate cure-all for "the change." Recently, progesterone has been touted as the most effective menopause treatment. However evidence suggests there is no magic hormone or hormone combination that can be indiscriminately prescribed to all women. In fact, Dr. Joseph Collins has identified 12 different types of menopause, each requiring a treatment that is as unique as the women experiencing it.

One of the most disturbing things I have encountered in my practice is women being treated as protocols. Menopausal women have been treated per protocol for years...as if all women are the same. There has been little consideration as to how each woman differs in terms of health risks such as bone or heart, diet, lifestyle, need for supplements, and finally her personal hormone levels. As each woman enters menopause, she should be individually supported, medically evaluated for hormone levels and risk assessments, and given the appropriate advice tailored to her particular needs.

Some 3 million American women take estrogen replacement therapy. It's quite effective at alleviating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

But estrogen therapy can also cause a whole host of nasty side effects. These include nausea... headaches... breast tenderness... hair loss... and abdominal cramps. Plus, depression... dizziness... bloating.., body hair... uterine fibroids... and abnormal vaginal bleeding.

What's more, several studies show that taking estrogen can increase your risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer by as much as 13.9 times! On the front page of the Daily News there was an article about receint studies that show long term use of HRT (hormone replacement therapy can cause cancer in 80% of the women tested!

Luckily, you don't have to expose yourself to these risks. And you don't have to suffer any side effects, either. That's because clinical studies show that an herb called black cohosh works much better than estrogen. In one study, women were divided into three groups: one group received estrogen, another received a placebo (dummy pill), and a third received black cohosh. Result: The black cohosh group got better results on all symptoms, including hot flashes, fatigue, and mood swings. Even more amazing, the researchers found that black cohosh actually reversed menopausal changes in the vagina. There was an increased proliferation of vaginal tissue.. .plus improved vaginal muscle tone and a decrease in vaginal dryness.

THE FIRST STEP - SOUND NUTRITION
That's one of the natural remedies I am speaking about. But the first step is sound nutrition. During menopause and perimenopause, you should treat your nutrition as seriously as you would if you were pregnant. The changes taking place in your body require a lot of nutritents to smooth the transition from being a menstruating woman to a postmenopausal woman. Your adrenal glands and your organs in general need to be well nourished so they can function at their optimum levels. The adrenal glands are what kick in and produce hormones when your ovaries begin to decline. This is why it is so important to support them and keep them functioning optimally.

Proper nutrition is the foundation for all other treatments. In order to make hormones, the adrenal glands and ovaries need a healthy supply of vitamins and minerals. So, reduce your stress and eat right! If possible, eat the best quality, preferably organic food. Make sure to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and have sufficient protein every day. Avoid sugary snacks, sodas, and foods high in fats, salt, caffeine, additives, and preservatives.

It is a good idea for all menopausal women to take a high-grade multiple vitamin and mineral supplement. Increased intake of foods high in phytoestrogens is also recommended. The next step is to investigate herbal and homeopathic remedies based on your menopause type. These remedies are generally less disturbing to the body and have fewer side effects than taking hormone replacement, and there are definitely benefits to creating the most "natural" treatment program that you can. You must use glandular extracts cautiously if you have symptoms of agitation or anxiety. From an optimal therapy point of view, conventional hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) is among the last options in the decision chain. While it may prove safe in many cases, conventional HRT does not always relieve menopausal symptoms. You should certainly consider this therapy when nutrition, homeopathy, herbs, and glandular extracts alone do not relieve your menopausal symptoms.

MINERALS
Your body uses enzymes to make hormones. In addition to the other factors we've looked at, your body can't make hormones without certain nutrients, including essential minerals and trace minerals. Copper and iron are particularly important, but minerals from boron to zinc are required for the proper function of most endocrine tissues, including the thyroid, the ovaries, the adrenal glands, and the pancreas.' Specific minerals are required for every enzyme in the steroidogenic pathway.

Taking minerals is a good way to make sure that you're getting the minerals you need for making hormones. Without boron, copper, manganese, and zinc, your adrenal glands can't rise to their increased hormone-making duties after menopause. But balance and moderation are important in nutrition, as in everything else. An excess of any mineral can potentially be dangerous, so avoid extreme dosages. Give your body what it needs, but not more than it can handle.

Nutritional minerals are essential to life and are involved in many important metabolic functions. Some nutritional minerals in the body-such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc-are present in large amounts, while others-such as chromium, cobalt, and selenium-occur in trace amounts. These minerals cover such a wide range of functions in the body that an entire chapter could be written on each one.

Unfortunately, conventional medicine has paid little attention to the role that these minerals play in the production of steroid hormones, which is so important for women during menopause.

Daily Recommendations for Menopause

Minerals:

Vitamin Daily Recommendations:

Thiamine (B1) 30-100 mg
Riboflavin (B2) 10-100 mg
Niacin (B3) 100mg
Pantothenic Acid (B5) 250 mg
Pyridoxine (B6) 250 mg
Cobalamin (B12) 100 mcg
Folic Acid 1 mg (400-I,000 mcg)
Vitamin C 1,000 mg (1 gram)
Vitamin A 2,000-10,000 IU
Beta Carotene 2,000-50,000 JU
Vitamin D 4001U
Vitamin E 400-800 IU
Vitamin K1 100 mcg- 1,000 mcg

Call to set up a nutritional consultation so that tests can be performed and a comprehensive strategy of lifestyle, dietary modification and nutrient supplementation can be implemented to aid you in reversing this disorder.

For an appointment, contact our office at: 800-956-7083 and visit our web site www.completehealthinstitute.com go to lab tests and click on appropriate test for information.

Dr. Rispoli, Ph.D., L Ac. has had a clinical practice for over 20 years. Her programs work because she is so thorough in testing and providing a nutritional approach. Remember that the body can heal itself if given the proper nutrients.

The information herein is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or a cure. Should you have a medical condition please seek the advice of your medical doctor.