HORMONE HEALTH & MENOPAUSE

Menopause? What is it actually? From their mid-40s, women enter a total of three phases that are associated with changing hormone constellations: Perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. This period of hormonal change - similar to puberty - is a gradual process that lasts for many years/decades and is a challenge for many women.

While menopause is a well-known term in Europe, there is not even a word for it in Japan. Instead, the menopause, i.e. the time after the period has stopped, is positively referred to as renewal. In Western countries, on the other hand, women struggle with hot flushes and sweating. So what is the difference between the regions?

The diet! In Asian countries, soy products such as miso, tofu or soy sprouts are part of the daily diet. Thanks to the isoflavones they contain, so-called soy phytoestrogens, which are similar to the body's own oestrogen, they mitigate the effects of fluctuating hormone levels during the menopause.

In Japan and China, women consume around 50mg of natural phytoestrogens in their diet every day - we Europeans don't even manage 1/10 of that and therefore have to struggle with the effects of declining hormones.

Isoflavones and vitamin E are considered to be supportive during the hormonal transition. They are found in particular in linseed, walnuts, vegetable oils, sweet potatoes, dark berries, soy and chickpeas. However, they are rarely found in animal products.

Yoga and relaxation exercises are equally recommended and effective, as they lower our stress levels and therefore have a positive influence on our hormone balance.

"If you're in a hurry, walk slowly."

- CHINESE PROVERB

In my stress and nutrition coaching sessions, I address the individual needs of my clients. By switching to a balanced diet and a conscious lifestyle, a significant improvement in well-being can be felt quickly and the symptoms of the menopause can also be positively influenced - without any medication.