How do you prepare for menopause? Many women often approach menopause with uncertainty about what will happen as our bodies change. It’s not like when we were young girls approaching womanhood. There were health classes, booklets, and even talks to help us know what to expect as we transitioned into being women.
Now that we’re adults, it’s almost expected we should know the changes life will send our way. It would be helpful to know what you might expect when approaching menopause. Here are five lifestyle changes that can help ease your menopausal experience:
- Change your diet.
Avoid spicy foods, fatty meats, and refined carbs, such as pastas, rice, white bread, and corn to name a few. Menopause can significantly alter your metabolism, which can lead to uncharacteristic weight gain, increased hot flashes, and even affect mood swings and energy levels.
- Quit smoking.
Smoking can be a very difficult habit to break, but the health benefits of a smoke-free life are tremendous. Nicotine has a destructive effect on postmenopausal women. Add in the well-documented health risks of smoking, most notably lung cancer, and it’s wise to quit smoking to preserve your future health.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
Menopause can elevate your body’s temperature by as much as two degrees during hot flashes. (John Hopkins Medicine) Alcohol consumption also naturally raises our body temperature which can further accentuate the effect of hot flashes. Recent studies show that alcohol and caffeine consumption during menopause may actually increase the number of hot flashes you may experience. (34 Menopause Symptoms; Menopause)
It’s best to limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption to no more than two drinks per day. Caffeinated drinks should be consumed no later than six hours before sleep.
- Reduce stress.
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease is a potential effect of menopause as our hormone levels decrease. Added stress from work, family life, and relationships in your life can put unnecessary strain on our hearts which are more susceptible than ever to health risks. Reduce stress by creating healthy relationship boundaries, balancing work responsibilities, and making schedule changes to give your body and mind a chance to ease through menopause.
- Check your hormone levels before beginning menopause.
If you’re close to beginning menopause, it’s wise to have your hormone levels examined to establish a healthy baseline for future hormone treatments. The more you know what qualifies as a healthy hormone balance will help you and your doctor better understand and monitor any future hormone treatments.
Hormone therapy can be an excellent solution for women as we experience menopause. Our ReVital care staff created a FREE eBook available for immediate download here to help you learn more about our different varieties of hormone replacement therapy for women. Download your FREE eBook and schedule your next appointment today.