Disclosure: The menopause series is not advice from professionals. It is a collection of stories and ideas that have helped women manage their menopause symptoms naturally.

PEAK TO PEAK - In this month’s menopause article, we learn how menopause symptoms affect our body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. We will also learn about alternative options to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). 

Hormone Replacement Therapy has helped thousands of women manage menopause symptoms. It is a great option for those who aren’t at high risk of things like breast cancer. However, for many women, after stopping HRT, they find that their menopause symptoms return tenfold. 

The theory behind this reason is that HRT only manages the symptoms associated with the natural decline in estrogen levels during menopause, not the menopause itself. Once you discontinue the therapy, your body goes into a sort of “shock,” and your menopause journey begins all over again.

Breast tenderness, irregular vaginal bleeding, weight gain, nausea, and headaches are the most common side effects of HRTs. According to institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institute of Health, serious risks of HRT include blood clots, stroke, heart disease, dementia, and incontinence.

It’s important to remember that every woman is different. While one may suffer side effects from taking any medication or supplement, others don’t. Most professionals recommend you start medication and supplements slowly, incorporating them into your daily or weekly routine.

Black Cohosh is the most popular supplement for hot flushes. The theory is that it works by influencing neurotransmitters like serotonin, which is affected by the drop in estrogen levels. Serotonin affects mood and other bodily functions. Black Cohosh is also considered to have antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties.

Serotonin is a precursor to melatonin, another hormone. Melatonin, which declines during menopause, regulates sleep-wake cycles and reproductive hormones. Would you be surprised that melatonin also aids in digestion? Don’t be. It’s true. Melatonin can impact gut motility. If melatonin levels aren’t balanced, it can trigger gut inflammation, among other things.

One of hundreds of things that change in a woman’s body during menopause is the ability to properly absorb vitamins and minerals. Aren’t we lucky? The malabsorption issue can even cause deficiencies, even if we think our diet is perfect.

A common symptom of malabsorption among menopausal women is feeling lightheaded or dizzy. There’s a potentially simple answer and easy solution for these two symptoms. Iron is an essential mineral for the body. Iron forms hemoglobin in red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body and removing carbon dioxide.

During menstruation, your body loses a lot of iron via blood. As a young lady, your body knows how to replenish the loss of iron, offering a nice balance for most women. One might think that you don’t lose iron during menopause because you no longer menstruate the same, if at all. This is far from the truth.

Most women average 30 years of menstruating, adding up to a whole lot of blood loss. As you get older, your body loses the ability to replenish your body’s iron levels, leaving you with a lack of blood circulation, meaning you may have an iron deficiency that can lead to Anemia.

Typical signs of low iron include the following:

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

• Constant cold hands and feet.

• Extreme fatigue or mood swings.

• Having pale or yellowish skin.

• Shortness of breath.

• Rapid heart rate.

• Pounding or whooshing in the ears.

• Strange headaches.

• Cravings that are abnormal (ice, clay, etc.)

• Brittle nails.

• Sore or swollen tongue.

• Vision problems.

Other common deficiencies during menopause include vitamins B12 and D. Guess what the number one symptom is for a deficiency in these two vitamins? Dizziness and mood swings. If you haven’t seen your doctor yet. Consider making an appointment for a full lab test to determine which deficiencies could be triggering your menopause symptoms.

Once you and your doctor determine which deficiencies you have, if any, many of the natural food grocery stores offer an array of great supplement options. Please read the ingredients list before making a purchase. If you need an iron supplement, make sure it’s the only or main ingredient on the list. 

Next month, we will dive deep into specific exercises and diet. The things I’ve incorporated into my daily routine have changed my life! Until we meet again at the end of May, do your menopause a favor and increase your lean protein intake and stop the cardio. Yes, you read that correctly.

Resources:

https://www.medicinecontact.com/blog/29513/iron-deficiency-hot-flashes

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15245-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10408735/

https://www.hematology.org/education/patients/anemia/iron-deficiency

To catch up on The Mountain-Ear’s menopause series, check out the links below:

https://themtnear.com/stories/menopause-the-elephant-in-every-womans-room,28567.

https://themtnear.com/stories/menopause-the-gut-health-and-hormone-link,31667.

https://themtnear.com/stories/menopause-testing-the-quantum-and-neuroplasticity-theory,35364.