A Graceful Transition to Menopause

A Graceful Transition to Menopause

Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation1. Not having a period for 12 consecutive months is considered menopause. Perimenopause can last anywhere from 7-11 years and is characterized by changes in menstruation and fluctuation in hormones1. Postmenopause is after the period has stopped completely1. The average age for menopause is between 45-55 yrs2. One of the main hormonal shifts with menopause is a drop in estrogen. This is because the ovarian follicles decrease and produce less estrogen3. Decreased estrogen lowers the negative feedback loop with the pituitary gland and LH and FSH are then increased3. Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression, changes in sex drive, insomnia, weight changes, hair loss, and urinary incontinence4.

Hot flashes, that usually occur from the chest up, are caused by the fluctuation in hormones which can dilate blood vessels and can cause a sudden increase in blood flow5. This can lead to flushing, sweating, heart palpitations, and anxiety that lasts 1 to 5 minutes5. This usually happens at night and can disrupt sleep which can then lead to depression5. A health study was done (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation) and found that African American women were more prone to “Vasomotor Symptoms” than Asian women5.

With a decrease in estrogen, there can be decreased bone loss and increased LDL1. Postmenopausal women are more at risk for osteoporosis and heart disease6. With that said, a diet rich in minerals is important for bone health, along with vitamin D. A diet also high in fiber and low in saturated fats can decrease the risk for CVD5.

It is important to understand that menopause is not a disease, and is a natural part of life. In order to make the transition more comfortable, a healthy diet and lifestyle is important. Detoxifying the liver and gut health are also important for hormonal health1.

Detox Whole Food Diet

Since the liver filters out hormones, it is important to have a healthy functioning liver to help regulate hormones more efficiently. If we want to balance our hormones, we must look at liver and gut health. Also, “NAFLD is greater among postmenopausal women, possibly because of the decline in estrogen and its protective measures7”. Therefore, liver health is even more important postmenopausal.

Other effects of low estrogen include, “…mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, declining immune responses to injury, and disarray in the balance between antioxidant formation and oxidative stress8.”

Foods that can support the liver:

Phase 1 Live Detox- Hydroxylation1:

Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels, cauliflower, arugula, bok choy, cabbage and kale) and isoflavones (soy, flax, red clover, and kudzu)1.

Phase 2 Liver Detox- Methylation1:

B vitamins, choline and magnesium1:

Legumes, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cracked cell chlorella, nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds and almonds), quinoa.

Phytoestrogens1:

Flax, non-GMO soy (tofu, edamame, miso, tempe), and sesame seeds.

“Phytoestrogens appear to reduce the frequency of hot flushes in menopausal women, without serious side-effects9.”

Maintain Healthy SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) Levels1:

Isoflavones(soy, flax, red clover, and kudzu), fiber, pumpkin seeds, green tea and berries1.

Protect Cells from Oxidative Stress1:

Lycopene, vitamin D3, curcumin, green tea, selenium, zinc and other antioxidants1.

Improve Gut Health:

Probiotics and fiber1. A high fiber diet includes fresh fruit and veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains. Avoid foods you are allergic to or intolerant to, refined flour, sugar, alcohol, diet high in meat and dairy, processed foods, chemicals, glyphosate, etc. Also, make sure you are drinking purified water.

What to watch out for:

Although cruciferous vegetables are great for phase 1 liver detox, raw crucifers can be high in oxalates and may have a negative effect on the thyroid. You can simply steam, sauté or cook your vegetables to decrease oxalate content. Also, soy is a good source of phytoestrogens, but make sure to avoid processed soy and GMO soy. Soy can be added to many ingredients, such as “soy protein isolate” or “textured soy protein”. Stick to non-GMO tofu, tempe, edamame, and miso.  Also, when on a detox diet, and eating more vegetables and fruit, make sure to follow the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Guide” (https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/). This list lets you know the 12 FV highly sprayed with herbicides/pesticides and the 15 FV with the least amount of herbicides/pesticides. It is best to buy the dirty dozen FV organic!

Broccoli

Broccoli influences the detoxification system10. Broccoli is a cruciferous veggie that contains Indole-3-carbinol that helps with stage one of liver detoxification1. It is also a good source of antioxidants, and contains 89.2 mg of vitamin C in 100g11. Broccoli is also a good source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin K which is important for healthy bones. It also contains vitamin A, beta-carotine, folate, and choline11. Broccoli can easily be added to stir-fries, quinoa bowls, and roasted/steamed with other veggies! Pair broccoli with sautéed kale and seeds, and you will receive more minerals and detoxification benefits!

Organic Sprouted Tofu

Tofu is a good source of protein, calcium, and fiber. It is healthier for the gut than animal protein. It is also one of the best sources of phytoestrogens which are beneficial for hormonal balance1. As mentioned earlier there is a lot of processed soy out on the market, so make sure to stick to non-GMO tofu, tempe, edamame, and miso. Tofu has a bland taste, so you can make it taste like anything you want! It’s all about how you spice it. You can make baked tofu, tofu rectangles on the skillet, add it to soups, stir-fries, Buddha bowls, and even red pasta sauce with spinach!

Medication Interactions and Depletions

Some common medications/hormones given to those pre and post menopause:

Estrogen is the most effective treatment for hot flashes5. The preferred method is transdermal5. Estrogen has major interactions with activated charcoal, grapefruit and St. John’s Wort. It also has a moderate depletion in folic acid and magnesium12. It is important to note that it can increase breast and ovarian cancer5.

Progesterone has major interactions with grapefruit and St. John’s Wort12. Progesterone cream  has major interactions with Aloe and EDTA12. Do not give progesterone to someone with breast cancer5.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) such as Zoloft (Sertraline) has major interactions with activated charcoal, arsenic, cesium, ephedra, grapefruit, lithium, Sida cordifolia and St. John’s wort and a moderate depletion in sodium12.

Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) Venlafaxine (Effexor) has major interactions with charcoal, arsenic, cesium, ephedra, grapefruit, lithium, Sida cordifolia and a moderate depletion in sodium12. For those with a history of breast cancer, SNRIs are preferred over SSRIs5.

Gabapentin has a major interaction with alcohol, L-tryptophan, GHB, kava, and activated charcoal12.

Supplements

Bone Mineral Blend

You always want to try to get your nutrients from food first. However, the soil is depleted in minerals. In this case, you may want to supplement with minerals, as the drastic decline in estrogen after menopause can increase the risk for osteoporosis. A liquid ionic bone mineral blend I like is from Metamin Liquid Wholeness. It has a combination of zinc, manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, cobalt, and boron.

Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon)

An RTC study was done with early on postmenopausal women (ages 49-58) for 4 months. There were 11 participants in the control group, and 11 in the group given 2g of Maca-GO per day (1g with a meal 2x a day).  The results were that the Maca-Go did significantly decrease symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats, and also helped to improve mood and decrease stress13.  This is significant, since other studies have not yet shown significant improvement in hot flashes with black cohosh5,14, red clover and dang gui5.  Please note that maca may cause testosterone to increase.

Referral: Meditation

“No amount of kale can counteract the toxic effects of chronic, repetitive stress on the body15”.

-Dr. Lissa RankinDr. Lissa Rankin, who is an author of many books and an MD that practices mind-body medicine, could not have said it better. No matter how much we detox and eat whole foods, we have to manage our stress. There are many stressors coming our way:  living a modern fast- paced life, electronics, TV and blue light in the evening, lack of sunlight and nature, sitting for many hours a day, poor communication, toxin exposure, and the list goes on. It is important to incorporate daily activities to turn off the stress response. Otherwise, stress hormones can interfere with sex hormones. Meditation can help bring us into the relaxation response which is the opposite of the stress response. It can help to lower blood pressure, improve mood, lower anxiety and depression, and help with insomnia16. A spiritual meditation can help a woman transition into a different chapter in her life. In yoga, and many religions, they talk about being the soul and not these material bodies. When the body is weathering a natural storm, you can take a step back and not get entrapped in the emotions and physical changes that happen. You can also take shelter in the knowledge that you are the soul and not these temporary bodies.

Recap

Menopause is a natural phase of life and is defined as not having a period for 12 consecutive months; then postmenopause begins. Perimenopause can start years before menopause and is characterized by changes in hormones and the menstrual cycle. Some major symptoms that go along with menopause are: hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression, changes in sex drive, insomnia, weight changes, hair loss, and urinary incontinence4. The drop in estrogen can also lead to bone loss and increased risk for CVD. The best way to handle the natural progression of menopause, is to focus on liver and gut health, so that hormones can be as balanced as they can be during the transition. A DETOX whole food diet consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and healthy unsaturated oils. Some specific foods that help with liver detox and hormonal balance are: Cruciferous vegetables, flax, organic soy, legumes, green leafy vegetables, cracked cell chlorella, pumpkin seeds, green tea and berries. Make sure to follow the EWG Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen FV list when choosing your FVs. Also, make sure to get non-GMO soy (tofu, tempe, miso, edamame), and cook your crucifers to lower the oxalates. When you are cleansing, you also want to make sure to drink purified water. Lastly, adding a meditation practice to your life can help to decrease stress and balance hormones, as well as help support a woman in a major life transition.

References:

  1. Ross, K. Reproductive Health. [Canvas]. Tempe, AZ: SCNM Masters in Clinical Nutrition Program; 2022.
  2. Women’s Reproductive Health. CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 28, 2020 Accessed March 13, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/womensrh/index.htm
  3. APGO Basic Sciences. Topic 17: Menopause . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vUulihyQOg. Reviewed 2018. Accessed March 13, 2022.
  4. Postmenopause. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause
  5. Rakel D. Integrative Medicine, fourth edition. Elsevier; 2018: 550-559.
  6. What is Menopause? NIH: National Institute on Aging. Reviewed September 30th, 2021. Accessed March 13, 2022.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause
  7. The Translational Genomics Research Institute. “Postmenopausal women at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, review suggests.” ScienceDaily, August 17 2020. Accessed March 13, 2022. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200817191747.htm.
  8. Brady CW. Liver disease in menopause. World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(25):7613-7620. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i25.7613
  9. Chen MN, Lin CC, Liu CF. Efficacy of phytoestrogens for menopausal symptoms: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Climacteric. 2015;18(2):260-269. doi:10.3109/13697137.2014.966241
  10. Hodges RE, Minich DM. Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:760689. doi:10.1155/2015/760689
  11. FoodData Central Search Results: Broccoli, raw. USDA. Published April 1st, 2019. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170379/nutrients
  12. Natural Medicine Data Base: TRC. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.scnmlib.idm.oclc.org/databases.aspx
  13. Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Reich-Bilinska H, et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical responses of early-postmenopausal women to Maca in double blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled, crossover configuration, outpatient study. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006;2(4):375-394.
  14. Leach MJ, Moore V. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.) for menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(9):CD007244. Published 2012 Sep 12. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007244.pub2
  15. Talks at Google. Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof You Can Heal Yourself | Dr. Lissa Rankin |Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcai0i2tJt0. Accessed March 13, 2022.
  16. Meditation: In Depth. NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-in-depth

The information presented is for educational purposes only and it is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease.