What can we do to ensure that the onset of menopause barely affects us?
This is one of the most common questions women between the ages of 45 and 55 ask, and one that is largely unknown today, even among so-called experts in endocrinology and gynecology. Today I'm going to show you something you've hardly heard or read anywhere else, and it's going to surprise you.
Your menopause is not determined by your age, but by your internal health, specifically your adrenal glands.
I'm increasingly seeing more women in consultation with premenopause/menopause at an age that doesn't correspond to what they should be given their chronological situation, and not only that, but they've also arrived with a series of symptoms that limit their health and quality of life.
What is it that drives this biological event to progress and also has such a profound impact on physical and cognitive health?
High stress in phase 3 adrenal, this is the main circumstance that leads to this situation, and I will show it to you below:
Chronic stress It leads to an increase in the production of the stress hormone, cortisol, and this hormone is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, and has significant effects on the hormonal system.
Excess cortisol due to chronic stress It affects the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which regulates sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, and this can lead to a decrease in the production of these hormones, which, in turn, influences menopause.
This chronic stress (which I have seen in 90% of patients) also causes irregularities in the menstrual cycle , causing changes in duration, intensity, and regularity of menstrual periods.
These changes can be a symptom of premenopause, which is the period before menopause. Therefore, if a woman is experiencing this condition and is experiencing high stress, menopause will almost certainly arrive sooner than expected, and with more symptoms.
Another effect of chronic stress on gonadal hormonal regulation is that affects the function of the ovaries and the release of eggs during ovulation. This leads to a decrease in the production of sex hormones, which could accelerate ovarian aging and, consequently, bring on menopause sooner.
And if the high stress (phase 3 adrenal) generation weren't enough, this imbalanced adrenal situation with excess adrenaline and cortisol also affects the metabolic state, leading to problems such as insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, another of the points that can indirectly imbalance the gonadal hormonal cycle and lead to early menopause.
I'm going to explain something very interesting that will surely surprise you, and that you've probably never read or heard about anywhere else.
After menopause, the body continues to produce estrogen at the adrenal level (about 15%), and if stress levels are high, the body will lose the ability to produce hormones that help menopause progress with fewer symptoms and more normality.
And again we return to the adrenal axis.
The adrenal glands may continue to produce small amounts of estrogen even after menopause, due to the conversion of other hormones into estrogen.
Although the ovaries are the primary source of estrogen in women before menopause, the adrenal glands also contribute to estrogen production in the following ways.
Conversion of androgens to estrogens: The adrenal glands produce small amounts of androgens, such as DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), and these androgens can be converted into estrogens.
And do you want to know what reduces DHEA levels the most?
Cortisol
Therefore, taking into account everything I've explained, before starting to take any supplement with gonadal hormone regulation action, we should pay attention to the adrenal axis, which will be vital and decisive in not only reaching menopause as late as possible, but with very few or no symptoms.
I have seen cases of women who have reached menopause at age 55 with hardly any symptoms and in perfect health.
It was interesting to observe how her adrenal axis was perfectly tuned, with cortisol and DHEA levels in optimal ranges.
So, as point number 1, we should establish all possible guidelines to achieve stability in adrenal function, normalizing stress levels to what is just and necessary (we also need some cortisol to face life, but within an adequate range).
You can access the article I wrote about circadian rhythm and the adrenal axis, where you can learn the most important things you need to normalize these glands.
The key to optimal health
And now that we know the main pillar to consider for reaching menopause as late as possible and with fewer symptoms, we come to what we could do through supplementation to regulate the estrogen/progesterone ratio.
The balance between estrogen and progesterone is essential for the proper functioning of the female reproductive system and for the regulation of menstrual cycles.
During menopause, estrogen levels decrease significantly, which can cause hormonal imbalances and contribute to menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, among others.
It should also be noted that in certain cases (premenopause and menopause), hormonal imbalance can manifest as estrogen dominance, which can increase the risk of conditions.
Therefore, the most therapeutically interesting aspect of supplementation should be aimed at improving adrenal function and seeking the optimal estrogen/progesterone balance.
As a starting point in this situation, I usually recommend energyprodetox, since it is the best supplement today that normalizes the adrenal axis (reduces cortisol and increases DHEA), scientifically proven through analytics (stress in saliva).
ENERGY Pro Detox
The story of a revolutionary supplement that will change your life
As support and accompaniment to the EPD, I will tell you what substances and nutrients you should take into account.
Vitux agnuns castus, don quai, black cohosh, red clover, omega 3 (EPA and DHA), evening primrose oil, vitamin A, D, E, K, silicon, boron.
Since each person's health situation is unique, each case should be studied individually to determine which of the described substances would be most beneficial in each case, as well as the dosages.
In addition to the above, it is very important to stay well hydrated, since water is essential for overall health, and even more so in these cases, for the following reasons:
During pre-menopause, women may experience hot flashes and night sweats, which can lead to fluid loss and cause dehydration if not properly replenished. Staying well hydrated during the day can help alleviate these symptoms.
Additionally, hydration is important for maintaining bone density; chronic dehydration can increase the risk of bone problems, which is especially relevant during menopause, when women are at greater risk of osteoporosis.
As you may have noticed, the biological process that leads to the loss of menstruation is very complex, given that many factors are involved (stress being the most important), and as I've mentioned, it doesn't depend on age.
I advise you that when you reach a point where you begin to experience small changes in your menstrual cycle and you go to your gynecologist/endocrinologist, and they tell you that this is normal given your age, you should seek out another professional who is more up-to-date and more open-minded.
This broader view of what's happening to you will allow the therapeutic approach to be applied to normalize this abnormal hormonal state, and even delay the onset of menopause, ensuring that when it does occur, it will be with fewer or no symptoms.
Anything is possible if you can understand what's happening inside your body. You just need a systemic approach to thinking, which allows you to analyze the whole to design comprehensive solutions.
Unlike what is done from the conventional view, with a simplistic thinking, which in this case judges what is apparent (age - the superficial) and assumes that since you are a certain age everything that is happening to you is completely normal, when in 99% of cases, everything that is happening is determined by your biological age.
Your age is just a number, nothing more. Keep that in mind whenever someone tells you that everything you're going through is normal because of your chronological situation. That's just a burden that limits you not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually.
Scientific Nutrition Barcelona, providing the utmost scientific rigor in the field of integrative medicine and nutrition.