I never knew there were so many issues with menopause. How did women get through this before the medical industry started treating it?
I never thought about it much, but I suppose I should now that I am in my 40s. Is it also possible to get through it without taking anything (provided that the symptoms are not unmanageable of course), or will my health be ruined then?
I echo your interest in getting through it without taking anything. If I have learned anything in my 47 years, it’s that pharmaceutical interventions only cause new problems without ever addressing root causes. And, that if God designed something a certain way, we need to honor that design. There is no pharmaceutical fountain of youth, so attempting to artificially maintain the hormone profile of a young woman in her prime seems foolish and dangerous to me intuitively. The changes in our physiology over a lifetime are there for a reason— we ought to support these changes wisely with real, whole foods, exercise, sunshine, fresh air, and edifying spiritual/social connections. As far as supplements go, I’m willing to grant that there are dietary and herbal supplements that are more fit for improving health and relieving debilitating symptoms than any drug.
I couldn't have said it better myself, regarding God's design, and that's exactly that I seek to get through it without tampering with things, that could be left alone. Thanks.
It is absolutely possible to go through this without taking anything pharmaceutical. The peri time is the worst, but actual menopause is calm in comparison. If you do have symptoms, I would first make sure your Vitamin D level is good. Having a proper VIt D level seems to fix so many other things. Then of course pay attention to what you eat (proper diet can really vary from person to person, so I won't recommend anything specific, but mostly carnivore/low-carb works for me.) And lifting weights is very important to keep that muscle mass. (You don't have to become a body builder - try a workout that hits all the major muscles twice a week and go from there.) I've felt better in this stage of my life than I have since being a kid. I think society teaches women to be afraid of menopause, but as others have stated, our bodies are meant to do this at this time. If you take good care of yourself, it's not something to fear at all. (Standard disclaimer: obviously everyone is different and some may have complex medical issues that don't make this time easy at all. I'm not dismissing anyone. Just saying that it is totally possible not to have to take hormones etc if you are feeling good!)
I question whenever a normal physical change is suddenly identified as an issue needing treatment, and give Big Pharma the side eye. I had a handful of hot flashes, but otherwise no issues. I had clotting issues prior to menopause, so taking HRT wasn't an option, but it turned out that was fine. My only caveat is that I minimize carbs (including grains, which are highly inflammatory), avoid processed foods (especially seed oils), go for a walk daily, and prioritize getting a good night's sleep.
I should clarify. I had clotting issues prior to menopause, so taking HRT wasn't an option, but it turned out that was fine. When I say it was fine, I mean that I didn't need to take any sort of medication - the only symptoms I really noticed were the occasional hot flashes and that my hair thinned out a bit (but very noticeable really, except to me). I should also add that it's the same with my friends, none of who have had to take medication to deal with the change; not coincidentally, they also avoid inflammatory foods (sugars, seed oils, grains), exercise, and prioritize sleep.
well, there are herbs that protect our adrenals. Pine pollen can be gathered for testosterone, it stopped my hot flashes. Only a small amount is needed. store bought does nothing so. I am glad Ray Peat's work was touched on here.
Surprised to see no mention of histamine sensitivity in this discussion. A lot of women demonstrate symptoms of histamine sensitivity with increasing age — symptoms that are nearly always misdiagnosed as anxiety, panic attacks, heart-related issues, etc. In my experience, many medical professionals aren’t even aware of it, or even flatly deny it, and will run a patient through a whole gamut of “specialists” trying to figure out what’s happening, only for all the tests to return as “normal” and then just write a prescription for anxiety meds (which won’t work). Look up histamine intolerance and MCAS in menopause.
I am 54 and have just now entered peri menopause. I started having hot flashes and waking up at night . I started taking triple iodine complex supplement and both of those symptoms are gone . I read if your thyroid is low then your hormones may off balanced and iodine helps thyroid . For now , taking iodine seems to be working .
There’s also a lot of symptoms that have not even been addressed in the mainstream medical world… Like sleep apnea and the impact of the thyroid on menopause.
I’ve been managing relatively symptom-free with bio identical progesterone. I also take quite a few supplements because my body needs them at this age, specifically omega-3, CoQ10, multivitamin, Pregnalanone, high dose, vitamin C, selenium, collagen, de ribose to name a few.
However, for many years, I felt cold, bridle nails, hair, falling out, sleep disturbances, and then eventually the muscle pains and aches. Never had the night sweats, never had the hot flashes.
And I discovered two major things that were missing: iodine and salt
Menopausal women need lots of water, but if there isn’t any salt on board, the water won’t go into the cells. So when I increased my salt intake, around 2000 mg of sodium a day, the muscle aches, mental fog, tiredness disappeared.
However, I still had deep muscle pains, which was different from the aches, and then my sleep did not feel very restful. I was diagnosed sleep apnea, about 70% of menopausal women have it, and around 40% of those sleep apnea have an under active thyroid. Which means it can’t be caught by the test.
So then I started taking iodine, I’ve worked my way up to 25 mg per day and I feel , totally different. The deep muscle pains are gone, hair is no longer falling out, I no longer feel cold, and I feel like I am more rested.
So contrary to what many people think as menopause as the estrogen/progesterone issue… I really think that menopause is a thyroid issue.
as we still make progesterone and estrogen… Just not the same volume. It’s the adrenal glands that take over the production. Which means we definitely need more water, less stress, and salt actually helps because it facilitates the work the adrenal glands do.
Boom!! "We know that 90% of genetic expression relies upon the environment (epigenetics). It’s time to stop believing that we are fatally tied to our DNA and nothing can be done. Our mothers never had the chemicalization of our air, water and food we have now. "
I never knew there were so many issues with menopause. How did women get through this before the medical industry started treating it?
I never thought about it much, but I suppose I should now that I am in my 40s. Is it also possible to get through it without taking anything (provided that the symptoms are not unmanageable of course), or will my health be ruined then?
I echo your interest in getting through it without taking anything. If I have learned anything in my 47 years, it’s that pharmaceutical interventions only cause new problems without ever addressing root causes. And, that if God designed something a certain way, we need to honor that design. There is no pharmaceutical fountain of youth, so attempting to artificially maintain the hormone profile of a young woman in her prime seems foolish and dangerous to me intuitively. The changes in our physiology over a lifetime are there for a reason— we ought to support these changes wisely with real, whole foods, exercise, sunshine, fresh air, and edifying spiritual/social connections. As far as supplements go, I’m willing to grant that there are dietary and herbal supplements that are more fit for improving health and relieving debilitating symptoms than any drug.
I couldn't have said it better myself, regarding God's design, and that's exactly that I seek to get through it without tampering with things, that could be left alone. Thanks.
It is absolutely possible to go through this without taking anything pharmaceutical. The peri time is the worst, but actual menopause is calm in comparison. If you do have symptoms, I would first make sure your Vitamin D level is good. Having a proper VIt D level seems to fix so many other things. Then of course pay attention to what you eat (proper diet can really vary from person to person, so I won't recommend anything specific, but mostly carnivore/low-carb works for me.) And lifting weights is very important to keep that muscle mass. (You don't have to become a body builder - try a workout that hits all the major muscles twice a week and go from there.) I've felt better in this stage of my life than I have since being a kid. I think society teaches women to be afraid of menopause, but as others have stated, our bodies are meant to do this at this time. If you take good care of yourself, it's not something to fear at all. (Standard disclaimer: obviously everyone is different and some may have complex medical issues that don't make this time easy at all. I'm not dismissing anyone. Just saying that it is totally possible not to have to take hormones etc if you are feeling good!)
Thank you. This is good to know :)
I question whenever a normal physical change is suddenly identified as an issue needing treatment, and give Big Pharma the side eye. I had a handful of hot flashes, but otherwise no issues. I had clotting issues prior to menopause, so taking HRT wasn't an option, but it turned out that was fine. My only caveat is that I minimize carbs (including grains, which are highly inflammatory), avoid processed foods (especially seed oils), go for a walk daily, and prioritize getting a good night's sleep.
I should clarify. I had clotting issues prior to menopause, so taking HRT wasn't an option, but it turned out that was fine. When I say it was fine, I mean that I didn't need to take any sort of medication - the only symptoms I really noticed were the occasional hot flashes and that my hair thinned out a bit (but very noticeable really, except to me). I should also add that it's the same with my friends, none of who have had to take medication to deal with the change; not coincidentally, they also avoid inflammatory foods (sugars, seed oils, grains), exercise, and prioritize sleep.
I wish I could edit my comments! The hair thinning was NOT very noticeable, except to me.
well, there are herbs that protect our adrenals. Pine pollen can be gathered for testosterone, it stopped my hot flashes. Only a small amount is needed. store bought does nothing so. I am glad Ray Peat's work was touched on here.
Surprised to see no mention of histamine sensitivity in this discussion. A lot of women demonstrate symptoms of histamine sensitivity with increasing age — symptoms that are nearly always misdiagnosed as anxiety, panic attacks, heart-related issues, etc. In my experience, many medical professionals aren’t even aware of it, or even flatly deny it, and will run a patient through a whole gamut of “specialists” trying to figure out what’s happening, only for all the tests to return as “normal” and then just write a prescription for anxiety meds (which won’t work). Look up histamine intolerance and MCAS in menopause.
This happened to me. It was awful.
I am 54 and have just now entered peri menopause. I started having hot flashes and waking up at night . I started taking triple iodine complex supplement and both of those symptoms are gone . I read if your thyroid is low then your hormones may off balanced and iodine helps thyroid . For now , taking iodine seems to be working .
There’s also a lot of symptoms that have not even been addressed in the mainstream medical world… Like sleep apnea and the impact of the thyroid on menopause.
I’ve been managing relatively symptom-free with bio identical progesterone. I also take quite a few supplements because my body needs them at this age, specifically omega-3, CoQ10, multivitamin, Pregnalanone, high dose, vitamin C, selenium, collagen, de ribose to name a few.
However, for many years, I felt cold, bridle nails, hair, falling out, sleep disturbances, and then eventually the muscle pains and aches. Never had the night sweats, never had the hot flashes.
And I discovered two major things that were missing: iodine and salt
Menopausal women need lots of water, but if there isn’t any salt on board, the water won’t go into the cells. So when I increased my salt intake, around 2000 mg of sodium a day, the muscle aches, mental fog, tiredness disappeared.
However, I still had deep muscle pains, which was different from the aches, and then my sleep did not feel very restful. I was diagnosed sleep apnea, about 70% of menopausal women have it, and around 40% of those sleep apnea have an under active thyroid. Which means it can’t be caught by the test.
So then I started taking iodine, I’ve worked my way up to 25 mg per day and I feel , totally different. The deep muscle pains are gone, hair is no longer falling out, I no longer feel cold, and I feel like I am more rested.
So contrary to what many people think as menopause as the estrogen/progesterone issue… I really think that menopause is a thyroid issue.
as we still make progesterone and estrogen… Just not the same volume. It’s the adrenal glands that take over the production. Which means we definitely need more water, less stress, and salt actually helps because it facilitates the work the adrenal glands do.
Boom!! "We know that 90% of genetic expression relies upon the environment (epigenetics). It’s time to stop believing that we are fatally tied to our DNA and nothing can be done. Our mothers never had the chemicalization of our air, water and food we have now. "