This is not something you necessarily want to be reminded of, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Let’s start off on a good note first, when menopause comes around, that means it is now the time to live in your second half of life, to reflect back on what you learned in the first half, and go forth with new knowledge and wisdom.
What is menopause exactly? Menopause is something that starts when your menstrual cycle in life is over. The production of estrogen slows down and there are many changes happening to the body. Statistics have shown that in the US, the average age for a woman to experience this is 52 and around the world, it is usually between 40 and 58 years old.
Many women can experience symptoms of night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, and an increase in mood changes and/or anxiety. Something I like that the Menopause Goddess Blog points out is that this is a time of going through uncharted territory. That’s what I feel is the scariest when knowing this time is approaching, it’s unknown.
There is power in the way we approach things, we can choose to approach them in a timid way and worry about what is to come or we can prepare ourselves and go through them with grace. A symptom of menopause that is not often looked at is how it affects a women’s brain. Estrogen is a fuel to the brain and regulates the glycerin levels which allow the brain to produce energy. Now, with menopause, there is a 20-25% decrease and this loss of estrogen causes the neurons in a women’s brain to age faster.
So what can you do? There are simple but important things that help keep your brain healthy as you age:
Sleep. The rule of thumb is to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep is so important to reset and refresh your brain. Lack of sleep and especially a long-term accumulation lack of sleep can seriously affect your immune system, nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, and cardiovascular system.
Eating well. Many doctors recommend for women to eat a Mediterranean diet, which is high in Omega 3s, B vitamins, fish, fresh veggies, and complex carbohydrates. Your gut health is highly related to your brain health.
Exercise. Mixing up a workout routine from swimming, cardio, weight training, yoga, 3 to 5 times a week is very beneficial physically but also mentally. Having a consistent and regular workout routine to move your body will benefit your muscle memory and your brain.
Reduce your stress. This is one of the most important things that can affect a woman’s brain. When you are very stressed out, your brain produces cortisol and cortisol reduces estrogen. They work against each other. Learning ways to reduce stress both active stress and resting-state stress will benefit your brain and your well-being.
Menopause does not have to be a scary time, just be aware of the changes and how you can prevent any serious issues. Talk to your doctor to get more recommendations and for questions. Doing the research on your own also empowers you to be an advocate for yourself and discover things on your own.
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