Not sure if you're in perimenopause? This article will help you decide if you're in perimenopause or not and what to do if you are.
One-third of all American women are approaching or are already in menopause. It you are in your late 30s or early 40s and are experiencing menstrual irregularities, irritability and hot flashes, you may be in perimenopause. (Menopause usually begins around age 55 or so.) If you stop having periods for six to 12 months after the age of 45, you are in menopause, that most natural of phenomenons.
Why are you entering this perimenopause phase so early? One explanation is that you have been exposed to and are sensitive to environmental toxins such as xenoestrogens. They are all over these days, you can find xenoestrogens in plastics (even in the wraps you put over food or that you buy foods in), and food (especially those sprayed with pesticides), toxic metals (mercury, lead and aluminum).
What is the effect of all these xenoestrogens? These toxins disrupt the architecture of the cell where binding occurs. When this happens, hormones can't find the proper place to bind.
Stress is also a major factor. Stress creates an imbalance in body, mind and spirit.
If you're in perimenopause, you're still menstruating and the object is to help you resume your normal cycle. How do you do that?
Watch what you're eating.The first thing to attend to is what you're putting into your body. Eliminate foods rich in synthetic or hormonal estrogens. Unless your cows and poultry were raised without hormones, your dairy foods, meat, chicken and turkey will come to you with hormones. (They also have antibiotics, but that's another story). Your produce will come to the table loaded with pesticides, too, even if your wash or soak them. It's better all round to obtain organic version of these foods and to switch to soy in place of meat and poultry. Soy products are associated with fewer hot flashes, and if you buy organic soy products, they won't have been grown with pesticides or genetic engineering methods, for which no research has been conducted about its long term safety. Taper off your use of caffeinated beverages (sodas, coffee, tea). They may be making your more stressed.
While you're at it, check your stress level. Are you under too much stress? If you are, call a family meeting and ask for help with the burden. Are you working full-time and responsible for everything in the house, too? How fair is that? Ask your partner and children to pitch in and come up with a workable plan. Don't back down if they all moan and groan and claim they don't have time. You have the same number of hours in the day they do. Remind them and yourself that you deserve to live a happier and more stress-free life. (If you can't do this, take an assertiveness course so you can. Remind yourself that it is not teaching your children how to be responsible if you do everything for them. Same goes for your partner.) While you're working with your family to reduce your stress, learn relaxation therapy, guided imagery, self-hypnosis, yoga and how to use affirmations to calm and de-stress you. These tools will come in handy in other stressful situations, so make them part of your daily regime.
Exercise every day. Endorphins are created when you exercise that boost your mood and help you cope. Exercising also keeps your weight balanced and keeps your bones strong during, before and after perimenopause.
Keep a sense of humor and a sense of perspective. These symptoms weren't always with you and they will end.
Feed your spirit by enjoying nature be it a garden, a butterfly, a flower, a tree or leaf, a flower or a star. Enjoy everything!
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