Menopause is the transitional change in a woman's life when menstrual function ceases. It is the point at which women stop ovulating. Estrogen levels drop in the body because there is no output of estrogen by the ovaries. Although menopause is a physiological phenomenon, risk of various problems increases for women, specifically there is a faster calcium loss from the bones (osteoporosis) making them prone to break and secondly post-menopausal women are equally likely to get hardening of the arteries and heart attack as men do. Menopause generally occurs between 45 and 55.
Menopausal symptoms consist of hot flashes, vaginal dryness and bladder symptoms. This change may occur continuously over several years though about 85% get hot flashes but only 10-1 have flashes severe enough to disrupt their daily life. This is a natural transition to the next phase of life. Menopause cannot be avoided but all inconveniences and pains connected therewith can be avoided but all inconveniences and pains connected therewith can be avoided.
Mental attitude has a lot to do as to how you take this transition and change. With proper nutrition and a positive mental attitude, it can be a positive experience for women. Menopause is not the end of something except of the inconvenience of monthly bleeding. Thereafter you can neither fear not hope for pregnancy. Some even look at it as the beginning of their period of reward. Such an attitude makes the transition much easier and less traumatic.
Causes of mental trauma are lack of exercise, diet deficiency of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamins B, D & E, adrenal exhaustion, thyroid malfunction and stress. Symptoms during the transition are irregularity of flow, excessive flow, hot flashes, depression, urinary frequency, nervousness, drying of vaginal secretions and difficulty in sleeping.
Plenty of outdoor exercise is imperative at that stage of life if you want to avoid trauma. Sufficient sleep and relaxation help considerably. Sun basking brings sunshine into your life. Wet grass walks help considerably. If you could for sometimes give up wearing synthetic fibers it is likely to make a difference. Wear loose and layered clothing perferably cotton.
Diet makes a lot of difference to the way your body reacts to these changes. You should follow suggestions made in the first chapter of the book regarding A Minimum Program of Food and Food Habits. Eat five or six small meals instead of loading your system three times a day. You will see the difference in your life. Regarding other special foods which will make a change for the better consider the following suggestion:

1. Calcium: There is a general depletion of calcium in the bones. USDA recommends postmenopausal women should take 1200 grams of calcium per day. But Dr. R.P. Heaney reports in the Journal of American Medical Association of 3 April 1981 that "Studies in my laboratory indicate that the overall estrogen deprived postmenopausal woman has a daily calcium requirement of 1500 mg. Significant sources of calcium are milk and its products, pulses, soybean and its products, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, sardines, peas, beans, peanuts, sunflower seeds.
2. Vitamin E. Rosetta Reitz in her book "Menopause: A Positive Approach" (Penguin 1979) on the bais of her experience says "Hot flashes of menopause can be greatly helped by supplemental vitamin E." A supplement of 100 I.U. per day could be recommended.
3. Yogurt and buttermilk are reported to help. Avoid other dairy products since their cholesterol and fat content is high.
4. Yarrow herbal tea helps at the time of menopause.
5. Wheat germ oil and lecithin help in menopausal symptoms.
6. Royal jelly (from the honey beehives) has been used to deal with menopausal problems.
7. Molasses helps women during menopause.
8. Tufts University School of Medicine study as reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 49 of 1989 indicates that low fat, high fiber diet helped 16 out of 17 menopausal women.
9. Hormone tablets are known to cushion the shock of abrupt changes in your body's natural hormone levels.
10. Hot & cold alternate showers beginning with a hot shower (98 degrees to 104 degrees F or 37 degrees to 40 degrees C) for four minutes and ending with a cold shower (64 degrees F or 18 degrees C) of one minute, having alternated three times in between are recommended.
11. Sauna baths also helps in case of menopause.
12. Norma McCloy of San Fransico State University and Davidson of Standord University Studied sexuality in many women who were just beginning to enter menopause. These findings were also confirmed by a survey questionnaire by Brecher et al for consumer reports readers. They found that majority of women had frequent sex binges and with the help of making sex talk, experimenting with various coital positions, taking adventure to the bedroom, and if needed, using vaginal lubricants, they reduced many negative experiences of menopause.

It is hoped that the above suggestions on diet and activity will promote a positive adaptation to menopause. May be this is the time to get involved in your favourite charity, taken that long awaited trip, get into your favourite social, religious or political activity. Remember, menopause is a New Beginning.

[index]