Hot Health Tips

Managing Menopause
By Dr. Marissa Bentham

Through Curves and our chiropractic office, we have met countless women who are being faced with the challenges of menopause. Unfortunately, the medical community often approaches menopause as a "condition" or "disease" when in fact it is simply life taking its natural course. Whether your concerns are with mood swings, hot flashes, or the risk of osteoporosis, nutrition and exercise are truly your greatest allies in approaching these issues safely and effectively.

The most common treatment for women going through menopause is a form of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) such as premarin. As most of you know, when a woman goes through menopause, the levels of estrogen in her body drop significantly. One of the functions of estrogen is to take calcium from the bloodstream and deposit it into bone. As estrogen levels drop, so does bone density, putting menopausal women at risk for developing osteoporosis. The goal of a drug like premarin is to keep the body's estrogen levels high enough to avoid the onset of osteoporosis and the other symptoms that may accompany menopause. We know that many of you may currently be taking premarin or another form of HRT and want to make you aware of some of your alternatives.

The estrogen in premarin, and many other hormone replacement drugs is extracted from horse's urine. Equine estrogen is of a different chemical composition than the estrogen found in the human body. Because of this, the human body is unable to completely break down or metabolize the estrogen and it begins to build up in estrogen-sensitive tissues, such as breast tissue. Numerous studies have linked hormone replacement therapy with an increased risk of developing conditions such as breast cancer and strokes. If you have concerns, consult your doctor about the most recent research.

The goal of this article is to offer you some natural alternatives to assist your body through this transition. It has been shown time and time again that the most effective way for menopausal women to increase their bone density (and thereby decrease their risk of osteoporosis) is through weight bearing exercise. The good news is that the Curves strength training circuit is ideal for this situation! The action of a muscle contracting and creating resistance against bone causes your body to deposit additional calcium into the bone matrix. So keep up with your workouts! If you’re supplementing with calcium, it’s important that you use a form your body can absorb effectively. Calcium citrate and microcrystalline hydroxyapatite are the best forms of calcium for you to take. If you’re using calcium carbonate (found in “tums”) your body is absorbing very little and you should consider making a switch. There is a common misconception that milk is the best source of dietary calcium. But if you’re looking for a way to get more calcium in your diet, your best bet is to eat more green leafy vegetables. Broccoli, spinach, and kale are wonderful natural sources of calcium.

Lastly, if you are encountering problems with mood swings or hot flashes, there are a number of nutritional supplements that you should consider. We have a fantastic supplement at Curves (“Herbal Fem”) that is designed to help balance your estrogen levels, naturally. In addition, soy products are rich in estrogen, so try swapping your dairy milk for soy (please note that soy may not be the best solution for everyone). Black cohosh, St. John’s wort, cold water fish oils, and B-complex vitamins are all excellent products for combating those hot flashes or mood swings and keeping your energy levels sustained. Remember, what you are experiencing is a natural process that every woman must go through. Gently assist your body through this process and it will continue to serve you well for many years to come.