We’re all trying to age gracefully, but when perimenopause and menopause comes around, it’s not always easy. There is a big shift in your body, and it can be quite an unpleasant time for many women. It’s frustrating and confusing, but with a shift in focus, there is a way to get you back to feeling more like yourself again. Or even a better version of yourself.
And it all starts in the gut.
What is perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause hits before menopause and is marked as the transition period to the end of the reproduction years. This usually begins in a woman’s 40s and can last for quite a few years. As the ovaries are now producing fewer eggs it can cause a fluctuation between estrogen and progesterone levels. Hot flashes, mood changes and sleep issues are just some of the symptoms women may experience.
Menopause occurs when a woman has stopped menstruating for 12 consecutive months and generally occurs between age 45 and 55. Here the ovaries no longer produce eggs and hormone production decreases significantly. Symptoms of this hormonal shift due to menopause can include anxiety, irritability, depression, night sweats, insomnia, emotional outbursts, joint paint, fatigue, and more.
How to support perimenopause and menopause through gut health
As mentioned, perimenopause and menopause cause a steep decline in estrogen and progesterone. This disrupts the microbiome and causes a huge imbalance in the gut. When the liver becomes overburdened from toxicity or stress, it no longer eliminates used hormones effectively. This can result in the hormones being reabsorbed into the bloodstream and recirculated, causing imbalances. The healthier you keep your gut microbiome, the better balanced your body will be. When we start our perimenopausal season, detoxification slows in the body and therefore can hit us like a ton of bricks.
Here are some ways to support your body through this time and keep a healthy gut:
Eat right. This should be the advice for everything in life, but it’s even more important as your body is going through these changes. Choose high-fibre, low-processed food, eat a variety of colours and make sure you’re getting enough protein.
Keep moving. The more you move, the more you stimulate your body to get things moving. Bowel issues during this stage of our life are common, so make sure you add some exercise into your daily routine, even if that’s a brisk walk and stretches.
Detox your body. Coffee enemas are a great way to detox the body, and so easy to do at home, in your own time. Coffee enemas increase the liver’s production of glutathione, an important antioxidant for detoxification, by 600 - 700%, while also assisting the body in eliminating toxins and parasites. If you’re interested in learning more about coffee enemas you can download our free guide. A great idea is our Happy Gal Bundle, which includes everything you need for a coffee enema, as well as our Happy Gal Tea, made specifically for women to help support emotional balance and internal equilibrium.
Supplement your health. Make sure you’re adding in some probiotics to keep replenishing your body with good bacteria and use electrolytes to keep up with the hydration.
While a disruption to the body is normal during perimenopause and menopause, you can keep a handle on things with a few small changes to your daily routine. Spend some time focusing on your gut health, detox your body, and make some healthy choices.
As always, if you have any questions or need any help, our inbox is always open.
Remember, perimenopause and menopause are simply your body’s way of saying: Time to put yourself first!
