Embarking on the wild ride of menopause, we experience all sorts of changes. Thanks to a roller coaster of hormones and a big old mix of symptoms that vary from one woman to another, it’s a journey that can be pretty unique. Typical bumps along the road include changes in thinking, pesky physical stuff like hot flashes or dryness down under, and sleep becoming more of a luxury than a guarantee.
On the emotional side, we might find ourselves dealing with anxiety, mood swings, difficultties at making decisions and possibly finding stress harder to shake off, all of which can seriously cramp our style, our professional and personal life..
In this blog, I want to throw some sunshine on how moods can swing during menopause and arm you with a toolbox of key nutrients that could be your best buddies during this tricky, but transformative, time.
Ladies, Hormones and Moods – Let’s Get Down to Business
While mood disorders can be a pain for everyone, they tend to be more common in women, even twice as much. This starts when we hit our teenage years and continues right through menopause.
We don’t have all the answers yet as to why this happens, but a lot of brainy folks are trying to figure out how our sex hormones impact the brain chemicals that manage our moods throughout our lives.
The Twists and Turns of Menopause
Menopause is like a fingerprint, unique to every woman, with its own story of hormonal changes. Everything from your genes, your diet, lifestyle, social life, body and environment can influence the journey.
Early on in perimenopause,from your mid thirties, estrogen might go up while progesterone goes down. As you move further along, estrogen can start to act like a yo-yo while progesterone mostly stays low.
By the end of menopause, both estrogen and progesterone do a slow fade. If there’s one sure thing during this phase, it’s that most women going through natural menopause will have to deal with hormonal ups and downs.
The Emotional Roller Coaster of Menopause
Research suggests that when hormones are doing their roller coaster thing, mood changes are more likely to come along for the ride. Studies also show that during menopause, there’s a higher chance for women to feel down or anxious.
We’re still piecing together how sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone interact with key brain chemicals like serotonin (the ‘feel-good’ brain juice), GABA (the ‘calming’ brain juice), and dopamine (the ‘pleasure’ brain juice), but it’s clear that the hormonal juggling act during menopause can throw these mood managers off balance.
Turning to Nature’s Toolkit
The aim is to glide through menopause with a spring in our step, gutsiness, and bounce-back ability. This requires a plan that covers all bases, is as unique as we are, and uses everything we’ve got.
Even though we don’t fully understand how hormonal changes and brain chemicals dance together, it makes sense to make the most of the natural tools we have to help our nervous system chill out.
Here are some of the top nutrients and ingredients to have on your radar:
- Magnesium glycinate: This supplement has a reputation for helping manage stress and anxiety and its role is very weel documented by research. It’s so good that people call it ‘nature’s chill pill’. Magnesium interacts with the GABA system to help the nervous system keep its cool.
- Glycine: This amino acid ( one of the building block of proteins) provides additional calming effects on the brain and can also help us get better sleep.
- Vitamin B6: This vitamin’s a big player in making both GABA and serotonin prodcution, helping keep the nervous system in a happy place.
- Folate (5-MTHF): Low serum folate has been linked to depression, and individuals with genetic variations in the genes that converts folate in its active form ( the genes that code for the MTHFR enzyme) may benefit from a methylated or ‘active’ form of folate such as 5-MTHF.
- Ashwagandha:: An Ayurvedic herb, ashwagandha is known for its ability to regulate physiological processes and stabilize the body’s response to stress, thereby supporting balanced mood and relaxation.
Attention! Attention! We are all unique!
But of course,the coolest thing about us humans is that we’re all different, no clones here!
So, it makes total sense that when it comes to health and wellness, one size certainly does not fit all. That’s why your supplement plan should tailored to you!
Think of it this way: your body’s like a super complex, awesome machine. Would you trust just anyone to tinker with it? Nope, you’d want someone who knows their stuff.
While the supplements discussed in this blog are effective for many women and come from nature, they’re not a walk in the park.
They’re powerful and can make big changes in our bodies. In some cases, they might not help, or might even stir things up in a way we don’t want.
So, as you’re riding the menopause roller coaster, remember that your journey is one-of-a-kind. It deserves a plan that’s made just for you.
A Personalised Approach Matters
That’s where I step in. I’d love to chat about what’s going on with you and find ways to make your ride smoother. Let’s get the ball rolling with a free Discovery Call. I’ll pop a link in this post so you can book a slot that suits your schedule. We’ll dig into what makes you, well, you, and how we can make your wellness plan reflect that.
Your menopause journey doesn’t have to be a lonely road. I’m here to join the ride, and together, we can navigate the twists and turns with knowledge, strength, and a dash of fun.
So, are you up for exploring your unique path to feeling good? I can’t wait to chat with you on our Discovery Call.
With love, energy and care,
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