HRT won’t solve ALL menopausal problems
Whilst HRT (hormone replacement therapy) allows women to replace the hormones that decline during the menopause transition, it will not solve all the changes or problems associated with menopause. It’s equally important to make sure that you pay attention to other factors such as diet, exercise, and your mental health whether or not you take HRT.
Below are a few tips:
Diet
A diverse diet (i.e. consisting of a wide range of different foods) of minimally processed, high-fibre, plant-based whole foods is important for the growth of healthy ‘good’ gut micro-organisms which have been shown to influence our moods, how we gain weight and control our blood sugar and how we metabolise food. This is particularly important in menopause.
Diets that are low in diversity and that contain lots of highly processed foods have been shown to favour the growth of micro-organisms linked to poor metabolic responses and long-term health. A plant-based diet doesn’t mean that you can’t eat meat, fish or dairy products, just that these shouldn’t be the main constituents of your diet.
Exercise
The right kind of exercise is important to maintain muscle and bone strength and reduce the risk of falls and fractures as people get older as these may cause significant long-term complications.
During the menopause transition, and afterwards, aerobic exercises that focus on improving cardiovascular (heart) health, that increase the heart rate and make you breathless (but still able to speak!), such as fast walking, running, and riding a bike, for example, are important, but so is strength training – with weights or resistance bands, or yoga and Pilates.
Mental Health
You shouldn’t neglect this! Falling estrogen levels in menopause have an effect not only on our mood, but also on how our brains function.
HRT has been shown to improve the brain fog, low mood, and anxiety associated with menopause for many women, but there’s also good evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness also help reduce some menopausal symptoms and improve general well-being. Exercise has also been shown to be beneficial for mental health.
Why New Woman Health?
At NewWoman Health we have a commitment to educating, advising, treating, and supporting women approaching, during, and following menopause. Our wide range of medical and lifestyle interventions helps women to manage or minimise their menopause symptoms and improve their quality (and potential longevity) of life in an aspirational and uplifting way.
If you’re concerned about your menopause transition and/ or other menopause-related problems, including treatment options, we can support you with our personalised medical consultations with menopause specialists. Take the next step in ensuring your long-term health and quality of life by booking a consultation with us today.
