Menopause symptoms: Common but avoidable

Every woman experiences her own unique set of menopausal symptoms, which can include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, heart palpitations, vaginal and urinary changes, and decreased memory and concentration. Most experts agree these symptoms are caused by low or fluctuating estrogen levels, which throw everything off kilter. But that doesn’t mean a difficult menopause is unavoidable.

Between 75-85% of American women going through “the change of life” report experiencing menopausal hot flashes. Yet only about 10% of Japanese women do. Why the discrepancy? It’s all in the diet. Japanese women eat several servings of soy a day, which naturally contain anti-hot-flash substances called isoflavones. American women don’t.

Natural Hot Flash Remedies and Menopause Treatments from nutraOrigin

MenoBalance Supplement
Isoflavones help you get control of hot flashes – but they also provide relief for a whole range of symptoms. How? These phyto-nutrients have the remarkable ability to imitate the biological activities of female hormones. That means that even if your own natural levels of estrogen are plummeting, isoflavones can trick your body into thinking it has enough.

Soy is well-known for its natural content of isoflavones, but most of the research studying isoflavones for menopause relief has been performed on red clover. nutraOrigin formulated MenoBalance with a high-potency blend of isoflavones from red clover and kudzu. The formula additionally protects cardiovascular health, with patented Actifolate folic acid and resveratrol; supports bone integrity, due to the synergistic activity of isoflavones and vitamin D; and provides protection to hormone-sensitive tissues, with rosemary and turmeric.

Black Cohosh Essentials Supplement
Scientists have conducted numerous studies demonstrating the efficacy of black cohosh for relieving the discomforts of menopause, with minimal or no side effects. In fact, one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found the herb was 47% more effective than conjugated estrogen at beating menopause hot flashes! Cohosh has also been shown to help alleviate headaches, heart palpitations, and nervousness and irritability associated with menopause. The evidence is so strong that the German Commission E (similar to our FDA) has approved black cohosh as a treatment for menopause.

nutraOrigin’s Black Cohosh Essentials features 80 mg of standardized black cohosh – four times the amount seen in weaker extracts – for maximum effect. It also includes lemon balm and motherwort, which help reduce stress and anxiety.

Nutra Multi Iron-Free Multivitamin
Studies show older women are more likely to be deficient in key vitamins like B1, B2, B5, folic acid and D than younger women. That’s why a multivitamin like nutraOrigin’s Nutra Multi Iron-Free is so important. It delivers all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to create a foundation of health – including 500 mg of calcium – but leaves out the iron, since too much can be harmful to menopausal women.

The experts at nutraOrigin recommend taking all three formulas together for maximum synergistic effect.

If you decide to take natural health approach as a woman, you will need to address these differences in the regimen you design. You might know that it is important to eat low-fat foods, unrefined foods that do not contain preservatives, but do you know what vitamins and nutrients women are more likely to lack?–And do you know why not addressing those needs can significantly decrease your performance at work or at home?

You know from experience that a poor health regimen will manifest itself in everything you do. It will show on your skin and in your eyes. You will lack energy and it will show. Your body will reveal your lifestyle.

Natural women’s health is one method you can use to reverse the effects of your poor health regimen. In addition to getting more sleep and drinking more water, a natural women’s health regimen will include proper nutrition
. This is especially important if you are pregnant or planning to conceive in the future. If you want to have a child, you must ensure your body is functioning properly by restoring yourself to good health through natural methods; and if you are currently pregnant, you need to ensure that your body is replacing the nutrients your baby is consuming.

That is, however, not the only reason natural women’s health should focus on nutrition. It is also because there are certain foods that normally benefit women’s metabolisms, which can be very beneficial, as it is often harder for women to lose weight than men.

Natural women’s health is also an important part of regulating your PMS and menstrual cycle. It is a way of ensuring that while your body is performing all its natural functions it is still able to get all the nutrition it needs to keep going.

One excellent place to find free information about natural women’s health is the Internet. There are a number of websites that offer a significant amount of information on natural health regimens that could greatly improve your quality of life.

That is why so many women are thinking about changing their lifestyles to focus on a more natural approach to health. That will help them deal with all the other issues other than having to worry about whether or not they are taking care of their bodies. This is the best proactive treatment you can give your body.

Please don’t feel offended or ashamed of the terms women’s mental health, when being applied to you/us specifically. After age 40 so much is happening to us, so many changes and transitions. We don’t understand what is going on in our bodies. This means the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts of our bodies.

A discussion of women’s mental health will usually entail therapy of some sort. There is no way to avoid it. O.K.?

In this article, try to see the connections between women’s mental health and her family. She is involved and a primary member. She may have her own personal mental health problems as well as those of her children and family. Women have a tremendous burden on their shoulders–and her mental health is strained and affected, to say the least.

What is therapy?

Women’s mental health therapy is a way to help you understand yourself better and to cope better. Being in therapy does not mean you are crazy. Everyone has problems. Therapy is one way to help yourself with your problems.

Some of the problems that can be helped with therapy include:

* depression
* anxiety
* drug or alcohol abuse
* eating disorders
* sleep problems
* anger
* grief

There are many different types of women’s mental health therapies, which work well for other’s also. One kind of therapy might work best for you, such as play therapy for small children, or family therapy for family conflicts. The kind of therapy that is best for you depends on what best meets your needs.

What types of women’s mental health therapies are there?

The more common types of therapy are:

Art Therapy. Drawing, painting, or working with clay with an art therapist can help you express things that you may not be able to put into words. Art therapists work with children, teens, and adults, including people with disabilities.

Behavioral Therapy-works well for women’s mental health issues. This type of therapy is very structured and goal oriented. It starts with what you are doing now, and then helps you change your behavior. Behavioral therapists may use techniques such as:

* Exposure therapy or desensitization. First you learn ways to relax. Then you learn to face your fears while you practice these relaxation skills.
* Aversive therapy. This pairs something unpleasant with a behavior to help you stop the behavior. For example, putting something that tastes bitter on a child’s thumb to help stop thumb-sucking.
* Role-playing. This may help you be more assertive or help resolve conflicts between family members.
* Self-monitoring, or keeping a log of your daily activities. This may help identify which behaviors are causing you problems.

Biofeedback. This type of therapy can help you learn to control body functions such as muscle tension or brain wave patterns. Biofeedback can help with tension, anxiety, and physical symptoms such as headaches.

Cognitive Therapy. This type of therapy takes the approach that how you think affects how you feel and behave. This therapy helps you recognize unhealthy ways of thinking that keep you stuck. You learn to identify automatic negative thoughts such as:

* “I never do anything right”
* “The world is always against me”
* “If I don’t succeed all the time I am a failure.”

You learn how to change your thoughts and this can lead to changed behaviors. It can also improve self-esteem and confidence. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines behavior and cognitive therapy methods.

EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing). In EMDR the therapist helps you cope with feelings and thoughts about distressing past events. You move your eyes back and forth, usually following the therapist’s hand or pen, while you recall the event. This type of therapy is considered by many to be experimental.

Women’s mental health/Family or Couples Therapy. Family therapists view the family as a system. They work with the whole family rather than just one person. The goal is for family members to openly their express feelings and to find ways to change negative family patterns.

Women’s mental health related to Couples therapy helps partners improve their ability to communicate with each other. It may help you decide what changes are needed in the relationship and in the behavior of each partner. Both partners then work to learn new behaviors. There are different forms of couples therapy.

Women’s mental health/Group Therapy. In group therapy a small number of people (6 to 10) meet regularly with a therapist. There are many types of therapy groups. Some focus on a specific problem such as anger management. Process groups do not focus on a single topic, but instead explore issues raised by members. Short-term groups are problem-focused and meet for a limited time, such as 6 to 12 weeks. Long-term groups deal with ongoing issues such as self-esteem.

Massage Therapy. Massage therapy may help to reduce anxiety and stress.

Women’s mental health and Pharmacological Therapy (Medicines). Medicines can help improve your mental well-being. They may be prescribed by a psychiatrist or your healthcare provider. Your provider will work with you to carefully select the right medicine for you. There are many kinds of psychiatric medicines.

* Antipsychotics may help with psychosis or other conditions.
* Mood stabilizers may be used to treat mood problems such as bipolar disorder.
* Antidepressants may help with depression or anxiety.
* Antianxiety medicines may be prescribed to treat anxiety disorders.

The right medicine may improve symptoms so that other kinds of treatment are more effective. Medicines may also be used alone.

Play Therapy. Play therapy allows children to act out their problems with toys and games. Play therapists help a child feel more confident and less fearful.

Psychoanalytic Therapy. This type of therapy was developed by Sigmund Freud. In this type of therapy, you work to uncover things from your past that affect your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This kind of therapy can take years. It usually involves meeting several times a week. It can be quite costly.

Psychodynamic Therapy. This type of therapy helps you bring your true feelings to the surface. If you repress (purposely forget) or deny painful thoughts, feelings, and memories, they can still affect your life. Once you are aware of these repressed thoughts, feelings, and memories they become less painful.

Psychoeducational Therapy. This type of therapy involves the therapist teaching instead of the client talking. You may learn about disorders, treatment options, and how to cope with symptoms. Therapists may provide you with useful information or may help you learn different skills. They work with individuals and groups.

Relaxation Therapies. Learning ways to relax can help to reduce anxiety and stress. Yoga and meditation may also be helpful.

Your guide to empowerment and good health!