Effective Ways To Treat Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is it the phase of a woman's life when she stops having a monthly period. It is typically official when she has gone for one full year without having a period. But the changes leading up to this period start anywhere from two to eight years before menopause officially starts; this period is known as perimenopause. Many of the symptoms of menopause are experienced during this perimenopause stage.

Diet

One way to help alleviate symptoms of menopause is by adapting to a diet that is low in fat and high in phytoestrogens often found in soy-based foods. These phytoestrogens have an effect on the body that is similar to estrogen. Many women who have opted not to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have had success reducing menopause symptoms with a high-soy diet. A high-soy diet is thought to be up to 50 percent as effective as HRT.

These phytoestrogens are found in soy products like tempeh, tofu, miso, soy milk and soy powders. They are also found in flaxseed products and in lower levels in many vegetables, some cereals and seeds. Studies show about 40 grams per day can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.

Exercise

While there aren't many studies on how exercise directly impacts menopause symptoms many feel engaging in regular physical activity can help reduce some of the symptoms. It makes sense that it can help because of all of the benefits it provides. Regular exercise helps improve sleep, improve energy levels, reduce stress, improve mood and it helps keeps blood pressure under control. Adding or maintaining a regular exercise routine may be able to lessen some of the common symptoms experienced during this time.

Reducing Stress

Finding an effective way to reduce stress during perimenopause can be important. Therapies like meditation, yoga, relaxation therapy and biofeedback have been known to help reduce menopausal symptoms for a number of women. These therapies can also help improve general health and well being.

Herbal Therapy

Some women swear by herbal therapy for menopause symptoms and there seems to be growing evidence to support this. The most common forms of herbal therapy for menopause include black cohosh, valerian, St. John's wort, evening primrose oil and dong quai.

Alternative Therapy

Both acupuncture and acupressure can help with things like menopausal hot flashes and mood swings. Both therapies work with pressure points, acupuncture uses thin needles and acupressure uses massage like stimulation of these pressure points.

Every women is slightly different so what works great for one woman may not work quite as well for another. Try some of these basic treatments for menopause symptoms to find what mix works best for you.

By: Joan Sharp

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