Menopause is a natural phenomenon that happens to women approaching mid-life. A lot of the changes that happen can be overwhelming; the body seems very chaotic and out of control due to the imbalance of hormones. Frequent mood swings and hot flashes are common side effects of these hormonal imbalances caused by menopause. Fortunately, these side effects could be suppressed by making a few lifestyle changes and a bit of help from both modern and traditional medicine. A shift towards a healthier lifestyle not only means less discomfort from menopause, but also slower aging and better resistance to disease.

The most common solution to hormonal imbalance is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Your body produces estrogen and progesterone to regulate your reproductive cycle among a few things, but as you age, the amount of estrogen and progesterone decreases, especially during menopause. HRT restores the lost hormones therefore giving you back a bit of youth. HRT is also known to help reduce diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases that could have been caused by hormonal imbalances. Unfortunately, some studies seem to find a link between HRT and breast cancer. It’s always best to consult with your doctor regarding the risks and benefits of this treatment before proceeding.

It’s never too late to shift to a well-balanced diet if you haven’t already. Fruits, vegetables, and other natural and organic food give your body the nutrients it needs to help manage menopause and give you more energy in the long run. The antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables decelerate aging as well.

Not a lot of diets can give you all the nutrients that your body requires, which is why it’s often a good idea to take supplements. The basics are often multivitamins and fish oil. High quality multivitamins come with chelated minerals, which means that your body can absorb them better and they don’t end up going to waste. If you want to take a step further from the basics, there are other supplements known to have profound effects in hormone balance, anti-aging, stress response, and overall health if you’re willing to invest in them. Perfect Harmony is a well-known natural alternative to HRT. Acai berry supplements are also becoming popular due to a multitude of effects they cause, e.g., weight loss due to increased metabolic rate, energy and stamina boost, anti ageing, detox, etc. It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor first before trying any form of supplementation though, so that you’re sure that none of the supplements you take will cause problems with any medications you’re taking or any medical conditions you have.

Daily exercise and quality sleep do wonders to the body. They work hand-in-hand in regulating your hormone levels and in general, keeping you happy and perky. No matter how many hours you sleep, if you don’t reach the deep stages, you won’t experience its full benefits. To make sure you get a good night’s rest, it’s important to do mentally and physically exhausting activities during the day so that your body doesn’t keep you up at night. Doctors recommend at least thirty minutes of daily exercise. You should also avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime. Lastly, melatonin, a hormone that helps you sleep, is only released when it’s dark so make sure that your room is comfortably dark and that you avoid using your phone or any other gadgets before you sleep.

Menopause brings quite a few uncomfortable changes with it, but it also brings a few welcome changes as well like the absence of the dreaded PMS and embarrassing stains on your favorite outfit. Whatever your perspective is, it’s important that you listen to your body so that you can reap mostly the positive effects of menopause and be comfortable, happy, and healthy for the rest of the years to come.