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I Was Looking Forward to This?

As women move past their child-bearing years, many actually look forward to menopause and the cessation of their monthly periods. After all, who wants to continue to deal with the inconvenience, cost, cramps and headaches when they see their families as complete?

Indeed. And then it hits - around the age of 50, on average. All of a sudden you're dealing with hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, weight gain, bladder control issues, sleep disorders, the risk of osteoporosis, loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. And you start to wonder why you ever looked forward to this period (pardon the pun) in your life!

Years ago, doctors prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal women to counteract decreased estrogen production. That was until 2002 when it was discovered that HRT carried increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots and most women just stopped taking it.

Some recent research is looking at blood glucose levels and their effects on these sudden warmth sensations. It appears that these temperature fluctuations increase when blood glucose levels are low. So controlling diet by taking a diabetic approach to eating - eating more frequently, eating more protein and attempting to control blood glucose levels - may actually reduce the number of "personal summers" that you experience.

Here are some natural alternatives to help you deal with menopausal symptoms:

• Herbal remedies, including evening primrose, ginseng, black cohosh and red clover
• Diet that includes an increase in soy, fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, brown rice, tofu and almonds. Caffeine, carbonated beverages, commercially raised beef, pork, and chicken, which decrease your ability to metabolize estrogen and contain large quantities of saturated (bad) fats, along with sugar are foods you should avoid.
• Vitamins and minerals, including vitamins E, B6 and B Complex, magnesium and calcium citrate (not calcium carbonate)
• Regular exercise, to reduce the risk of heart disease, many kinds of cancer and bone loss

Many women turn to chiropractic care to help them through the physical, mental and emotional challenges of menopause. It's a drug-free alternative that relieves spinal nerve pressure, allowing the nervous system to function properly. Many women report a decrease in menopausal symptoms with regular chiropractic care.