BEYOND QUICK FIXES TO LASTING PERIMENOPAUSE SYMPTOM RESOLUTION

Navigating perimenopause can often feel like trying to solve a puzzle with pieces that constantly change shape. Many women find themselves grappling with fluctuating symptoms that affect their daily lives profoundly. It’s at this point that it becomes really difficult to resist the many (many!) quick fixes or cure alls that are on offer in your local health food store, or in the ads you see on social media. Join me as I talk you through why the quick fixes and health fads on offer in 2024 aren’t doing you any favours in the long term.

THE MISLEADING NATURE OF QUICK FIXES

Strolling through the aisles of health food stores, it’s easy to be dazzled by shelves brimming with bottles promising immediate relief from perimenopause symptoms. I get it, there’s only so long you can push through your days after your night’s sleep is interrupted by hot flushes, sweats or a busy mind. You just want to feel like yourself instead of the angry zombie that keeps biting the head off your family, friends and workmates!

From herbal powders claiming to eradicate hot flushes to supplements designed to pick your mood up, the options are endless. However, while these 'magic bullets' may reduce your symptoms somewhat, they fail to address the root causes of your symptoms, leading you to stay stuck on these supplements forever. Remember that they want you to keep buying their products, that’s why they offer a discount for a monthly subscription to it!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALISED HERBAL REMEDIES AND SUPPLEMENTS

During my early years studying to become a naturopath, I quickly learned that over-the-counter supplements often fell short because they weren't tailored to you, your unique biochemistry, phase of life, and root cause or driver of how you’re feeling. They They also don’t always use the best form of the nutrient or herb to enhance absorption, or contain a therapeutic sized dose.

Nutritional and herbal remedies, when prescribed in therapeutic doses, to meet your body’s specific needs, are far more effective. If you’re like lots of women I talk with, you may have a bunch of supplements in the back of the pantry. Ones you’ve bought online or in the health food store, that you’ve heard can be good supplements for perimenopause symptoms, but haven't worked for you. This is most likely because they may be the wrong herb or nutrient for you, in the wrong form, or not a big enough dose to actually do anything. It can be much more efficient, and save you money, to have an expert prescribe what you need, using high quality forms, and therapeutic doses.

UNDERSTANDING THE NUANCES AND REALITIES OF HRT

Just as each woman’s experience with perimenopause is unique, so too should be her treatment plan. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be a powerful tool. Yet, it's also not a one-size-fits-all solution, which is how I see it discussed all over the internet at the moment.

And while HRT may be the right decision for you, it may also not be, or may not resolve the symptoms that you want it to. I have many clients come to me using HRT, and still experiencing mood swings, rage, hot flushes, sweats and insmonia. It isnt a panacea for perimenopause - and can be very difficult to get the doses right. Foundational health practices — what I call 'the basics' — are key to help increase the efficacy of HRT. And these basics can often help your body better adjust or adapt to the changing hormones of perimenopause, to help resolve your symptoms without the need for HRT.

HOLISTIC HEALTH APPROACH OVER QUICK FIXES

Perhaps I don’t need to tell you that the true path to overcoming perimenopause symptoms doesn't come in a pill. But now I have anyway!

I firmly believe that a holistic health approach — focusing on maintaining the basics of good health is the way to support yourself through perimenopause smoothly. Getting your cells in great working order by providing them with the building blocks to work in the way they’re intended to, and produce and metabolise hormones and other compounds exactly as we need them too.

The basics also help your cells, tissues and organs, better respond to the change in your female hormones. Better adaptation means less symptoms, a smoother perimenopause journey, and living a long and active life.

Remember, you can’t supplement or exercise your way out of a poor diet or skimping on the daily self-care habits, AKA ‘the basics.’

BACK TO BASICS

Fundamental health practices are often overlooked in our search for a quick fix. So what are these basics I keep talking about?

They are:

• safe sun exposure,
• fresh air,
• drinking ample filtered water,
• eating nutritious food that suits your body (personalised health plans are a trend I am definitely on board with!) most of the time,
• quality sleep
• gentle but effective movement focused on building strength and flexibility,
• connection with friends and family,
• doing things that bring you joy, and
• downtime (quiet, solitude).

By treating the body as a whole, we can alleviate perimenopause symptoms more effectively and sustainably. For example, improving sleep and diet has helped many of my clients reduce their reliance on supplements and medications.

Proper nutrition, sleep and the rest of the basics are crucial in managing perimenopause effectively. These basics aren't just the foundation of good health; they are the bedrock. By ensuring we nourish our bodies and rest adequately, we set the stage for a smoother perimenopausal transition and long-term active aging.

GIVING YOUR PERIMENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS THE FLICK: UNDERSTANDING WHAT’S DRIVING HOW YOU’RE FEELING IS KEY

The journey through perimenopause requires more than quick fixes—it demands a comprehensive approach that respects the complexities of your body, especially as they change through perimenopause into menopause (and beyond). By focusing on identifying what's driving your symptoms and how you're feeling, and addressing that with food and lifestyle changes that support and nourish your body back to balance, you can navigate this phase with more ease.

You want to take control of your health during perimenopause, but you’re confused by all the information out there and you’re exhausted just thinking about it. You've tried every quick fix, supplement, and fad diet out there, but nothing seems to work. The conflicting advice is overwhelming, and you're feeling stuck and hopeless. You want a solution that fits into your busy life, something that doesn’t require endless calorie counting or restrictive diets.

My new 4-week program, PerimenoGO is a proven formula for women over 40 to lose weight, boost their energy, finally feel back in control of their mood, and comfortable in their body again. Unlike restrictive diets, or programs that focus heavily on supplements, shakes, or meal replacements, PerimenoGO offers a balanced, hormone-friendly approach that fits seamlessly into your busy lifestyle, without the need for complicated recipes or hours of meal prep. Our program focuses on teaching you how to eat to help your body better adjust to the natural hormone fluctuations of perimenopause and menopause - the key to resolving your symptoms and thriving in perimenopause.

If you'd like to learn more about what PerimenoGO can do for you, then join the waitlist to get early access to more information, and receive a special founders price. I'm so excited to share what I've created with you.