Most of us know that one day, perhaps in our 40s or 50s, our periods will stop and we\u2019ll go through menopause. But what does this actually mean for your daily life and health?<\/p>\n
\u201cMany women head into menopause without knowing what is happening to their own bodies,\u201d says OB-GYN Dr. Anna Cabeca<\/a>. \u201c\u2018I\u2019m over the hill.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m going to suffer through every part of menopause.’ Sound familiar? Menopause stimulates negative self-talk, not to mention negative societal connotations. It\u2019s a power-packed combo of physical challenges and mental stressors. It can be a difficult time, but it doesn\u2019t have to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are three things to know to help you understand and get through menopause.<\/p>\n When does it start?<\/strong> What happens?<\/strong> Are symptoms preventable?<\/strong> You\u2019ll also want to have a regular sleep schedule to avoid the sleep disturbances menopause can trigger. “You can avoid excessive heat at night by installing a programmable thermostat to keep your room cool while you\u2019re sleeping,” says Hamilton. Use bedding made of breathable material like bamboo to also avoid hot flashes and insomnia.<\/p>\n xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n
\nBefore you go through menopause, you\u2019ll go through a phase called perimenopause where your ovaries start producing less estrogen, according to Cabeca. This can cause your periods to fluctuate, but you won\u2019t know you\u2019re fully in menopause until you go a year without a period.<\/p>\n
\nSymptoms of menopause are varied and can include hot flashes, sleep disturbances, weight gain, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, fatigue, brain fog, and hormonal imbalances. \u201cThere is no one way to go through menopause,\u201d says Cabeca. \u201cSome women might sail through without any symptoms, while others might experience one or a mix of the symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMenopause symptoms can be greatly reduced simply through diet and lifestyle changes. \u201cEating a more alkaline diet and managing stress are just a few of many of the recommendations on how to deal with these inconvenient symptoms,\u201d says Cabeca. An alkaline diet is one full of green vegetables, lemon and lime, and other veggies and fruits. Thanuja Hamilton, an internal medicine doctor and sleep medicine specialist at Reverie<\/a>, recommends eating foods like soy, legumes, and certain vegetables with phytoestrogens since these compounds mimic estrogen and can reduce symptoms of estrogen loss.<\/p>\n