Here is another reason to keep your weight under control.  Those extra pounds are not worth losing brain cell function! See what you think about this new study.

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Healthy women who put on weight between the premenopausal and postmenopausal years risk losing nerve cells in the brain, research suggests.

Gaining weight is a “highly modifiable” risk factor that may be targeted to prevent or slow the progression of potentially harmful age-related changes in the brain, the University of Pittsburgh-based study team suggests in the June issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Dr. Isabella Soreca and colleagues analyzed brain imaging data obtained from 48 healthy older women who were tracked over a 20-year period as part of the longitudinal epidemiological Pittsburgh Healthy Women Study.

They report in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine that an increase in body weight during the transition to menopause and beyond was “uniquely associated” with a lower volume of gray matter (the portion of the brain containing nerve cell bodies).

Soreca and colleagues say this finding is “particularly noteworthy” given that these were healthy older women who entered menopause naturally and had no history of cardiovascular disease or psychiatric disease and none were obese in mid-life or later on.

“Women may be particularly motivated to maintain a healthy weight in the postmenopausal years, should it be confirmed that weight gain causes alteration in brain function that is important to quality of life,” Soreca and colleagues conclude.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56F5I820090716

I am often approached by women either in my practice or online who want to know the most “natural” way to approach menopause.

It’s really quite simple if you think about it.

What is more natural than just allowing yourself to move through menopause? If you think about it, it’s rather un-natural to attempt to prevent or delay the onset of menopause. We are suppose to “do menopause” if you will…that is the natural order of things.

Taking estrogens (and progesterone if needed) opens us to several known risks and possibly a few unknown. The benefits, other than symptom control, appears to be on the bones. 

There are things you can do to support your body as it makes these changes. None of it is new or revolutionary.

1. Eat a healthy diet. Lots of vegetable, grain and fish, small amounts of healthy fats will support your body as it changes. A healthy diet will include natural phytoestrogens among other nutrients that are important to you overall health.
2. Exercise – get moving – every single day for at least 30 minutes. It will keep your bones strong, help you achieve and maintain and healthy weight and keep your brain and heart functioning at peak levels.
3. Socialize! Believe it or not, people who socialize live longer and healthier lives than those that don’t. Just please don’t socialize with people who are going to complain all the time!
4. If you diet does not afford you plenty of calcium, consider taking a calcium supplement. Don’t forget the trace minerals and the Vitamin D.
5. Brain Exercises – Just like your bones and heart, your brain needs to be exercised as well.  Ready, do word and math puzzles, or perhaps consider the new Ninentendo games for brains – Brain Age and Brain Age 2.
6. Adjust your Attitude:  While I left this as the last thing on this important list, it’ actually the most important. You attitude will guide everything about your health and well being. Think of it this way…you know how when you are driving and you are focused on something at the side of the road, your car seems to steer in that direction? Your brain, will do the same. If you are focused on having an unpleasant menopause experience you will. Period. So adjust that attitude. 

As you can tell, having a great menopause experience is much like healthy living. The best thing about it is…you don’t have to do anything else. 

For a while now, women have been hearing about the benefits of preventing heart disease, osteoporosis or menopausal symptoms by using soy based foods and nutritional supplements. Now the American Heart Association is giving soy a negative review. This stems from a newer study casting doubt on the effectiveness of soy. While it is true that conflicting evidence does indeed exist, most available evidence is showing that soy proteins can modestly reduce hot flashes in menopausal women and slow bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Once again, what is a woman to do? Frankly, I like soy…yes you heard right. I like it. I use it as tofu as well as use the soy protein to add to smoothies and the like. It’s not a miracle food, but it’s a good source of protein since I eat little meat. I doubt that most women rely entirely on soy for relief of those power surges or for protection both your heart and bones. If you are using soy and feel it helps, then continue to do so.

I’ve been playing around with a new website builder and put together a collection of articles by various people on menopause.

As varied as the authors are, so are the articles. Diversity can be a good thing when it comes to menopause as there is no one single best approach. We’ll try to keep it that way so there is something for most women there.

You may want to bookmark the site as I’ll be adding to it frequently as new articles become available. In addition, the site receives news and updates via various RSS feeds. This means it’s updated with news and information from a variety of sources.

I invite you to visit CelebrateMenopause. You might want to bring along a cup of tea….

Another study, more confusion.

Feb. 13, 2006 – In recent years many women stopped taking hormones for menopause after a report linked them to heart disease. Now researchers have found that estrogen might not be as bad as we thought — especially for younger women.

The new findings suggest a possible estrogen benefit for women in their 50s, but experts say it’s too early to recommend hormones to help the heart.

Read more: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/118/113092.htm

My recommendation: Talk with your health care provider, weigh all the pro’s and con’s and then make a careful decision based on your individual preferences, risk and health status.

Stay healthy!

Menopause Is a Wake Up Call
by Rebecca Hulem, RN, RNP, CMC

The above quote is the perfect reminder for all of us transitioning through menopause:
When it comes right down to it, the hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, fuzzy thinking, sleep disturbances and decreased libido are all just downright inconvenient!!!

After all, we are women who are very busy and responsible. We have things to do, people to take care of, and places we need to be. The inconvenience of the physical changes and emotional chaos that menopause sometimes brings…
well, it’s just not on our agenda!

So what do we do? We look for ways to postpone these inconveniences as though we get to choose when and if we will allow ourselves to go through them. Our desire to postpone has been supported by the medical community with thousands of prescriptions for hormones and antidepressants. Am I suggesting that these medications are bad? Absolutely not! Every medication has the potential to make a profound and healthy change in someone’s life.

What I am suggesting (and what I get into in depth in my book, “Feelin’ Hot?”), is the following:

• Every woman is a unique individual whose lifestyle, body and personal beliefs are significant factors in health care choices.
• Menopause is a “wake up” call that reminds women they have the right to take a proactive role in deciding how they live their lives, to make decisions, and embrace lifestyle choices for healthy living.
• Women need knowledge, tools, and guidance to discover their personal truth as they embrace this exciting “second half” of their lives.

So wake up, educate yourself, embrace your choices and enjoy!

(c)Rebecca J. Hulem, RN, RNP, Certified Menopause Clinician, has 28 years experience in the medical community and is the author of Feelin’ Hot and contributing author to two additional books. To sign up for her free menopause newsletter or for further information, please refer to her website at TheMenopauseExpert

It’s so wonderful to hear other health care professionals say what so many of us have been saying.

It’s an excellent article and ends with :

“The message of menopause,” she summed up, “is to live better and better, to get rid of doubts, insecurities and fears, and wake up to life’s meaning.”

Read it for yourself….Menopause is not a disease

Barbara
OlderWiserWomen

A few days ago, just after I made the previous post, I received my copy of the monthly newsletter, Menopause Moments from my friend Rebecca, The Menopause Expert. She is making an awesome offer to the readers of MenopauseMoments. So I asked her if I could pass it on to women in my networks and she agreed.

I have to tell you, I read “Feelin’ Hot” and found it to be wonderfully fresh in that it’s truthful about what to expect and how you can have a major impact on your own experience of menopause. I think this is a wonderful deal.

Below, I’ve just cut and pasted in what Rebecca wrote. If you want to take advantage of this offer (who wouldn’t), please be mindful of the deadline…it’s next week! And be sure and follow her directions exactly.

And now from Rebecca:

I am offering a very special gift to just the subscribers of my newsletter. Until May 31, 2005, I will include a copy of Conversations on Health and Wellness, a book I co-authored with Dr. John Grey, FR^EE with every purchase of my extremely popular book Feelin’ Hot? A Humorous, Informative and Truthful Look at Menopause.

To receive this special offer, simply order your copy of Feelin’ Hot? from the link below. When you are asked How did you hear about us? select the response “Rebecca’s Newsletter.” With your order of Feelin’ Hot?, I will enclose, as my gift to you, a copy of Conversations on Health and Wellness.

Conversations on Health and Wellness normally sells for $19.95 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. Now you can get Feelin’ Hot? AND Conversations on Health and Wellness for just $14.95 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. That’s a savings of over $23.

Simply click on the link below to purchase yours. This offer will end at midnight May 31, 2005. Don’t miss this great opportunity.

The Link: Rebecca’s offer!

I get lots of questions regarding menopause and what can be done about it. I’ve talked about it, written about it, and read about it. Confusing information is everywhere.

I firmly believe that each woman is an individual and thus her approach to menopause is going to be individual.

That said, I discovered a book and the expert who wrote the book. She explains stuff in English, gives us lots of information, and does so in a humorous manner.

See what you think of the Menopause Expert.

Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP
OlderWiserWomen.com

***Use non-toxic methods to alleviate any uncomfortable sensations you might experience with menopause. While some women may temporarily encounter power surges (hot flashes), poor quality sleep, moodiness, memory concerns and vaginal dryness, many do not. Be aware that every woman experiences menopause differently.

***Expect freedom, creativity, joy, peace and wisdom! Many women have wonderfully positive menopausal experiences. Sounds like it calls for a Celebration to me!

***Practice good nutrition. In the realm of menopause it is suggested that one consider foods that contain phytoestrogens such as celery, fennel, parsley, soy, nuts, whole grains, apples, and alfalfa. And drink lots of water!

For your copy of Tips for Successful Aging, send a blank email to: Tips@OlderWiserWomen.com

Until next time,

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen.com