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Is it Per-Menopause, Menopause or something else?



Did you know peri-menopause can begin as early as age 35? 

While menopause is a normal and healthy transition women experience, early peri-menopause symptoms may not be a normal or healthy and can be a sign of imbalances within the body. High levels of inflammation, a low fiber or low protein diet, a high sugar or high cholesterol diet, toxins from your external environment, hormones from the food you eat or hormone-like substances from your skincare, make-up or cleaning products can all contribute to hormone imbalances that cause symptoms mimicking peri-menopause and menopause.

Is this happening to you? Are you a woman in your 30s or 40s with any of the following symptoms:
  • Even though you used to have regular cycles, you are now having cycles that can start anywhere between 21 and 40 days apart
  • You are starting to have PMS symptoms a week or two before your period starts
  • You often feel bloated and gassy no matter what you eat
  • You are more irritable or moody before your period starts
  • You have spotting before or after your period or your period is shorter but is slow to start or end
  • You are starting to have general anxiety or trouble sleeping/waking up in the middle of the night
  • Heart palpitations and your EKG and Cardiac Stress Tests were normal
  • You feel you/your period never really got “back to normal” after pregnancy
If this sounds like you, start to improve your diet by eating 30-40 grams of fiber each day (Read my posts about Fixing Your Hormone Problems with Fiber), add 2 Tablespoons of ground flaxseeds to your food daily, help your liver process hormones by drinking 2-3 cups of green tea daily and eating either a serving of carrots or sweet potato daily plus 2-4 cups of dark leafy greens.
You also need to have your hormones tested. In my practice I routinely help women with peri-menopause symptoms by first measuring their levels of progesterone, three forms of estrogen, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol with a simple saliva test. Looking at the balance of these hormones along with a woman’s symptoms we can learn of the source of their symptoms is inflammation, stress, diet, liver function and/or truly the start of menopause and design a plan using nutrition, herbs and vitamins to correct the imbalance.

Click here to learn more about the saliva tests I recommend for my patients and then call Advanced Health & Wellness (978-327-5960) to schedule an appointment to get started.
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