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One of the most frustrating things we deal with when women enter menopause is the overwhelming number of doctors who put these
women on statins to combat high cholesterol. We can’t stress this enough: Cholesterol makes healthy hormones!
During menopause, progesterone and the healthy estrogen from your ovaries (remember there are three types of estrogen) are declining rapidly. Your cholesterol starts to increase to try to make your ovaries produce progesterone and healthy estrogen. However, the ovaries aren’t responding, which results in high cholesterol, and doctors see this increased cholesterol as being bad.
A well-formulated keto diet works for menopausal symptoms by replacing glucose that’s lacking from the hormone-deprived brain. When glucose can’t get into the brain because of insulin resistance, it causes hot flashes and low cognitive function— two common complaints of our clients who are going through menopause. Ketone bodies are water-soluble fat that can pinch hit for glucose in the brain and other tissues.
When your brain is deprived of healthy hormones after decades of exposure, you start to experience hot flashes. Estrogen is closely involved in the transportation of glucose into the brain cells. When we are menstruating and have healthy hormones, estrogen transports about 40 percent more glucose into the brain cells than would be shuttled there without progesterone and healthy estrogen. When the progesterone and healthy estrogen goes away at menopause, the transportation of glucose into the brain cells decreases, and the brain cells become a little starved for energy. The hypothalamus responds to this starvation by increasing the release of norepinephrine (adrenaline), which increases the level of sugar in the blood to raise the heart rate. The increased heart rate causes an increase in the body temperature. A hot flash is an outward sign that the brain is trying to protect itself from blood sugar starvation. During menopause, bone loss also occurs. Progesterone builds healthy bones in women, so as the level of progesterone declines, bone loss results. We see a lot of menopausal clients whose bone density scans show that they are suffering from osteopenia and osteoporosis. Ultimately, you want to use fat instead of carbs to fuel your body. Carbohydrates promote inflammation and lead to hormonal imbalances that further intensify symptoms. Women who are already in menopause and halt the detrimental symptoms with a well-formulated keto diet often see a regular menstrual cycle return, a reduction in belly fat tissue, and increased libido.
MODIFICATIONS:
Eat keto! Getting quality fats and cholesterol helps increase hormone production and keeping carbs to a minimum helps with hormone balance.
HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT):
Even if you do not have symptoms, it is important to consider hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). You can’t feel your bones deteriorating, you can’t feel your arteries stiffening, you can’t feel your brain and memory going away. The leading cause of death in women is heart disease. Estrogen is essential for your heart health. Estrogen is also essential for your gut health. You may notice you have more digestive issues at this time, IBS or Crohn’s.
Avoid pellets, they are not FDA approved and often give too much testosterone which can cause acne and hair loss. I suggest using a topical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone cream in the morning and an oral progesterone at night. HERE are a few online doctors to get started ASAP.
If you are having chronic UTI (urinary track infections), this is a sign of low estrogen. I topical vaginal estrogen cream will be very helpful for stopping UTIs. You can get this with a prescription.
Vaginal estrogen cream also helps with dryness and pain during intercourse.
SUPPLEMENTS:
Evening primrose oil or emu oil: The fatty acids in evening primrose oil help regulate hormones (including the thyroid) and improve nerve function. Take 1,300 milligrams three times daily. Or take 1,500 milligrams of emu oil three times a day with food. Get our favorite brand HERE.
Estro Balance: Estro Balance is designed to detox excess bad estrogen. Supplement with three capsules with food once a day for one month, and then take one capsule daily for four more months. Get our favorite brand HERE.
L-carnitine: L-carnitine is an amino acid that aids in the breakdown of calories by shuttling fatty acids into the mitochondria, which are the fat-burning powerhouses in our cells. First thing after waking, take 3 grams of L-carnitine to increase energy, increase weight loss and focus, and lower triglycerides. Get our favorite brand HERE.
CoQ10: Take 400 milligrams for mitochondria building, especially if you have ever taken a cholesterol-lowering drug. Get our favorite brand HERE.
Choline: Most women are predisposed to an acetylcholine deficiency, which often increases with perimenopause. Estrogen and testosterone stimulate the production of acetylcholine. As those hormones decline, so does the production of this essential brain chemical; the result is symptoms such as memory loss, dry skin, and weight gain. Egg yolks are filled with choline! Bring on the hollandaise sauce! Take 500 milligrams of a choline supplement twice a day with food. Get our favorite brand HERE.
Pro-Gest cream: Pro-Gest cream includes a wild yam extract that helps with sleep and lowers anxiety as well as hormonal migraines. If you wake up too early in the morning and have poor sleep, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon of natural Pro-Gest cream each night. We suggest a cream without additives. You can find Pro-Gest cream online or at a natural health store. Get our favorite brand HERE.
More Menopause Education:
Here are a couple videos with lots of education on menopause.