by Indu Sastri

Created on: March 09, 2009

Menopause is the beginning of the end of a female's reproductive or fertile period of life that starts in the mid forties. This need not be a difficult transition for a woman. Lots of women feel that they are losing the essence of their self when they enter menopause.

Misconceptions about menopause:

Many women feel that the fact they are menopausal means they are old and that they have lost their youth and vigor. While it is true that you are aging, that does not mean that you lose your vigor or vitality. A healthy lifestyle is all that takes to keep you in a great shape.

Women also feel that menopause is the death knell of an active sex life. There can be nothing farther from the truth than this idea. While it may be the end of the fertility cycle it definitely doesn't affect a women's virility.

What to expect and why, during menopause:

Menopausal symptoms are felt by different women at different times. Some feel it as early as 7 years before the onset of the actual menopause itself. Some don't feel it at all. This primarily depends on the lifestyle that one has been leading and general health conditions. A healthy woman may not feel any symptoms and can ease into menopause, realizing its onset only through the cessation of her periods.

During menopause the body undergoes significant hormonal changes that can trigger physical and emotional issues. Hot flashes, night sweats are the most commonly heard symptoms, while menstrual fluctuations, depression, irritability, nervousness, sleeplessness, decreased sexual vigor and headaches or chills are quite common too. The severity of any or all of the symptoms depends on a lot of factors but primarily on the general health of the individual.

The fact that the body's ability or rather its, diminishing ability to produce the hormone estrogen is the root cause of all the annoying symptoms of menopause.

Diet tips that may help:

With a proper nutritional program and a healthy attitude towards menopause one can have a smooth transition into this stage of life. While there are many products and over the counter medications that claim to make this process smooth, going on a natural, nutritional and well balanced life style makes a world of difference.

So starting in the early 30's it is good to watch what you ingest and how you treat your overall health. Primarily to eat natural, fresh and healthy food, good amount of exercise and adequate rest.

Check for any diet deficiencies and correct them as early as possible. Supplement your diet

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