[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/menopause-WV_banner_1000x480-copy.png” alt=”Three middle aged men jumping and very happy” title_text=”menopause-WV_banner_1000x480 copy” admin_label=”Fullwidth Image” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][et_pb_fullwidth_code raw_content_tablet=”<\/p>\n
Parents face ongoing challenges in raising healthy, well-nourished children in a world where sugary temptations lurk around every corner.<\/p>\n
” raw_content_phone=”” raw_content_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Text – Fullwidth Leader Text” module_id=”fullwidth-leader-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] One of the most important shifts I\u2019ve seen in recent years is the emphasis on education<\/i>. For a long time, women weren\u2019t being educated by their health care practitioners about what was happening in their bodies during perimenopause and menopause. This isn\u2019t a quick blip on the radar; it\u2019s not a death sentence to your womanhood. It\u2019s a process that can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s really happening biologically in perimenopause and menopause? During perimenopause, the ovaries begin to become less responsive to signals from the brain (specifically, the pituitary gland\u2019s release of hormones follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]). As a result:<\/p>\n In menopause, ovulation stops completely. This means:<\/p>\n The hormonal fluctuations of this stage affect everything: sleep, mood, memory, skin, weight, libido, digestion, and energy levels.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned after working with hundreds of women in all phases of life: no matter where you are on your hormonal journey, key foundations make a world of difference to your body\u2019s ability to regulate your hormones.<\/p>\n Food either fuels your vitality or depletes it. I guide my patients toward an anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-balancing, whole food way of eating: lots of leafy greens, fiber-rich veggies, clean proteins at every meal and snack, healthy fats, and hormone-loving foods like flax, pumpkin, and sesame seeds. We reduce alcohol and caffeine (I know\u2026 but trust me) and steer clear of processed foods that wreak havoc on already-sensitive hormones.<\/p>\n Sleep, stress management, and movement aren\u2019t optional. We practice good sleep hygiene to improve the quality and duration of rest by shutting off screens an hour before bed and winding down. We engage in daily, gentle, consistent movement to support mood, metabolism, and bone density. We practice stress management through meditation, breathwork, and some key stress-busting supplements (more on this below).<\/p>\n Your adrenals play a massive role in hormone regulation as your ovaries slow down. When you\u2019ve been running on empty (hello, modern go-go-go), we support those tired adrenals with stress-busting herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola, B vitamins, and lifestyle changes that put you back on the priority list.<\/p>\n \u2022 Vitamin D3 for mood, immunity, and hormone support<\/p>\n \u2022 B12 to support energy and nervous system health<\/p>\n \u2022 Magnesium glycinate\/bisglycinate for sleep, anxiety, muscle recovery, and hormone balance<\/p>\n \u2022 Omega-3s to reduce inflammation and support mood, skin, and brain health<\/p>\n We don\u2019t guess, we test. I often recommend checking:<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 <\/span>Thyroid function (TSH, free T3, free T4)<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 <\/span>Blood sugar and fasting insulin<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 <\/span>Iron and ferritin (low iron can tank your energy)<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 <\/span>In some cases, hormone panels to assess estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol levels can be beneficial<\/p>\n We can create a personalized plan when we gather this information because every woman\u2019s hormonal journey is unique.<\/p>\n Let me be crystal clear: you do not have to suffer through perimenopause or menopause. You are not crazy, broken, or too late. You\u2019re entering one of the most powerful phases of your life \u2013 and with the proper support, it can be your most radiant yet.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a naturopathic doctor, I couldn\u2019t be happier that the mainstream conversation around menopause and perimenopause is changing. It\u2019s about time! For decades, women have been told to \u201cjust deal with it,\u201d that their often highly disruptive symptoms are just a \u201cnormal\u201d part of this phase of life, or even that it\u2019s all in their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":40325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-expert-advice","category-health","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nAs a naturopathic doctor, I couldn\u2019t be happier that the mainstream conversation around menopause and perimenopause is changing. It\u2019s about time! For decades, women have been told to \u201cjust deal with it,\u201d that their often highly disruptive symptoms are just a \u201cnormal\u201d part of this phase of life, or even that it\u2019s all in their heads. Let\u2019s explore my approach to preparing for and navigating \u00a0menopause, which supports women through this shift so they can reclaim their vitality and feel like themselves again (or maybe even better).<\/h5>\n
The new hormonal conversation<\/b><\/b><\/h5>\n
\n
\n
Foundational support: The steps we can never skip<\/b><\/h5>\n
\n
\n
Further support <\/b>for your body\u2019s natural transition<\/b><\/h5>\n
\n
\n
\n
You deserve to feel amazing<\/b><\/h5>\n