I just attended a webinar on targeted approaches to common menopause symptoms, presented by Tracy Breuning, a BANT registered nutritionist and practitioner education consultant at Activated. It was full of practical, science-backed ideas.

Beyond hot flushes

Most of us know menopause for hot flushes, night sweats and palpitations, which affect an estimated 75% of menopausal women. The talk looked at plant-derived isoflavones, which have been clinically shown to significantly reduce both how often these symptoms happen and how intense they are.

But the shifting hormones of menopause reach further than temperature control. They can also affect the gut, and often well before periods have actually stopped.

The gut microbiome in midlife

During the menopausal transition, the gut microbiome can become less diverse. That matters well beyond digestion, because the gut bacteria also play a part in immune function and in keeping inflammation in balance.

One approach discussed was the ‘synbiotic’, which combines a targeted prebiotic (food for helpful bacteria) with specific live bacterial strains. Together they support the growth of beneficial bacteria and boost the production of health-promoting metabolites.

Reflux and menopause

Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD) can appear or get worse during the menopausal transition. Contributing factors include certain medications and changes in eating and lifestyle habits. The webinar looked at a postbiotic approach, which has a well-researched evidence base as an option for easing symptoms.

Takeaway

Menopause is a whole-body transition, and symptoms that seem unrelated, such as night sweats and heartburn, may be connected through hormones and the gut. If you’re noticing new digestive symptoms alongside the more familiar ones, let’s discuss them at your next appointment. Together we can look at diet, lifestyle and herbal support suited to you. Also, if you purchase any Activated products through me, you will receive a discount.

Image: Menopause by Nick Youngson. Creative Commons 3 – CC BY-SA 3.0 https://www.picpedia.org/medical/m/menopause.html