Common Menopausal Symptoms - Are There Alternatives To Control Uncomfortable Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause, when a woman no longer menstruates, is a process that usually begins around age 45; however some women begin as early as age 35 or due to a hysterectomy. Not all women experience menopause in the same way. For some, menopause can bring on an array of uncomfortable symptoms. Others may experience few discomforts and are happy to no longer have periods. Although menopause is a very natural process for the body to go through, the effects can often be overwhelming.

The symptoms of menopause are common indicators of the changes in the hormones estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. This change and the symptoms caused by menopause may take anywhere from 7 - 10 years to complete and even as long as 15 years, depending upon the women. Menopause will not stop you from enjoying your life just like before, you just have to learn to adjust and find the right products to help with the relief of menopause.

But with so many pre-menopausal and menopausal symptoms to contend with it's hard for many women to find the right solution to ease their discomforts. Women going through menopause can experience an array of uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, loss of hair, vaginal dryness, irritability, facial hair and the most probable is weight gain. Some women have also noticed heart palpitations, headaches, muscle tension, aching joints, aching muscles, increased appetites, and dizziness.

The most common issues to contend with are hot flashes; an uncomfortable symptom of menopause that can leaves women feeling hot, sweaty and red faced. Hot flashes are a common symptom which is experienced by three out of four women in the transitional period of menopause. Another symptom women experience is weight gain. 90% of menopausal women gain some weight between the ages of 35 and 55. Most women who gain weight during menopause notice a change in body shape and can gain anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds during their menopausal years. This hormone change may begin to put weight on around your abdomen, instead of around your hips, thighs, and rear. With so many symptoms, what is the right solution to help alleviate or even eliminate these symptoms?

Many doctors are quick to prescribe hormone replacement therapy or HRT's as a way to deal with uncomfortable symptoms; however vitamins and other natural supplements are turning out to be a great alternative for women. For thousands of years Asian women have used herbs to ease their transition into menopause. With the recent cardiovascular and breast cancer issues associated with synthetic hormone replacement therapy or HRT, it is comforting to know there are promising alternative treatments. Herbal supplements can also act on estrogen receptors to boost their function without causing the dangerous cell proliferation that HRT presents. This is important because cell proliferation spreads breast cancer cells. Professor Marcia Stefanick, Stanford University School of Medicine and a co-author of the recent groundbreaking study linking hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk states, "I would encourage women to try and make it through menopause without starting hormone treatment." Fear of cancer has women scrambling for safer alternatives.

So if you are a women dealing with menopause or are just planning ahead to when nature takes its change of course, know your options. Alternative medicines have been used for centuries and can be a trusted alternative.

There are now literally hundreds of different menopausal symptom relief products presently being offered to female consumers today. In the midst of all of these menopausal symptom relief product choices, many female consumers are left with quite a bit of confusion in deciding which products will work best for them. These products offer the consumer the most efficacious formulas with the greatest potential to decrease menopausal symptoms. We analyzed hundreds products based on the following criteria: ingredient quality, ability to decrease hot flashes and night sweats, ability to enhance libido and the ability to decrease menopausal weight gain. Below is a list of the top 10 all natural menopausal symptom relief products on the market today.

Tips on Entering Smoothly into Menopause

• Exercise regularly. It keeps the metabolism going and is often helpful with depression, anxiety, stress and weight gain. Weight bearing exercise will help to maintain a healthy bone calcium content and help to prevent osteoporosis.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and essential fatty acids. Cold water fish are great sources of essential fatty acids: salmon, halibut, mackerel, sardines, tuna, and herring. Essential fatty acids help to support the nervous system which may be important for memory and brain function. They are also anti-inflammatory and are very important for skin health. Include soy in your diet. It often helps with hot flashes and estrogen regulation in your body.
• Nuts and seeds can also be added to the diet for a source of fiber, protein, and essential fatty acids. For example, flax seeds are an important source of healthy anti-inflammatory fats and can help regulate estrogen levels.
• Avoid unnecessary sources of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. Avoid smoking as it has been linked to more severe hot flashes and night sweats.
• Remember that balance in the body is what helps to create health. Make sure to nurture your mind to keep it quick, your body to maintain physical health, and your spirit and emotional life to keep you positive and happy.