Menopause is not a disease

Contrary to the predominant medical opinion, menopause is not a disease. For thousands of years, women from diverse cultures the world over have made this natural and normal life transition without the aid of hormone replacement therapy, terrible suffering, or the aid of expert medical intervention.

In fact, the transition has been welcomed and accepted as a part of the healthy cycle of life and growth for women the world over. So how have we arrived at our present day treatment of this natural event as one that must necessarily be filled with strife and stress? Recent studies suggest that it is not only our lifestyle, high stress environment, and nutrient poor diets that are to blame. Current understanding of the very real and profound effects of our habits of thinking, behavior, and emotions on physiology reveals that the answers are far more complex.

Indeed, our daily choices regarding nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sleep habits determine much about our personal health outcomes. Still, few of us live in a vacuum, and the social and cultural factors that influence our health are hard to ignore. In a time and culture that increasingly celebrates and objectifies youth at the expense of realistic and healthy depictions of aging the depiction of menopause as a negative event is compounded. This often negative social imagery and messaging has real impacts on physical health.

For a woman seeking solutions to this transition, effective treatment should be as complex and unique as the factors that shape individual health and longevity. A "one size fits all" approach will rarely give lasting results. There are several pieces to the puzzle that have been proven to influence long term health and ability to adapt to this change with greater ease and grace. Staying socially connected and mentally active, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy whole food based diet all contribute to better health. In addition, stress relieving activities like meditation, yoga, walking, or spending time in nature relieve mental, physical, and emotional strain that contributes to inflammation and hormone imbalance. Managing blood sugar, and cutting out caffeine, processed foods, alcohol, and empty calories is absolutely life changing when it comes to long term health. The same factors that create vibrant health during our youth contribute to our future health and our experience of aging.

Learn more by attending our upcoming health class, Overcoming Hot Flashes, Night Sweats & Other Menopausal Problems, 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 at Vital Health in Coeur d'Alene. Fee: $10. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.

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Kristina Allred holds a Master of Science degree in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a Licensed Acupuncturist, and is board certified in acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She has extensive experience in nutrition as well as herbal medicine. Kristina is a "Health Detective," she looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Kristina is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements at Vital Health in Coeur d'Alene. Visit our website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Kristina, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Kristina can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.