No matter where you are on your (peri-)menopausal journey, just starting to have first little symptoms, starting to think about what it will be like – or if you are smack in the middle or towards the end of it – there are 2 key things to consider when working on your optimal holistic healthy habits:
1. Support your body’s capability to optimally produce, work with and eliminate hormones and hormone metabolites. There are foods, routines and habits that support this or sabotage it – so lets make sure to set ourselves up for success – especially in a transitional phase like now.
2. Health Risks: This time is a period in a woman’s life where all kinds of health risks increase. Think metabolic health, cardiac health, bone health – just to name a few.

Supporting your body’s capability to optimally produce, work with and eliminate hormones and metabolites will ease your experience.

One of the many things accompanying peri-menopausal years is the increased stress on your liver. Our liver is a key player in detoxification – and yes, hormone metabolites need to be detoxified as well.

And the extrogen-progesteron roller coaster of the peri-menopause years is no fun for your liver.

You can support your liver to be able to optimally detox by avoiding additional stress (like alcohol and other toxins), keeping a balanced and healthy diet, hydrating well – and making sure to manage stress well and get rest.

My top 3 foods to support detoxification:

You body is a fantastic detox machine, it knows how to get rid off things it is done with. AND sometimes things can slow down, get clogged up or simply stops working. What I am proposing here is not a detox crash diet with no follow through – it is to consistently support your organs of elimination, those organs which detox and remove waste from the body — liver, kidneys, gut, lymphatic system, lungs, skin, and sweat glands.

1. Turmeric

This brightly coloured spice contains a strong compound called curcumin, which is responsible for many of turmeric’s beneficial properties. Curcumin helps to enhance phase 2 detoxification and protects your liver. In addition it bolsters stores of glutathione – the key antioxidant that protects us from free radical damage.
You can cook with it, it is yummy to put into lattes, tonics and elixirs – and you can get supplements to supercharge your intake.

2. Cruciferous Vegetables

Crucifers like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and bok choy help to activate, enhance and modulate detoxifaction. They contain glucosinolates, which break down into several sub-compounds that help to excrete excess hormones.
For enhanced potency consume sprouted crucifers, like – my favourite – broccoli sprouts.
Yes, crucifers get a lot of praise – they truly are that good for you! Please do make them a regular part of your nourish-plans.

3. Dandelion

One of my favourite ways to consume Dandelion is Dandelion Tea or Dandy Blend, a herbal coffee replacement. Finding a good coffee replacement can be important in peri-menopause, as some of us tend to be more caffein sensitive with the years (it can impact blood sugar balance and stress hormones – both topics that are key to smooth peri-menopause years!!).
Dandelion root helps to modulate detoxificatino enzymes, it protects your liver and it can help raise your levels of glutathione (remember, one of the key antioxidants!).

Use these foods to support your liver and your overall health – and because they are yummy and easy to integrate into your day.
If your liver needs extra support, lets talk and figure out what you might need at the moment. I often find that a period of a simple thing like bitter drops in the morning can help you get back on track.
There are many move, nourish and renew habits around peri-menopause health that might be important for YOU and YOUR BODY specificially – so if you are in need of support, be sure to book a strategy call with me, to discuss the best way to help YOU get back to thriving.

Looking forward to working with you!

Barbara

WORKING WITH HORMONE HEALTH – DISCLAIMER:
I am not for polarization this field, in fact practitioners on both extreme sides absolutely annoy me and hurt people by being stubborn and needing to be right. One camp being all about only HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and nothing else – or on the other side condemning HRT and only promoting alternative support. Whatever works for you is the best option and honestly, the optimal path in my experience often is: IN THE MIDDLE.
ALWAYS: supporting your body optimally to be able to do its work FIRST. And then – adding interventions on top when needed.