Not only do you lose your fertility, but a lot of things happen in your head during the menopause as well. Sandra van Leeuwen, Orthomolecular Advisor and specialized in menopause, tells you how it works and gives tips on how to support the natural process of aging.
Recently I described a bench in front of a house as 'something made of wood, on which you can sit'. More and more often I find it easier to refer to scissors as 'something you can cut with' and a dining table as 'something with four legs of wood that you can eat on'. Will I get demented on my 46th?
Certainly not. But if you recognize this, you might be curious what is going on. Nothing to worry about! It is your hormone system that is looking for a new balance.
Scientifically, there is no such thing as a "female brain." Lisa Mosconi, an American neuroscientist, explains that the architecture of the brains in men and women is the same, but the functionality is different. This already happens before we are born and develops further when women are shaped by their environment and when they become pregnant and have a child, for example. In the transition phase, the brain goes through such a big change and even that can be seen on a brain scan.
Mosconi has made countless of them and with that she has been able to show that the aging process in women is different than in men. A brain scan of a 43-year-old woman still shows a high energy level in the brain. If a new scan is made after seven years (in the menopause), we see a decrease in the brain's energy level of up to 30 percent.
Similar scans in men do not show this.
The biggest impact is the decline in estrogen as we age. This hormone is involved in a number of important functions in the brain, including energy production. It also provides support to our immune system. But if it is produced less, there is also a decrease in the energy of the brain, causing them to age faster.
We often only associate the menopause with losing our fertility. But when we talk about menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fog in the head, memory problems; then these are all symptoms that do not arise in the ovaries, but in our brains. So women don't complain and make this up, it really happens!
Women's brains age in a different way than men's, and we see this especially when we enter menopause. Not to panic, but these are the figures about the consequences, because it is good to recognize the differences:
The three most important factors that you can influence yourself are:
First of all:water! Our brains are made up of 80 percent water. 2 to 4 percent less fluid in the brain can already lead to drowsiness, dizziness, memory loss and concentration problems. So stay hydrated and start your day with two glasses of lukewarm water.
What you eat not only nourishes your body, but also your brain. Scientists have seen that a more Mediterranean diet offers us health benefits. This may be due to the phytoestrogens it contains. The estrogen that is present in a plant has a similar effect on the hormone system as our body's own estrogen.
Soy is rich in phytoestrogens. However, it often evokes (allergic) reactions in Western women and therefore it is not recommended to take it in large quantities. Other foods rich in phytoestrogens are sesame seeds, lentils, chickpeas, dried apricots and dark chocolate.
Moving doesn't have to be complicated at all. For example, half an hour of walking (in nature) per day is enough. In any case, always choose a form of exercise that suits you, so that it is easy to make time for this regularly in your agenda.
Perhaps by now you are used to the fact that you are always tired. However, it is not normal. Think about where that fatigue comes from. In other words, what gives you so much stress that it exhausts you? Is it work (do you work too long) or is it certain relationships that only cost energy and give nothing more? Do you take enough time to take good care of yourself or is the attention more often on someone else? When you have a clear picture of what causes you stress, the next step is of course to tackle this.
You will see that if you take good care of your brain, it has a positive effect on your overall health and reduces or even eliminates complaints such as headaches and poor focus.
Text:Sandra van Leeuwen, Image:GettyImages
