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I remember the uncertain winter of my entrance into perimenopause so well. It began in my late 40s, with hot flashes that came on like heat waves every half hour. In the dead of winter, I found myself flinging open windows to let in the freezing air; I soon found out that having hot flashes in winter was nothing like having them in summer, when the added heat and humidity made them feel more like mini-meltdowns. How to Cool Down Without Melting Down Perimenopause is a hormonally challenged transition during which the ovaries gradually begin to make less oestrogen and...

Estrogen plays a role in more bodily functions than just reproduction. In fact, estrogen has many important functions in the brain. Studies show that decreasing levels of estrogen can cause two of the most common perimenopause symptoms – hot flashes and mood fluctuations. Curious how this happens? Read on to learn the details of this biochemistry. Summary The main focus of this blog is the time in a woman’s life right before menopause, conveniently called perimenopause. The difference between menopause and perimenopause is fairly straightforward – menopause is the time after periods stop happening, and perimenopause is the time leading...

In this article you will find more information about andropause and its effect on men’s life. The first thing a man entering andropause generally notices is a subtle downward shift in strength and energy as hormone levels taper off. Muscle tone and stamina are the first to go, and he starts to gain weight and that “spare tyre.” He may also develop a voracious appetite and food cravings he never had before. As symptoms kick in at mid-life, hormone testing can identify hidden imbalances that complicate symptoms of andropause and contribute to rapid ageing. The majority of men in the...

Food is medicine. It’s well understood that the food we eat provides the amino acids, micronutrients (e.g. vitamins and minerals) and macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) we need to sustain our lives. However, it may come as a surprise to know that some foods contain more than just the amino acid precursors to neurotransmitters — they actually contain high levels of some neurotransmitters themselves, like serotonin and dopamine. For some people, a diet rich in those foods that are high in neurotransmitters lends just the balance they need to feel well in lieu of psychotropic medication. As an example, someone...

Original of this article was published on ZRT Laboratory Blog. I remember the dismaying shock of menopause storming into my life... I was in my late 40s. My daughters were still pretty young, 9 and 6 years old, and having a hard time adjusting to new schools on top of coping with an older mom whose hormones were suddenly in full revolt. As I recall, Christmas was fast approaching but with hot flashes hitting me every 20 minutes, and mood swings in between, no amount of holiday cheer could cheer this mama up. In the dead of winter I kept...