With age comes wisdom, experience, and for women, the approach of menopause. As women approach menopause, the menstrual cycle goes haywire. Changes in the menstrual cycle range from periods of extremely heavy flow to months without any cycle at all. The first thing most women do is visit the doctor to get prescriptions for hormones. While this works well for some, for others it just adds to the problem and doesn’t relieve the menstrual irregularities they are facing. The good news is that there are some natural cures that can help ease or eliminate the menstrual problems that come with age.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is widely discussed and often promoted as the cure for nearly any ailment you have. While a great deal of these cures are old wives’ tales, some are valid. Apple cider vinegar helps women with menstrual irregularities. It’s used to both produce a period that has been absent for days or months and stop a period that has gone on for a similar amount of time. Taking a few tablespoons of this wonder “drug” daily could offer relief for a woman suffering from menstrual irregularities.
Why does apple cider vinegar work? Deriving its nutrients from apples, which are high in fiber and antioxidants, apple cider vinegar can provide menopausal women with some of the vitamins and minerals that are lacking from their diet and which may in turn cause their irregularities. The high fiber content can also help women excrete excessive hormones. These hormones often cause imbalances which lead to menstrual irregularities.
The recommended dose of apple cider vinegar is two tablespoons per day when not menstruating and three tablespoons per day during menstruation. Since apple cider vinegar is very acidic, it should be taken with a full glass of water.
Blackstrap Molasses
Unsulphured blackstrap molasses can help women suffering from irregularities. High in iron, vitamin B6 and magnesium, it can play a vital role in regulating the menstrual cycle. The high iron content can help women combat the anemia that comes with blood loss during heavy periods. Blackstrap molasses is also high in vitamin B6. This vitamin aids the liver in ridding the body of excess hormones, which in turn helps to create a balance that alleviates irregularities. The magnesium found in molasses can help stop heavy menstrual bleeding. It is superior to supplements because the nutrients found in blackstrap molasses have a higher bioavailability.
Diet and Exercise
In addition to the foods listed above, a healthy diet and exercise can stop menstrual irregularities in its tracks. Ensuring a diet high in fiber and rich in nutrients can help ease the pains of menopause. Women should include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins in their diet. Fruits include the fiber and vitamins that can help stabilize hormones. Vegetables such as spinach and kale are very high in vitamin K. Vitamin K helps with blood clotting and helps reduce the blood flow experienced with menorrhagia, or excessive bleeding, during the menstrual cycle. An adequate intake of iron, from lean proteins, helps the body restore blood loss that occurs through heavy menstruation.
Exercise, like a good diet, can lower high levels of estrogen. Female athletes have found that they have gone without a period for months due to strenuous exercise. Although some women might cheer at the idea of going a long time without their cycle, this generally only happens to top athletes. The average woman will be able to balance hormones through strength training and cardiovascular exercise. The goal is to exercise from 30 minutes to an hour approximately 5 days a week. This may seem like an impossible task, but the body is miraculous and many find that when they start out with 30 minutes they can easily increase the time spent working out.
Although modern medicine has made incredible leaps and strides and helps millions of people, it does not help everyone. The side effects that come with taking prescription drugs are impossible for some to tolerate. Fortunately, there are some items in your kitchen cabinet that work as well or better than prescription drugs, with none of the side effects. These remedies, when coupled with a good diet and exercise, could make the approach of menopause as easy as a walk in the park.
