Menopause is a natural biological process in a woman’s life which usually occurs at 45 to 55 years of age.

According to medicine, menopause is defined as when a woman doesn’t menstruate anymore and is at the end of her reproductive cycle. Menopause is not a disease; women remain healthy, can be sexually active, and have plenty of vitality.

Some women live this transition as a relief, but even though this is a perfectly natural change, many women experience it negatively because of the physical and psychological challenges caused by the transition towards the full onset of menopause.

This perimenopause phase – wrongly called “pre-menopause” – lasts between two  to seven  years,  and is marked with the slow drop of hormones, irregular menstruations, and other side effects such as hot flushes, irritability, mood swings, a decrease in libido, and weight gain. These disturbances can be very uncomfortable and may have an impact on the quality of sleep, leading to fatigue.

Many women turn to Hormone Replacement Therapy as a solution prescribed by a medical doctor to tackle their perimenopause and menopause transition. These treatments have been found to have their share of side effects such as heart disease or memory loss.

But hope is not lost, as natural ingredients soja and hops combined together could be the alternative and natural solution you are looking for to bring relief and comfort, without the downsides of HRT!

The Two Natural Ingredients That  Help With  Menopause Discomforts:

SOJA

Soja originates from south-east Asia, where it has been part of food habits for thousands of years and been used in traditional medicine.  Soja has proven properties to support women undergoing menopause.

A study revealed that 80% of European women were having perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances; while only 5 to 10% of Japanese women, who regularly consume soja, were affected.

Soja contains Isoflavones, shown to be very effective for hot flushes but also support weight loss when it is directly associated with menopause.

A few studies have also demonstrated the benefits of soja isoflavones on osteoporosis, a condition that can affect women within the first five years of menopause, with a loss of 3 to 5% yearly of their bone density.

HOPS

Hops is a climbing herbaceous plant that grows in the wild, mostly used to make beer.

Health authorities recognise its sedative properties, as well as its benefits for digestion and to treat irritability.

But hops is mostly a powerful phytoestrogen to fight against the various disorders of perimenopause. Back when picking hops were done by hand, the pickers were unexpectedly indisposed even if it was not normally the time of their periods. Based on these findings, researchers at Ghent University have isolated one of the active ingredients, the hopeine or 8PN2 , a derivative of the flavonoid family. It produces effects on the body similar to those of sex hormone estrogenic 3.

The hopeine, rebalancing the oestrogen levels in the body, acts effectively against hot flushes, stimulates libido, and helps with sleep, thanks to its sedative and hypnotic properties.

Anecdotally, workers in breweries sometimes suffered from uncontrollable urges to sleep. The researchers realised that the hop was on the neurotransmitter GABA, which regulates the central nervous system. In this way, it also limits anxieties.

To increase its effectiveness, it was found that hops work best combined with the powerful phytoestrogen soy extract as they have a synergistic action.

Menopause isn’t the easiest transition in a woman’s life, and acceptance comes with challenges. Finding the right support is very important. Natural solutions to tackle the symptoms associated with the hormonal changes can be a great help but if you feel depressed and suffer from anxiety, it is also important to find support by talking to your friends or family, seeking counselling, or professional advice.

Know that this is not the end of the road, and that this transition may bring upon the opportunity to experience the new in your life.

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