The "M" Word
Ever since writing my first Menopause book 'Change for the Best', back in 2001, I have followed the negative narrative about the dreaded M word and I'm a little saddened that in all this time little, if anything, has changed by way of support naturally for the Peri or Menopausal woman.
But what exactly is the M word? The menopause is a natural stage of life, a bit like puberty but the other end of the scale. The hardest part about it is that it happens just as we start to age, very unfair!
We get hit with ageing symptoms mostly in the brain and tiredness right at the same time as night sweats, stuttering periods, irritability and hot flushes, all due to an excess of oestrogen. Even though you're losing oestrogen, you're losing more progesterone, and oestrogen is the bad guy in hormones responsible for all the negative symptoms mentioned above.
Traditionally, we usually go to the doctor if we wish to treat the menopause where everybody typically gets the same answer, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). HRT is made of the urine of pregnant horses and other synthetic hormones.
This has led to a generation of women bloated, gut depleted and fed up with HRT because the one pill fits all theory doesn't work as not one of us is biologically identical so you have to try many times before finding a suitable balance.
So, where does this leave us? Hot, sweaty and irritable because we can't sleep and sleep is medicine for the brain. It regulates brain function which means your mood for the day. But there is an alternative and it's called bio identical hormones which are as they sound biologically identical to your own but unfortunately they are not suitable for the working woman because they are so expensive.
But it isn't all doom and gloom, I promise. In Japan, this time in a woman's life is called their Second Spring. A time when we should tap into all the power we have earned with our life experience and never used. Time to do whatever it is that we have always wanted to do but have been too busy with the kids, house, hubby, job and life.
When I was in my Second Spring, I came back to England after 30 years and opened a gym, with limited funds and just the power and freedom of my Second Spring. It was empowering!
I'm in the process of writing my second book about how CBD oil helps with all the symptoms of the menopause.
The reason CBD oil can help you with so many different symptoms is because your body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) with receptors in most parts of your body waiting for thee consistent use of CBD.
There are 3 types of CBD:
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Isolate: used in most CBD products and sold in health food shops and all liquid CBD products because it's water soluble. It comes from the flower of the hemp plant and is as the name suggests, only one isolated component of the 280 that CBD has and that's why it's such a powerful tool for health.
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Broad spectrum: which is what Absolute Best is, containing all 280 components of the plant.
- Full spectrum: which has all 280 components of the plant plus the THC part that makes you high. This is not allowed to be sold in England yet.
So how does it work? You have receptors in your brain that when CBD is ingested takes away the anxiety caused by diminishing estrogen levels. This helps create Serotonin, the happy hormone, so no anti depressants are needed. Then when anxiety and depression have gone, your body is much more receptive to sleep. It's that simple.
Understanding how the body's Endocannabinoids system and CBD works with female hormones can be very complex. To simplify things, you just know that Estradiol, one of the three estrogens we have, works wonders with CBD, helping to eliminate hot flushes and other negative symptoms.
It is also important to clean up your nutritional intake. I can guarantee most of you are carbohydrate loaded on a daily basis; too much wine, sugar and animal products, complicating our internal working system. Diet does make a difference, as does exercise and CBD, so combine all three to make a difference.
Take advantage of our 15% discount on medium strength CBD oil until 30th April 2022, to help you make positive changes. Simply quote 'SecondSpring' at checkout.
Now go enjoy your Second Spring and if you have a question, message me on Instagram. I'm always here to help.
Your friend,
Angie x