Menopause Transition, Hormone Balance, Bioidentical Therapy, Wellness, and Natural Healing

By Sangeeta Pati MD, FACOG, ABOIM

Why Women in Blue Zones Experience Menopause with Ease and Hormone Balance

There are places in the world, known as the Blue-Zones, where people live above 100 years, fit, productive and free of chronic diseases and doctoring. In these places, women transition through menopause with ease and grace, without major symptoms and without the use of hormones. In the USA, most women feel significant symptoms all the way from their 30’s to their 60’s. Why?!!!

Is it the connection to the 5-elements of Nature? The SUN, the EARTH, the structured WATER, the oxygenated cells in the BODY and the Vibe of JOYFUL PURPOSE connected to Nature and Tribe? Is it a more balanced life slowing down the nervous system so it burns through less adrenal-thyroid hormones, thus sparing the ovaries from being depleted? Is it their nutrition? Let’s explore! redefining menopause wellness through everyday cooking and nutrition

The 5 Elements of Nature That Support Hormone Wellness and Menopause

People in long-thriving cultures (i.e. Blue-Zones) around the world live balanced lives, directly connected to nature and community.

Sunlight and Hormone Activation

The morning SUN stimulates the Cortisol-Awakening Response, which is vital for adrenal and ovarian hormone production and daily energy.

Earth Grounding and Cortisol Regulation

Grounding into the EARTH balances CORTISOL highs and lows.

Structured Water and Endocrine Health

Structured WATER – spring water or blessed water – impacts the endocrine system differently than tap water.

Oxygenation and Cellular Vitality

Slower breathing and a less hectic pace enhances oxygen delivery to our cells.

Joyful Purpose and Electromagnetic Wellness

Most importantly – a life driven by JOYFUL PURPOSE creates an electromagnetic field, which nurtures every cell in the body and also spreads to others.

These very habits, which start from young, are the ones that keep them healthy, happy and hormone balanced into their later years. All of these habits can be practiced by anyone, anywhere in the world.

How Modern Living Disrupts Hormone Balance and Menopause Health

In the USA, we spend more than other countries and rank lower in health indices and life expectancy. In contrast to the lifestyle of the Blue-Zones, our Modern-Living has our nervous system in constant activity, in a state of a Chronic Stress Response, Fight or Flight.

With constant nervous system activity, we are making cortisol and burning through our fuel tank of key nutrients and other hormones (like progesterone).

Progesterone Deficiency and Menopause Symptoms

This depletion starts as early as our teens with progesterone deficiency, leading to symptoms like anxiety, irritability, panic attacks, sleep issues, PMS, heavy bleeding and mood swings. These symptoms are the number 1 reasons for a prescription of Xanax and Oral Contraceptive Pills. It is also the number one reason for a hysterectomy, when there are many other options.

The Deeper Impact of Hormone Imbalance on Women’s Health

But the story is much deeper than the fact that women experience completely avoidable suffering the crucial need for broader global menopause awareness. Once we realize that every organ in the body has receptor sites for estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, we realize that hormone decline means organ decline means dis-ease.

These receptors are present on the cells of the heart, blood vessels, bone, nerves, muscles, skin and most cells in the body. So, when the hormones get imbalanced, women acquire an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, osteoporosis and breast cancer.

It is empowering to realize that all these conditions (like those associated with progesterone deficiency below) are avoidable.

What Can You Do? Steps to Restore Hormone Balance and Wellness

Slow Down Your Nervous System to Preserve Your Reserve

Sangeeta Pati MD personal journey was altered drastically when I went from a doctor doing few surgeries a month, to few surgeries a year, to no surgery with the use of bioidentical progesterone, magnesium and life-balance. Modern living is indeed our greatest disease. Women living balanced lives, for example in Blue-Zones, barely experience Menopausal symptoms.

Life Balance = Hormone Balance. Try exercise to Simplify Life. Imagine that you are the sun. When you tend to your fire, you automatically warm the other planets. This is the most unselfish thing that you can do and it preserves your hormones.

Connect to the 5 Elements of Nature and Your Tribe

Social isolation is a well-recognized risk factor for all diseases. Connect with your people.

Take a Lipid Soluble Magnesium

My favorite is with Magnesium Acetyl-Taurinate.

Consider Hormone Restoration for Symptoms and Protection

As science is proving that hormone replacement is protective, we are left with the question of how safe it is. Replacement of low thyroid, insulin and cortisol is the medical standard.

So, it seems logical to also replace low estrogen, progesterone and testosterone; however, the evidence leaves clinicians at a loss for clear direction because of conflicting results from studies using different types of hormones. We can also explore reclaiming power, balance, and identity with hormone replacement therapy

A comprehensive analysis of data shows that restoration of normal physiologic ratios of hormone, with bioidentical hormones is beneficial in alleviating symptoms and more importantly degenerative disease.

Bio-identical hormones are exactly identical to the hormones of the human body, molecule by molecule, so they fit the hormone receptor like a key fits into its lock; the body cannot distinguish between a bioidentical hormone and the hormones it makes itself.

They are often created from soy or yam. Estrogens used by skin are protective. A body of literature suggests that transdermal estrogen decreases clots, blood pressure, triglycerides and vascular resistance as opposed to oral estrogen which increase clots, blood pressure, CRP, triglycerides and gallstones.

The WHI study published in 2002 scared women off of hormones because they used horse estrogen, oral estrogen and synthetic progesterone, all molecularly non-identical to human and all known to increase cancer and clots. Understanding the difference between bioidentical hormone therapy and conventional HRT and their safety profiles

One of these, Medroxy Progesterone Acetate, is still a popular prescription, although it should be banned, especially when you realize that there are human identical, bio-identical hormones, made from wild yam and soy, which the body recognizes.

So, the French published their study, the French Cohort Study, using instead bio-identical hormones and estrogen by skin. What did they find? Better quality of life. Better bone, heart and brain health.

Maybe we should be more concerned about how safe it is to have unbalanced hormones?

Closing Thoughts: Claim Your Power Over Hormone Health

The most important step to hormone balance is to claim your own power over your health. Deficiencies which affect our health start early in life. You can read about an inspirational journey from a near-death experience to becoming a menopause coach. Progesterone is the first hormone to decline. It starts in the 20’s, causing symptoms and conditions as mentioned above.

The best way to protect ourselves is to incorporate the above lifestyle practices into your life early.

In fact, women under 30 can correct major symptoms and conditions with these practices alone.

Note that if you measure the progesterone level, the normal range does not matter. The optimal protective range is above 5 ng/ml at any point in the cycle.

If you have symptoms, find a practitioner to correct symptoms with bio-identical progesterone.

Stay tuned for What Lies Beneath the Ovaries: Adrenal-Thyroid Dysfunction.