Menopause, phyto-estrogens and plastic

hairless17
Dec 14, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Dec 19, 2024

Oriental traditions see menopause not as an illness but a period in a women’s life towards a less active life embracing wisdom.

It’s in the west where menopause is perceived as an illness in order to sell us some drugs. It’s in fact in the west hemisphere where women are more at risk of suffering from menopause than women in the eastern part of this planet.

Not long time ago histery was considered a female illness just to stop us complaining. Now, it's called histrionic personality disorder and it's not considered a female illness. From the 70's until now in the American continent (North and South) the hormonal replacement treatment (HRT) proposed to menopaused women are a mixed of synthetic and equine origin hormones (mares). Not talking about animal crualty, it's just horrible what the pharmaceutical industry can propose us to be healthy. Fortunatedly, there was in 2002 an american study from WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) showing that HTR equine conjugaded estrogens (CEE) associeted to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) had more risks than benefits. This announcement made to drop from 50% to 6% the use of HTR among french women which in contrary to american women didn't take animal origin estrogens. American women continue being precribed this therapy though some doctors prescribe the French approach. New treatments exist today. Get informed and don't let any body choose for you .

From teenagers we are bombarded with hormones starting with contraceptive pills (either to prevent getting pregnant, to treat acne or other hormonal problems). Followed by the high quantities of hormones consumed though food, particularly chicken and eggs issued from industrial farming. Another problem are endocrine disruptors that our bodies are in touch from very young found at industrial scale in our cosmetic products, in pesticides, insecticides and plastic. Some of these products are forever pollutants (PFAS).

The rhythm of life in our countries pushes us to be very active, competitive, to have a family, a good job, to be attractive and young looking, etc. We should be encourage by our society not the opposite.

Chronic stress and xeno-estrogens (non human feminine hormones) building -up in our organs will make of menopause a nasty nightmare. I would like to clarify something, xeno-estrogens are as dangerous for women as for men.

How can we stop this problem ?

What to do first ?

This will depend on the troubles your suffering and the level of toxins in your body .

Ayurveda can help avoiding the use of synthetic hormones (HRT or hormonal replacement therapy).

A doshic approach (vata, pitta or kapha constitution) is essential as well as your personal problems. In order to give a personalized advise I suggest you to take an ayurvedic consultation.

A program to put in place step by step changes is needed too. However, it’s not possible to change our life style and our cooking habits from one day to another. Take into account this list and do what you can. You’ll see that slowly it will improve not only your life but of your surroundings. There is no point in taking the best remedies if you continue poisoning yourself.

First of all, find some one to talk to, menopause shouldn't be a taboo. It’s important to act at any age.
If possible filter your drinking water and stop buying plastic bottled mineral water. If there is only one thing you can change from this list this is the one.
Avoid buying products that use plastic wrapping (it will finish on your plate!). If possible do your shopping at the local market, and buy local, organic and seasonal. Bring your own containers. If you don’t have time to shop, order a weekly delivery of an organic basket. You’ll save money and invest in your health.
Sort your cosmetic products. Buy them organic. If possible recycle the containers.
Buy natural non corrosive products to wash your clothes and for cleaning. You’ll save money. For examples if you buy Marseille’s soap in flakes (boil a small cup in 3 liters of water) you’ll have liquid soap for very long time with the same results that your usual washing powder or liquid that your supermarket sells your at gold price (you pay for marketing, container and lost of water).
Follow a workshop to make your own cleaning up products. So we get less plastic and pollutants in our water and in the air. And please, throw away your Teflon saucepans.

Eat more food with phyto-estrogens (estrogens from plants are between 100 to 1000 times weaker than estrogens). They have a modulator effect over our hormones (they adjust the levels of natural hormones in the body). Just limit your consumption of tofu to maximum once a week. In hydro culture phyto-estrogens are absent.
Get good fats to your diet. Intake of animal fat and fried food (specially re-used oil) increases the levels of bad estrogens and the build-up dangerously in our bodies. Try to eliminate them slowly and invest your money in good oils rich in omega 3, 9 (olive oil) and non transformed omega 6 (borage or evening primrose) if possible organic. For example 1 soup spoon of flax seed oil (to keep in the fridge) high in omega 3 over salads or cold meals will give all the omega 3 you need for the day. Note : If you take fish food complements then opt for eco-responsable farms with a quality label.
Decrease food intake that promotes inflammation. For instance sunflower oil (even from good quality) because it contains high levels of arachidonic acid (omega 6) which promotes body swelling.