Perimenopause is the transitional phase that precedes menopause. The ovaries stop producing hormones and ovulation ends. 

Women are less prepared for the intensity of this phase but educating yourself on the topic might make it all easier. There is a lot of information about perimenopause nowadays.

The complaints in perimenopause are often identifiable, but these symptoms also have a resemblance to a burnout. It is important that women are familiar with this phase, because if you are in the middle of it, it can have a real impact on your relationships, social life, productivity and psyche. 

In this blog we share knowledge that can contribute to relieving symptoms.

Understand your body’s symptoms better in perimenopause

You say you have your life on track but you seem to feel physically and mentally out of balance lately? Do you experience violent mood swings and unexplained weight gain? Do you recognize yourself in this description?

The first symptoms of perimenopause are experienced between the ages of 40 and 50, although you can experience them even earlier. The time of onset and intensity varies from woman to woman. Your body changes in perimenopause under the influence of changes in your hormones. Even if you have a healthy lifestyle, changes in your body and brain cannot be prevented. 

Perimenopause is a period of hormonal processes that are very natural to go through. In a young girl, her hormonal processes change. Puberty is the transition from young girl to young woman. She will go through this phase one way or another. This also applies to women in perimenopause. She is also going through a change, a transition. 

The fertile period is slowly coming to an end. In perimenopause, ovulation increasingly does not occur until menopause sets in and menstruation does not occur. It is some comfort to know that this period is temporary, although some women’s symptoms last longer or are more intense than in others. Characteristic for all women in this phase is the gradual decrease of the hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone.

Keep reading to learn more.

Symptoms consistent with perimenopause

Symptoms in perimenopause, the early phase of menopause:

• Sore, tender breasts
• Regular clots and heavy menstruation
• Changing menstrual cycle
• Hot flashes and/or night sweats
• Unexplained weight gain
• Depressed feelings
• Migraines
• Brain fog
• Hunted feeling and flow of thoughts
• You are much faster very angry and / or irritated
• Decreased libido

Complaints such as hot flushes and night sweats are annoying, but complaints that have an impact on your psychological and mental functioning, such as poor concentration, severe mood swings, brain fog, depressive thoughts or even anger attacks, hinder your functioning.

Mood swings are real!

“If you really can’t control your emotions, the kids didn’t clean something up, your husband just buys the wrong ingredient for that specific recipe. Small, petty things, but still you let yourself go and can’t control yourself. If you want to stop, but really can’t stop freaking out and you are far removed from the standards and values ​​that you hold high. And almost immediately after that intense guilt follows! This guilt is almost unbearable. You yell at your loved ones and deeply ask yourself, “Who am I? “What is happening to me?” Excerpt via @whatthemenopause.

It is almost inevitable that you have entered perimenopause. Your supply of ‘well-mannered forgiveness’ (1) seems to have run out! You can no longer tolerate the annoying behavior of other people. The right hormones used to keep us moderate, making us more resistant to the insufferable behavior of others or less desirable behavior from our own partner and children.

(1) This term comes from Lara Biden’s book Grip on Transition.

Well prepared for perimenopause! Advice to every woman: restore your hormone balance!

If your period is problematic in the years before your 40th birthday, perimenopause can be a difficult period for you. In our blog about hormone balance you can read how you can support yourself. The female bestseller from SUPS is a game changer! Specially formulated to optimize your blood values, immunity, hormones, liver and intestinal flora. If you recognize the symptoms of perimenopause, you can experience relief thanks to the valuable nutrients and herbs in the female bestseller! Herbs have a beneficial effect, which is called phytotherapy.

The importance of sufficient progesterone for all women

The hormone progesterone gradually decreases, but you can support this process! Physiologically, it is quite natural for progesterone levels to drop, especially between the ages of 40 and 50. Nothing to worry about. Still, there are factors that negatively affect low progesterone levels. Then complaints can occur early, although all women can experience hormonal imbalance due to a reduced progesterone level. We list them.

• Slow thyroid function: cold, dry skin, hair loss. Iodine in RISE can support you in this.
• Reduced intestinal flora and digestion: problems with the microbiome can exacerbate endocrine complaints and perimenopause. Optimize your intestinal flora with our digestion cure.
• Hormone-disrupting substances such as BPA burden the liver, so that hormones and toxins that we ingest through plastic packaging, cosmetics and pans cannot be broken down. Choose clean label products and pans without Teflon.

Self-check low progesterone, too much estrogen

Signals consistent with a low progesterone level

• Premenstrual spotting; do you have brown discharge/bleeding in the period before your period? Migraine? Hot flashes and night sweats? Palpitations?

Signals of estrogen dominance – anovulatory cycle

• Do you experience an irregular cycle, heavy bleeding and/or PMS? Pain in your breasts? Irritable and tantrums?

Both descriptions can occur to all women after puberty, regardless of age. Do you recognize the symptoms in the descriptions? Then it is likely that your progesterone level is low and/or your estrogens are higher compared to your progesterone. This imbalance can also occur during perimenopause, even though estrogen and progesterone decrease. If progesterone drops, but estrogens dominate, we call that estrogen dominance.

Balancing estrogens

If your liver is less able to break down estrogens, you can speak of a hormonal imbalance. In addition to eating cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli (sprout) and cauliflower that help break down excess estrogen, you can naturally support and increase your progesterone level.

Boost your progesterone with B vitamins, B6, vitamin C, vitamin D and maca

Vitamin B6 is important in the production of progesterone. If you add B vitamins, vitamin C and D3 from the multivitamin complex RISE, you will optimally support your progesterone. Really take advantage of it, because as long as you can influence it, you regulate your ovulation and menstruation. Ovulating is very healthy for us women. Our uterine lining becomes thinner, preventing heavy periods, it calms our brain and contributes to maintaining pregnancy.

Also regulate your stress levels by walking in nature and regularly taking a warm foot bath with Epsom bath salts that also contain magnesium. When you are stressed, your body has a great need for magnesium.

Ease the symptoms of perimenopause with the right diet and supplements

A healthy diet consists of three full meals a day that consist of fresh, unprocessed food. 

Make healthy choices and opt for pure nutrients and pure supplements every day to optimally obtain your nutrients and to detoxify properly on a daily basis.

These foods are indispensable in alleviating complaints and restoring your hormones

• At least 500 grams of vegetables, including cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower and sulfur-rich vegetables such as leeks, onions and garlic.
• At least 3 pieces of fruit
• Fresh or dried herbs
• Whole grains such as spelled, oats, rye, buckwheat, rice
• Legumes such as beans, lentils and chickpeas
• Healthy fatty acids such as avocado, olive oil, butter, coconut oil
• Eggs for protein
• Organic meat (limit red meat) and/or wild caught fish
• Nuts, seeds, kernels for proteins
• Drink more than 2 liters of water daily via a BPA-free drinking bottle, herbal tea and/or unconcentrated coconut water

Vary daily with the preparation of various types of fruit and vegetables so that you eat all the colors of the rainbow and thus receive a variety of vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

These supplements have a medicinal effect:

• RISE multivitamin complex with B vitamins, vitamins C and D3 to increase your progesterone.
• REVIVE superfood greens contain antioxidants from 22 fruits and vegetables to protect our cells against free radicals and support your liver in detoxification.
• In addition to B6, BALANCE contains the herbs maca, milk thistle and dandelion. B6 helps to increase progesterone levels, maca regulates the hormones progesterone and estrogen and milk thistle and dandelion support the liver and excretory organs in detoxifying hormones, toxins and waste. These are delicate processes that keep the liver healthy.
• ALIVE is a pre- and probiotic that keeps the digestive system and intestinal flora healthy. A healthy intestinal flora also improves our endocrine system and promotes a positive mood thanks to the production of the happiness hormone serotonin by the good bacteria. ALIVE also helps you get rid of that bloated feeling.

Our female bestseller contains all the mentioned SUPS to balance your hormones! Do we need to say more?

With a one-minute ritual you can take care of your hormones, body and brain daily and promote your well-being during this delicate period called perimenopause!

Disclaimer

If you recognize yourself in a number of symptoms, you can safely follow the orthomolecular advice on nutrition and supplements.

 For information about testing your hormones, the use of bioidentical hormones and a personal treatment plan, we refer you to clinics with specially trained medical specialists such as a gynecologist, endocrinologist and/or menopause consultant.

Many women recognize the feeling: this will be my day, only to be overcome by sadness or anger not much later. Yes, mood swings are real. Everyone experiences mood swings now and again, but when it lasts for a long time it can be annoying. In that case, it can help to find out the cause. Because when you know why you feel this way, you also know which of the tips discussed apply to you.

Common causes of mood swings in women

Angry, hunted, overstimulated or sad are all emotions we can relate to. But mood swings don’t only get in the way of the people around you, but also for yourself. Therefore, be tender to yourself and allow yourself to feel the emotions. As soon as you feel better again, it is advisable to find out the cause of your mood swings. You can often attribute mood swings to the causes below.

Estrogen and menstruation

Hormones. It is an ongoing theme in women’s lives. The female reproductive hormone estrogen in particular contributes to mood swings. An awful lot of women experience mood swings just before or during their menstrual cycle. This phenomenon is known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can bring on feelings of irritability, anxiety, sadness, or mood changes.

Mood swings during transitions

Menopause is a phase during which a woman gradually ends her fertile period. During this period, fluctuations in hormone levels occur. These hormonal changes often cause mood swings, as well as complaints such as hot flashes, sleep problems and decreased energy.

Mood swings after childbirth

After childbirth, the body changes physically, hormones fluctuate, there is little sleep and it is extremely challenging emotionally. It is not surprising that many women experience mood swings after giving birth (postpartum mood swings). This can range from mild irritability to postpartum depression.

Psychological complaints

Psychological complaints such as anxiety disorders and depression can lead to mood swings. These conditions are caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal fluctuations, stressful events or traumatic experiences. Psychological complaints regularly influence the mood and emotions of women.

Unhealthy diet

Nutrition not only affects our body, but also our mental health. An unhealthy diet of processed foods, refined sugars and trans fats can contribute to mood swings. Regularly eating and drinking such foods can therefore lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, inflammation in the body and imbalanced hormone production. Mood swings are therefore more likely to occur.

Sleep deprivation

A good night’s sleep is essential for a stable mood. A lack of sleep disrupts hormone regulation and affects neurotransmitters in the brain involved in regulating mood, such as serotonin and dopamine. In other words, women who regularly get too little sleep can be prone to mood swings.

Stress and pressure

Stress and pressure can take a huge toll on mental health. Prolonged stress can even lead to adrenal exhaustion, which can affect hormone balance and mood regulation. In addition, stress can disrupt coping mechanisms and healthy lifestyle habits, making women more susceptible to mood swings.

Tips to manage mood swings

Do you recognize (extreme) mood swings as a woman? Fortunately, in many cases there are ways to do something about it. We give 6 valuable tips with which you can reduce your mood swings.

1. Choose a healthy lifestyle

Whether it’s hormones that are out of balance, fatigue [CD1] or mood swings: a healthy lifestyle is often the basis of your well-being.

 While a healthy lifestyle may look like everyone, we can say that we are talking about a balanced diet rich in nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Avoid excessive consumption of processed foods, refined sugars and caffeine. In addition, make sure you exercise regularly and get enough sleep.

2. Discover your way to reduce stress

Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. Relaxation techniques are becoming increasingly popular and for good reason. Often it helps to reduce stress. The most important thing is that you choose a method that suits you. That way you can build it into your life and make it part of your routine.

3. Talk!

While it can be scary, sharing your feelings and experiences with friends, family members, or professionals can help immensely. A supportive social network helps to reduce stress and promote a positive state of mind.

4. Seek professional help

Get yourself a therapist. This way you get to know yourself even better in the broadest sense. And that also helps you control your mood swings. A specialist health care professional can help you understand the underlying cause of your mood swings and suggest appropriate treatment. This can range from hormonal therapy and medication to therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

5. Self-care first!

Give yourself enough love, both physically and mentally. So regularly schedule time for activities that make you relaxed and happy. From walking in nature to an afternoon going wild at a festival: you know what gives you energy! At the same time, make sure you get enough rest and sleep to restore your body and mind. So if you hang in the lamps until late in the evening, don’t plan much the next day so that you can recover.

6. Understand your cycle

Do you know that your menstrual cycle affects your mood? Then keep a diary to recognize patterns. By being aware of the phases of your cycle, you can better prepare yourself to deal with the mood swings.

7. Support yourself with supplementation

It should be clear by now: you are not the only woman who suffers from mood swings. That is why we have put together the hormones + mood support set: RISE and BALANCE. The main ingredients maca and B6, in combination with herbs known for their hormonal support, help you feel more balanced and resilient. Milk thistle and dandelion in BALANCE support your liver in breaking down excess hormones to counteract hormonal imbalance. Milk thistle also restores the liver cells very well. This is beneficial for, among other things, the production of our hormones.

Last but not least: you are unique. What works for your girlfriend may not work for you. So give yourself time to discover what suits you. Do mood swings interfere with your daily life? Always consult a medical professional for specific advice.