Menopause & Gut Health: What’s Happening in There?

Menopause & Gut Health: What’s Happening in There?

So, you’re going through menopause. First off, you’re not alone, and second, let’s talk about it! Menopause is a natural phase of life, but for many women, it comes with a host of not so fun changes—both physical and emotional. While symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings are often discussed, the impact of menopause on gut health is less commonly known but equally important. This impact on gut is so critical due to the bi-directional impact the gut in turn has on your holistic health, influencing both physical and mental wellbeing.

The Hormones & Your Gut: A Love-hate Relationship

Here’s the deal: menopause brings a big drop in estrogen, and while that’s no news flash, what you might not know is that estrogen has been doing some behind-the-scenes work to keep your gut happy. When estrogen levels dip, it can throw your gut bacteria off balance. And when your gut’s unhappy, you’re unhappy.

Gut Health & Menopause Symptoms: What to Watch Out For

  • Bloating, gas or constipation: Feeling backed up or puffier than usual. Your gut bacteria might be out of whack and hormonal shifts can further influence your digestion, making you feel sluggish and uncomfortable.
  • New food sensitivities: Foods you’ve always loved suddenly giving you trouble? Your gut might be extra sensitive these days.
  • Weight changes: Hormonal changes can also affect how your body stores fat and regulates hunger, leading to weight gain or loss.
  • Increased fatigue: Hormonal fluctuations from the decline in estrogen and progesterone also impact your energy level. In addition, changes in metabolism play a role in nutrient absorption making it harder to fuel your cells to keep you going.
  • Sleep: These hormonal changes can also affect your circadian rhythm (sleep cycle) and cause night sweats, making it harder to get a restful night of sleep. This leaves you feeling even more tired and stressed, further exasperated by your weakened ability to regulate cortisol.

So, what does that mean? You’ll likely experience the most common symptoms, from hot flashes and weight gain to fatigue and muscle loss. In addition, you might notice more bloating, constipation, or food sensitivities.

How to Keep Your Gut (and You) Happy

So, what can you do about it? Good news—you don’t have to just put up with it. Here are a few simple things that can make a big difference:

  1. Add some probiotics: A good probiotic, like Nella, can help minimize other menopause symptoms due to it's unique ability to improve sleep quality, reduce oxidative stress, and improve cortisol to free testosterone ratio.
  2. Be more mindful of your diet: Eating more fiber (fruits, veggies, and whole grains) along with staying hydrated will help keep things moving smoothly and support healthy circulation... you are losing a lot of fluids with those hot flashes and night sweats.
  3. Relax: Stress can mess with your gut too. Take a break, breathe, and do something you enjoy.
  4. Move around: Regular exercise is great for your gut and your mood. Plus it can help with muscle loss and weakened bones which are common in menopause.
  5. Take control of fatigue: One of the most common symptoms, this can wreak havoc on you both mentally and physically. Finally, there is a revolutionary natural solution - V•Nella which is clinically proven to fight fatigue, improve endurance, and motivate you to move more!

FitBiomics Has Your Back

Menopause is a part of life and we’re here to help you feel your best, no matter what stage you’re in. Our products, like Nella and V•Nella, are designed to support your gut health, boost your energy, and help keep you feeling like yourself.

Menopause might be shaking things up, but with a little help, we hope we can make it a little bit easier for you to manage and get through it.

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