Functional Medicine Approach

The goal of functional medicine is to address the underlying causes of a problem using an individual patient-focused approach.

For instance, functional medicine will examine what is causing the underlying symptoms to appear in the first place rather than simply advising you to take pills for headaches that come with menopause (eg masking the pain with drugs).

There is growing evidence that planning for menopause by enhancing lifestyle changes such as making better nutritional choices and exercising regularly can also make a big difference.

Functional medicine takes time to understand what triggers may be present that are likely to be causing the symptoms of menopause. In many cases, simple lifestyle changes make a significant difference to how a woman goes through menopause and can alleviate many of the common symptoms.

Making the switch to a nutrient-dense diet provides a number of advantages, including preserving hormonal balance and enhancing bone health. Consuming more foods high in vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and B vitamins can help with this. Additionally, you can eat foods that boost hormones like avocados and coconut oil (sources of healthy fats), high fibre vegetables, and quality grass-fed protein.

In the years before menopause, many women experience an imbalance in the production of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, leading to many of the most typical symptoms. Eating these nutrients that support hormones can help to ease menopause symptoms.

However, removing harmful foods from the diet, such as excessive sugar, and limiting intake of caffeine, which can cause hot flashes, are equally crucial in a functional medicine approach.

In addition to making dietary adjustments, women can benefit from stress-reduction techniques like exercise and meditation.