Reverse the Signs of Aging During Menopause
It's the end of summer break for me (and for many of you), and I'm reflecting on my health journey as I begin my 55th year on this earth. For me, summer is a short break from my work as a teacher, and that time also serves as a “catch up” on my medical appointments and checkups. There's nothing like an annual checkup to make one face the harsh reality of biological aging. While I'm powerless against time itself, I've devoted much of what precious time I do have left in this world to staying healthy and reversing the signs of aging as I go through menopause.
When I entered menopause at 49, I experienced significant changes in my overall health. It's like my body went haywire. Here are some of the menopausal symptoms that plagued me:
Hot flashes
night sweats
insomnia
puffy hands and feet
intense joint pain
mood swings
brain fog
weight gain
extremely dry, itchy skin
thinning hair
Dry, itchy eyes
This was a miserable time, but I knew that conventional medicine didn't have the answers to truly combat these symptoms or reverse the signs of aging. Everyone I know who relies on prescription medication or surgery has entered the slippery slope to old age. One medication becomes seven, and surgery can lead to other complications.
I don't want to go down that road, and one of the ways I have tried to reverse the signs of aging is to avoid taking prescription medication and unnecessary surgeries. But I still honor the ritual of summer medical checkups, just to make sure I don't have a serious medical issue going on. So I go. And I'm always struck by the repeated conversation with all of the medical personnel I encounter:
Them: What medications are you currently taking?
Me: None
Them: Nothing?
Me: Nothing!
Them: What about over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy meds, and the occasional decongestant?
Me: Nope. Nothing.
Them: Are you sure?
Me: I'm sure.
Them: You’re 54 years old and take no prescriptions? Not even HRT?
Me: Nope. Never.
Them: 🤯
It happens every time. They ask what meds I'm taking, and I have to repeat it several times: "None." This tells me that I'm in the minority. But when I look around at family, friends my age, and my co-workers, they are all on medication, but I'm the only one that really feels GOOD. So my plan is to avoid taking medication whenever possible, because daily habits can help us feel better and reverse the signs of aging.
How to Reverse the Signs of Aging in Your Fifties
Avoiding prescription medications and unnecessary surgeries are just two ways I've held back the ravages of time, since these can have a domino effect on overall health. Here are some non-invasive strategies I use to stay physically and mentally fit every day:
Morning gratitude
intermittent fasting
Clean Diet and no processed foods
collagen supplements
magnesium and beef liver supplements
exercise and stretching
infrared sauna
Hydration with Trace Minerals
red light therapy
lymphatic drainage
healthy boundaries for saying no to things that don't serve me or align with my values
avoiding excessive screen time
good sleep
making time with loved ones like my husband, children, extended family and friends
These things are effective, but they take time and discipline to implement. Sometimes the positive effects don’t show up for days, weeks, or months. But starting down the road to good health WILL pay off and it is worth it. Better health equals less pain and more energy. This will help me be able to do all the things I want to do, like walk, bike, hike, and swim with my family, friends, and future grandchildren. This will help me have the energy to stay up late with my daughter on special occasions and have the vitality to travel with my husband and go on adventures.
Top Habits for Reversing Aging
If you are ready to look and feel better, there are some no cost, simple ways to start. Here’s what I did to immediately feel better:
Intermittent Fasting: After only three days of using the 20:4 fasting schedule, my menopause symptoms began to disappear, including my puffiness and dry skin. My energy returned, and I started feeling like my old (younger) self.
Hydration: Make drinking water with trace minerals as part of your self-care routine. Start with one glass as soon as you wake, then schedule “water breaks” throughout your day. I’ve asked my students to remind me at certain times. They like to hold me accountable! I keep my bottle of trace minerals next to my desk for convenience.
Warning: stop drinking several hours before bed, or you may have to get up during the night. Part of good health is good sleep, so let’s not interrupt it!
Morning Gratitude: Any amount of quiet reflection (screen free!) at any time of day will combat stress and promote mental health. Fighting against the signs of aging is partly a mental game, and if you focus on your abundance instead of complaining about your circumstances, you will feel younger and more energized. I love to use a 365 day Gratitude Journal and Sharpie Gel Pen. It’s the perfect start to my day!
Try implementing just a few things into your routine. Once those habits are regular, try a few more. Remember, this is a lifestyle change, not a fad diet to follow for a few weeks. Slow and steady wins the race.
How does intermittent fasting help reverse the signs of aging?
I first started intermittent fasting to cure my hot flashes, but I found it helped with other symptoms of menopause. Most signs of aging are caused by inflammation in the body. To really tackle inflammation and reverse the signs of again, I fasted for 20 hours each day and had an eating window of four hours. For example, I start fasting at 8:00 p.m. each evening— no eating or drinking other than water after 8:00 p.m. I usually go to bed by 10:00 p.m. and wake up around 4:00 a.m. I skip both breakfast and lunch. At 4:00 p.m. I have a snack, usually plain yogurt topped with fruit and honey. At 6:30pm I eat a high protein dinner. This is during my four hour eating window— from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. After 8:00 p.m., I don't eat again until the next day at 4:00 p.m. This is my 20-hour fasting window. When I first started this 20:4 intermittent fasting routine, it relieved my hot flashes within three days. Within a week my puffy hands, feet, and face were back to normal. My dry, itchy skin finally felt relief. I couldn’t believe that it was this simple.
If you are curious as to how and why intermittent fasting works, check out Dr. Jason Fung's website. He is an expert in the field of health and intermittent fasting. His extensive research is comprehensive and fascinating. Learn more about intermittent fasting at www.DoctorJasonFung.com
There are also some encouraging studies on intermittent fasting and menopause symptom relief. One article published by the National Institute of Health gives specifics on this study.
Looking to Reverse the Signs of Aging?
Dear Reader, if you are ready to start looking and feeling younger, consider intermittent fasting as a first step. It is ZERO cost, no risk, and can alleviate inflammation menopausal symptoms. You deserve to live your best life over the age of 50! If you want to learn more about looking and feeling younger, thriving through menopause, and having more energy to have more fun, join us at the Pain Free Over Fifty community. We'd love to hear from you! Wishing you less pain, more life, and much joy!
Jennifer Kaye
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