Menopause Mechanics: Why Do These Peri/Menopausal Symptoms Happen?
"The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around.”
- Thomas Edison
Hot flushes, night sweats - your brain is having an energy crisis and ramps up adrenaline to flood the body with sugar because it can't access your fat stores to burn fat. A high adrenaline level makes you sweat, as if you'd just run a marathon;
Anxiety - high adrenaline creates anxiety which can lead to panic attacks;
Heart palpitations - high adrenaline destabilises potassium balance which means the heart can't function properly;
Brain fog, depression, memory loss - a starving brain can't function;
Insomnia - adrenaline spikes mean that going to sleep and staying asleep becomes difficult;
Weight gain - the flooding of the body with sugar means that excess sugar gets stored as fat. High sugar also means that you can't burn fat, leading to a vicious cycle, and more sugar cravings.
So all these symptoms derive from a starving brain. The brain is the control centre, it's in charge of everything. At this point in life, maintaining brain function is crucial, and having any of these symptoms can mean that your brain is in trouble.
Keep your brain happy with ketones made from the rocket fuel in your body - your fat. As this article, entitled “Ketone Drink May One Day Fight Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia” says:
'...the brain is “kind of like the hybrid car.” “The energy problem in the brain can be corrected by supplying the ketones to replace the problem with glucose,” he said.
“It was always thought that this energy problem was a consequence of the disease because the cells are starting to die,” Cunnane added. “We showed clearly that that’s not the case, because they’re utilizing this alternative fuel. We’ve shown convincingly, as far as I’m concerned, that ketones definitely help the ageing brain work better.”
For a period of six months, 52 seniors with mild cognitive impairments were given a daily placebo or 30 grams of “medium-chain triglycerides” (MCTs) in the form of a liquid dietary supplement. MCTs enhance the body’s production of ketones.
After a trial period, participants were tested for memory, word recognition and processing speed. Results from brain scans showed that those who took the daily dose of MCTs scored better on all tests.
“Brain regions that are starving, that don’t have enough energy, are now lighting up,” Cunnane said.'
You don't have to wait for a 'ketone drink that might be developed one day'. A low carb, high fat nutrition plan is all that is needed now.
Note: What is adrenaline? Adrenaline is a hormone that is a crucial part of the body's fight-or-flight response - the stress response - an important part of the body's ability to survive. When it's produced under stress and not in the face of real danger, it can create feelings of dizziness, light-headedness, and vision changes. Also, adrenaline causes a release of glucose, which a fight-or-flight response would use. When no danger is present, that extra energy has no use, and this can leave the person feeling restless and irritable. Excessively high levels of the hormone due to stress without real danger can cause heart damage, insomnia, and a jittery, nervous feeling.
I hope you find this article useful, I will be updating it as new information comes to light.
Keep well,
Sandra
PS. Don’t forget: this article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should never not be relied upon for specific medical advice. Every woman experiences the menopause differently and if you would like specific advice, I recommend that you get in touch and join the Modern Menopause Program which will be personalised to your specific symptoms: a thorough assessment of your health will provide vital insights and allow me to create the perfect health plan for you.
