Today, we're going to talk about female menopause. As women age, their ovaries age and they no longer produce female hormones. As a result, most women begin to have irregular periods in their mid-to-late 40s, and menopause occurs around the age of 50, when menstruation disappears completely.
When female hormones are deficient, our women undergo drastic changes. Hot flashes and sweating are the norm, and mood swings can get worse and you may get annoyed by something insignificant, and then suddenly burst into tears. The skin of the whole body becomes parched, the genitourinary system also shows various uncomfortable changes, and the bone density decreases rapidly, making it easier to develop osteoporosis. This is because female hormones are the hormones involved in all of this.
Therefore, today I will explain in detail the ingredients that can help menopausal women, especially pycnogenol, which is safe to take even if you are sensitive to female hormones or are already undergoing hormone therapy.
Many people are prescribed female hormone medications to alleviate menopausal symptoms caused by a lack of female hormones. I also started taking it after menopause, and I'm still taking it now that I'm 58 years old.
However, some plants that exist in nature also contain ingredients that perform actions similar to female hormones. One of the most common sources is isoflavones, which are abundant in legumes. Isoflavones, also called phytoestrogens because they have a structure similar to estrogen, a type of female hormone, bind to estrogen receptors in the body and produce estrogenic activity. This principle can help alleviate menopausal symptoms.
However, there are some people who need to be careful about the intake of these plant-based female hormones.This is especially true for those who are prescribed female hormone medications, or who have breast cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular problems. For these people, I would like to introduce another menopausal health ingredient called 'Pycnogenol'.
Pycnogenol is not technically the name of an ingredient, but the name of an ingredient (pycnogenol®) that refers to the 'French coastal pine bark extract'. The bark of pine trees in the pine forests along the coast of France contains a mixture of various active substances such as procyanidins, bioflavonoids, and organic acids, which have been proven to have a variety of benefits when consumed.
In particular, there has been a lot of research on menopausal women's health. Studies have shown that taking pycnogenol can reduce menopausal symptoms and improve quality of life, from hot flashes to mood swings, insomnia, and vaginal dryness, without affecting hormone levels such as E2 (a type of estrogen) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) [3-5].
Therefore, Pycnogenol can be taken by people who are sensitive to female hormones, or in other words, it can be taken together with female hormone drugs prescribed by hospitals.
So, how does Pycnogenol not affect female hormones and can help menopausal women's health? This is basically because pycnogenol has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as improving blood circulation. The relief of menopausal symptoms is the result of this action.
The potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pycnogenol have been clearly demonstrated in several studies. It has been shown to reduce blood oxidative stress and improve antioxidant function when consumed by smokers exposed to high levels of oxidative stress[6], and improved pain and physical function and reduced medication prescriptions when taken by patients with knee osteoarthritis[7].
It also has several benefits for vascular health. Female hormones have cardioprotective effects, such as gently relaxing blood vessels and regulating cholesterol. Therefore, before menopause, women have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than men, but after menopause, the incidence is similar or higher.Also known as the watchman of vascular health, pycnogenol plays a role in regulating risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It can raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)[8], and it also helps vasodilation by increasing nitric oxide production [9]. In addition, it has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension [10].
It has also been found that it can help with the skin that many menopausal women are worried about. Pycnogenol has been shown to inhibit the activity of enzymes that break down collagen[11] and promote collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis, improving skin hydration and elasticity [12]. In addition, it protects the eyes that are vulnerable to oxidative stress,
The severity of menopausal symptoms varies greatly from person to person. Some people go over it lightly, while others complain of extreme pain. Therefore, do not go through it alone, saying, "Everyone else is going through it," and make sure to go to the gynecologist once. Timely hormone therapy not only makes menopause much easier, but also lowers the risk of various chronic diseases.
And along with the hospital care, you basically need to eat well and sleep well. As we get older, we tend to crave sweet and salty foods. You should eat a balanced diet with high-quality proteins and fats. In particular, to prevent osteoporosis, calcium and vitamin D, which are often deficient, should be supplemented through supplements.It's also a good idea to get some exercise in the sun during the day to get a good night's sleep. However, if you have difficulty sleeping soundly due to severe sleep disorders or if anxiety or depression persists, it is recommended that you seek psychiatric care. Don't be afraid to go to the doctor.
Lastly, as a woman who went through menopause before becoming a doctor, would you like to say something? As the human lifespan increases, so does the postmenopausal time in a woman's lifetime. The average age of menopause for women is 49-50 years old, so in the coming 100 years, half of life will be postmenopausal. So, I hope you can fill this time with encouragement and support for yourself rather than a sense of loss that it is the end. I'm going to try harder too.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you as always.
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