Food as Medicine

Postmenopausal estrogen surge. Yes, this can still happen even beyond that one-year point after our last bleed. What does this look like? For me, the first indicator is sore/swollen nipples. And a small bit of cervical mucus. That’s the only upside of this whole thing😉. I also notice a tiny skin flare and a slight bit of water retention. I find that I am a bit more irritable. And I also experience mild cramping & pelvic pain. Fun, right?

So what do I do? I step into my medical sovereignty.

How do I do this?

First, I increase my daily Tulsi herbal tincture customised by Dr. Alexandra Cope ND to 3 dropperfuls per dose instead of 2. 

Second, I turn to food as medicine like she taught me: 

I add freshly ground flax seeds  (at least 2 Tbsp) to my morning plant-based yogurt. Flax helps bind excess estrogen in my intestinal tract so that I poop it out.

I go to pumpkin seeds as a snack. They work similarly to flax seeds and the spicy roasted ones are yummy! Also, kiwi which is high in fiber and vitamin C, helps my body to make progesterone which can really help mitigate symptoms if estrogen is high relative to progesterone levels.

I eat fish, mostly salmon (wild caught) over red meat during this time. This helps my body to increase the formation of the “good” estrogens.

I eat extra greens, especially kale while I’m experiencing symptoms. This helps a ton because these foods are “chemoprotective” and support estrogen detox by my liver.

And I continue to avoid processed foods and refined carbohydrates because they don't help anybody, especially postmenopausal women still navigating unpredictable hormonal fluctuations.

Third, I’m careful to drink plenty of water which actually helps with water retention by flushing out extra estrogen. Staying hydrated plays such an important role in hormonal balance.

And last, but certainly not least, I hear the message from my body that this is a time for more naps and extra rest. This helps to keep cortisol under control so that my estrogen and progesterone levels can return to a more harmonious existence with each other. I continue to exercise and listen to my body to learn when I need to back off a bit. Regular exercise also helps my body to decrease my estrogen levels and helps me manage stress by getting me out of my head. And I’m careful with my boundaries with my friends and family in hopes of avoiding unnecessary stress during this time.

Using these tools, along with food as medicine, helped me to get through a recent estrogen surge without a postmenopausal bleed. That’s BIG. That’s medical sovereignty.