Remedies for Climacteric Syndrome

Climacteric is a period of about 7-10 years between the premenopause (when the cycle is irregular, lasts even 6-8 years) and menopause (total absence of menstrual cycle for at least 12 months).

The climacteric syndrome is a disorder characterized by a set of typical symptoms that occur during climacteric.

The transition from fertility to menopause is caused by the reduction in the hormonal flow of estrogen; the latter is also considered responsible for the climacteric symptoms.

Not all women entering menopause suffer from climacteric syndrome but, on Western women, the statistic shows an incidence of 75%.

Estrogen reduction is considered a negative factor for women's health; it becomes more sensitive to various diseases such as bone, metabolic, vascular, tumor, etc.

On the other hand it must be specified that the danger is NOT associated with the climacteric syndrome, but rather with the basic hormonal modification. It means that the intensity and duration of symptoms are not directly related to the increased risk / incidence of female diseases in old age.

What to do

First of all, it is necessary to recognize the first "clues" of entering menopause.

They can also occur many years before the final entry:

Menstrual changes.
Hot flashes.
Night sweats.
Fatigue.
Headache.
Palpitations and anxiety.
Irritability.
Sleep disorders.

Less frequently and later:

Joint and muscle pains.
Urinary disorders (such as incontinence).
Depression.
Difficulty concentrating and memory impairment.
Vaginal dryness, decreased libido and painful sexual intercourse.
Increase in vaginal pH.
Vulvar atrophy.
Dryness of skin and hair.
Weight gain and fat redistribution (from ginoid to android).

Complications such as:

Osteoporosis.
Primary arterial hypertension.
Increased cardiovascular risk.
Increased risk of breast and cervical cancer.

Contact your GP or gynecologist, who will analyze the situation and evaluate the relevance of a drug therapy.
If the specialist consents, it is possible to associate the following to the drug therapy:

Diet.
Motor activity program.
Some natural herbal remedies.

What NOT to do

Ignore the signs and symptoms of the climacteric syndrome: starting treatment early can be a determining factor in reducing severity.
Do not consult a GP or gynecologist, especially if the menopause is premature, late or there are intense / strange symptoms.
Do not follow drug therapy.
Do not take advice regarding lifestyle, diet and other remedies.

What to eat

The fundamental principles of the climacteric syndrome diet are:

In case of overweight, lose weight thanks to a low calorie 70% of normal calories.
Make calcium and vitamin D to fight osteoporosis.
Make beneficial fatty acids to counteract the increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, pressure and to reduce any complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Promote the intake of potassium and magnesium, and decrease that of sodium: it counteracts the onset of hypertension.
Consume low or medium glycemic index foods, with moderate portions (average glycemic load), to prevent the onset of hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia.
Promote the intake of polyphenolic antioxidants and phytosterols to reduce symptoms (phytoestrogens), reduce oxidative stress, prevent the onset of tumors and optimize metabolic parameters (lipids, blood sugar, etc.).

In summary, increase the contribution of:

Foods rich in phytosterols and lecithins: phytosterols are the alter ego of cholesterol in the plant world. From the metabolic point of view, they exert a diametrically opposite effect and favor the reduction of cholesterolemia. Recall that some phytosterols simulate the effect of female estrogens, although the extent of this reaction is not entirely clear. They are foods rich in phytosterols: soy and soybean oil, many oilseeds, red clover, cereal germ, fruit, vegetables and some dietary foods (eg added yogurts).
Lecithins are molecules capable of binding both fat and aqueous compounds; for this reason they are also used as additives. In the digestive tract they bind cholesterol and bile salts reducing their absorption. On a metabolic level they improve the ratio of good to bad cholesterol and lower the total. They are rich in lecithins: soy and other legumes, egg yolk (but is not recommended in the case of high cholesterol), vegetables and fruit.
Vitamin D: fundamental for bone metabolism, hormone production and support of the immune system; it is abundant in fishery products, fish oil, liver and egg yolk.
Omega 3: are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA) and alpha linolenic acid (ALA). They play a protective role towards all the diseases of the spare, including high blood pressure. The first two are biologically very active and are contained above all in: Sardinian, mackerel, bonito, alaccia, herring, alletterato, ventresca of tuna, needlefish, algae, krill etc .. The third, instead, is less active but constitutes a precursor of EPA; it is mainly contained in the fat fraction of certain foods of vegetable origin or in the oils of: soy, linseed, kiwi seeds, grape seeds, etc.
Omega 6: are linoleic acid (LA), gamma linoleic (GLA), diologamma linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA). They have a function similar to the previous ones, but they are more abundant in the diet. On the other hand, the nutritional balance requires that over 400% of the omega-3 be consumed. They are mainly contained in: sunflower seeds, wheat germ, sesame, almost all dried fruit (for example peanuts), corn germ and its oils.
Potassium: increasing dietary intake decreases blood pressure and increases urinary sodium excretion. Reaching a dose of 4000mg / day, it is possible to reduce the arterial pressure up to 4mmHg. It is contained in all foods, with the exception of seasoning fats. However, the foods that best lend themselves to increasing their dietary intake are fresh and raw vegetables and fruits.
Magnesium: like the previous one, it favors the lowering of blood pressure. Doses of 120-973mg / day (over 200% of the requirement) have been shown to be effective in reducing hypertension. It is mainly found in foods of vegetable origin; in particular: whole grains and bran, oilseeds, cocoa, vegetables etc.
Calcium: is the basis of bone maintenance. Guaranteeing their contribution reduces the risk of osteoporosis. It is mainly found in milk and dairy products, dried fruit and legumes.

NB . The consumption of extra virgin olive oil rich in omega 9 fatty acids is inversely proportional to high blood pressure, but this may not necessarily be due to oleic acid; in fact, this dressing fat is also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, polyphenols and phytosterols, etc.

Foods rich in plant antioxidants: the most common are polyphenolic (simple phenols, flavonoids, tannins). Some fall within the group of the aforementioned phytosterols (isoflavones). They behave more or less like vitamins. Lower oxidative stress and optimize lipoprotein metabolism; appear to correlate with a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL. They are very rich in polyphenols: vegetables (onion, garlic, citrus fruits, cherries, etc.), fruit and their seeds (pomegranate, grapes, berries, etc.), wine, oilseeds, coffee, tea, cocoa, legumes and whole grains, etc.
Small portions of foods with a prevalence of carbohydrates: cereals and derivatives (pasta, bread, etc.), potatoes, peeled legumes, very sweet fruit.
Among the foods rich in carbohydrates, prefer those with a low glycemic index: wholegrain or fiber-enriched (for example those added to inulin), whole legumes, little or medium sweet fruit.
Reduce the glycemic load of meals: increasing the number (around 5–7 in all), reducing the total caloric intake, decreasing the portions especially of carbohydrate-rich foods (it is advisable to distribute the carbohydrates in all meals apart from any snack evening).
Reduce the glycemic index of meals: increasing the amount of low-calorie, fiber-rich vegetables: radicchio, lettuce, zucchini, fennel, etc. Enriching all dishes with low fat and protein (slow digestion and absorption of sugars and prevent the glycemic surge).

What NOT to Eat

The excesses of:

Sodium: directly and indirectly related to high blood pressure, it should be eliminated from the diet. We are talking about the added sodium, that is the one present in cooking salt (sodium chloride) and used as a preservation medium for: cured meats, sausages, canned meat, canned fish, pickled or salted foods, etc. They are also rich: salty snacks, fast food and junk food in general.
Saturated and hydrogenated fats, the latter above all in trans conformation: they are related to an increase in blood pressure, cholesterolemia and systemic inflammation. Saturated fats are present especially in: fatty cheeses, cream, fatty cuts of fresh meat, sausages and cold cuts, hamburgers, frankfurters, palm kernel and palm oil, other bifractionated oils, etc. Hydrogenated fats, which may have a high percentage of chains in trans form, are contained above all in: hydrogenated oils, margarines, sweet snacks, salty snacks, packaged baked goods, etc.
Cholesterol-rich foods: paradoxically they seem to exert a less hypercholesterolemic effect than the previous category but are not recommended however. Abound with cholesterol: egg yolk, fat and seasoned cheeses, offal (brain, liver and heart), crustaceans (eg prawns) and certain bivalve molluscs (eg mussels).
Alcohol: it is a molecule directly implicated in the pathological increase of blood pressure. All beverages are involved, from the lightest to spirits. It should however be specified that one or two units of red wine per day are not considered cardiovascular risk factors, on the contrary. Thanks to the concentration of polyphenols they seem to perform a preventive function.
Excessive glycemic load and index: they favor the increase of glycaemia and triglycerides. It is advisable to reduce the portions of sweets and snacks, pasta, bread, pizza and very sweet fruit. The choice of foods should prefer those rich in fiber, fresh and well hydrated.

Natural Cures and Remedies

Motor activity: moderate and possibly aerobic, has several beneficial effects such as:

It prevents many serious complications (osteoporosis, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases).
Promotes emotional balance.
Normalizes physiological stimuli.

Phytotherapy: it is able to reduce the symptoms of the climacteric syndrome. The most used plants are:

Cimifuga (Cimicifuga Racemosa): its rhizomes and roots are used. Contains triterpene glycosides (actein and cimicifugoside), phenolic acids, quinolizidine alkaloids, flavonoids and resins (cimicifugina). Reduces the hormonal levels of LH (luteinizing) in the blood, but not those of FSH (stimulating follicle); counteracts bone mineral loss.
Agnocasto (Vitex agnus-castus): the ripe fruit is used. It contains iridoid glycosides (aucubin, agnoside), flavonoids (caticina, vitexin, isovitexina), terpenes (vitexilattone) and alkaloids (vaticina). It inhibits prolactin secretion and increases LH and FSH levels.

Food supplements: not all have shown the same effectiveness in relieving symptoms. The most used are:

Soy (Glycine max): thanks to its isoflavones, it reduces flushing, sleep disorders, irritability, depression, the incidence of vasomotor manifestations and total cholesterol levels (due to essential fats and lecithins). It has no side effects and probably helps prevent breast and uterine cancers.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense): it has more or less the same effects as soy.
Dioscorea (Dioscorea villosa) dry extract: thanks to the concentration of diosgenin it optimizes the ratio between estrogen and progesterone.

Pharmacological care

The pharmacological therapy used against the climacteric syndrome is the hormonal replacement one. It is based on estrogen and progesterone of synthetic origin. It serves to reduce symptoms and prevent complications (especially osteoporosis).

However it shows some side effects, such as: nausea, tendency to thrombotic phenomena, hypertension and increased incidence of uterine and breast cancer.