At what age does a woman typically reach menopause?

The average age of menopause is 51 years old. But there is no way to predict when an individual woman will enter menopause. The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is also not related to the age of menopause onset. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but menopause may occur as earlier as the 30s or 40s or may not occur until a woman reaches her 60s. As a rough "rule of thumb," women tend to undergo menopause at an age similar to that of their mothers.
Perimenopause, often accompanied by irregularities in the menstrual cycle along with the typical symptoms of early menopause, can begin up to 10 years prior to the last menstrual period.

A new way to relieve menoause and premenopause symptoms!

Curried Tofu and Peas.

1 lb. firm tofu 1 1/2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 medium onion, sliced thinly 1 cup coconut milk
3 minced garlic cloves 3 whole cloves
1 Tbs. minced ginger 3 inch cinnamon stick
1 jalapeno seeded and diced 5 whole green cardamom pods
1/2 tsp. turmeric 1 cup peas

Heat 2 tsp. vegetable oil in pan. Add onion and sauté until onion is translucent. Add garlic, ginger, chile, turmeric and curry powder, cook for 2 minutes, then add coconut milk, spices, cilantro, and salt. Lower heat and simmer. Cut drained, pressed tofu into 1/2 inch cubes. Add gently to sauce and continue simmering until tofu is heated through. Add peas and cook until peas are heated through. Serve over rice with yogurt and chutney.

Relieve menopause symptoms with this recipe

Navy Bean Soup.
1 lb navy beans, dried2 1/2 quarts water1 meaty ham bone 1 clove garlic, minced1 bay leaf1 cup each cubed potatoes, thinly sliced celery, finely chopped carrot and cubed carrotSalt and pepper to taste

Boil the beans in the water for two minutes, remove from the heat to let stand for one hour. Add the ham bone, garlic and bay leaf to the beans, cover and simmer for two hours or until the beans are almost tender. Add vegetables, salt and pepper and simmer for one hour. Remove the ham bone, cut off meat and add diced meat to the beans. Remove bay leaf and reheat the soup almost to boiling.

Relieve menopause symptoms with this:

Spinach-Walnut Saute.
Serves 4
Enjoy this side dish with an entree for a delicious meal. Or serve on a whole­wheat bun with goat cheese on top for a quick, open faced lunch or dinner.
2 Tbs. Spectrum Naturals Walnut Oil.1 large shallot.2 strips meatless bacon, coarsely chopped (regular bacon can be substituted) 1 tsp. fennel seeds.10 oz. bag spinach, well washed and drained in a colander (leave the water that clings to the leaves)3 Tbs. chopped walnuts.Salt and pepper to taste.

Heat walnut oil in skillet over low-medium heat. Add shallot, bacon and fennel seeds. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring, until shallots soften. Add spinach. Cover and cook 3-4 minutes using tongs to occasionally turn spinach. Add walnuts and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir. Cook, uncovered, 2-3 additional minutes, stirring occasionally until spinach is cooked to your liking.

PER SERVING: 135 CAL; 4G PROT; I2G TOTAL FAT (1G SAT. FAT); 5G CARB; OMG CHOL; 258MG SOD.; 2G FIBER; IGSUGARS(by Claire Criscuolo, RN, CCP, for Spectrum Naturals)

Brain Shake that relieves menopause symptoms

1 cup skim milk or soy milk
1 Tbsp. soy protein powder
1 Tbsp. Lecithin granules
1 Tbsp. Flax oil1
Tbsp. Wheat germ
2 tsp. Greens powder (Barlean's Greens, Greens Plus, Green Magma...)

Combine ingredients in a blender and serve cold.

Menopause Recipe: Blueberry and Flax Milkshake

1 cup skim milk. 2/3 cup blueberries. 4 packets Stevia (the only artificial sweetener we recommend).3 Tbsp. freshly ground flax meal.2 Tbsp. freshly ground raw sunflower seeds.1/2 tsp. cinnamon. 1 Tbsp. unflavored gelatin.2 tsp. vanilla.

Combine ingredients in a blender and serve cold.

MMM... I love this!

Blueberry Almond Shake.

2 Tbsp. almonds 2 Tbsp. raw sunflower seeds 2 Tbsp. flax seeds 3 cups water 1/2 cup fresh blueberries 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Coarsely grind almonds, sunflower, and flax seeds in a blender. Slowly add water. Once blended, add blueberries, vanilla extract, and nutmeg, and blend until frothy. You can soak nuts and seeds overnight to increase the digestibility. Drain and rinse nuts and seeds before blending.

Black Bean Soup for Women with Menopause

1 cup boiling water1 1/2 cups finely chopped onions3 minced garlic cloves,1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper2 tablespoons vegetable oil1 teaspoon ground cumin1/3 cup water3 cups undrained chopped canned tomatoes.4 cups undrained cooked black beans.1/4 chopped fresh cilantroyogurt or sour cream (optional)

Cover the sun dried tomatoes with the boiling water in a small bowl. Saute the onions, garlic, and cayenne in the oil for about 5 minutes in a soup pot, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Add the cumin, 1/3 cup water and the juice from the tomatoes. Add tomatoes. Cover and bring to boil. Lower the heat and simmer, for 5 minutes. Add the black beans and their liquid, continue simmering, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.Drain and chop the softened sun-dried tomatoes, Add them to the soup and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer, until the onions are tender. Stir in the cilantro and remove the soup from the heat. Puree half of the soup in a blender or food processor and return it to the pot. If the soup is too thick, add some tomato juice or water. Reheat gently.Serve each bowl of soup with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.Per 8 oz. serving: 204 calories, 10.8 G. protein, 4.1 G. fat, 33.6 G. carbohydrate, 1 mg. cholesterol, 337 mg. sodium.

Menopause Recipe: Spiced Almonds

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/3 cup orange juice

3 cups whole blanched almonds

Combine all ingredients except almonds in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until candy thermometer reaches 235 degrees (soft-ball stage). Remove from heat, add almond and toss until well glazed. Spread on a greased, foil-lined cookie sheet and cool completely.

source-http://www.womens-menopause-health.com

Tofu Mayonnaise

Heart-healthy, brain-boosting cholesterol-free Tofu Mayo.
5 ounces tofu.
3 tablespoons soymilk.
3 tablespoons flaxseed oil.
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
Blend ingredients in a food processor for a full 1-2 minutes, or until it's smooth and creamy. Chill and use in place of traditional mayonnaise or salad dressing.

Menopause

If you experience a decrease in sexual desire, have irregular menstruation, vaginal dryness, adult acne, thinning of hair, chronic fatigue, hair growth on the face, especially on the chin and upper lip, mood swings, dry skin, sleep disturbances and joint pains, you are heading for menopause.

The average menopause age is between 50 and 53.
But these symptoms can begin anytime after 40 and go on for sometime, unless you do something about it.

Some women may experience all the symptoms; others may sail through it with no significant symptoms.
Why do some women experience more menopausal discomfort than others? Symptoms depend on hormone levels and genetics, but it has been seen that women who are vegetarian experience fewer menopausal symptoms - this could be because vegetarians consume more grains, pulses and legumes which contain compounds called phytoestrogens.

These phytoestrogens help reduce menopausal symptoms. Japanese women consume a lot of soya products.
Soyabean is the richest food source of phytoestrogen.
It has been observed by Herman Aldercreutz, a famous researcher in soya, that menopausal symptoms are less in Japanese and Indonesia women compared to Western women.

There are many other clinical studies that show lower incidence of menopausal symptoms due to increased intake of soya foods.
How does soyabean help? Soyabean works like an anti-ageing pill.
It contains isoflavones like genistein, daidzein that have a positive effect on bone health, sex drive, heart disease, vaginal dryness, depression, sleep disturbances etc.
Genistein in soya is a potent antioxidant with anti-cancer activity. Soya helps lower cholesterol, triglycerides and regulates blood sugar levels.

Therefore, it plays a definite role in heart disease prevention in post-menopausal women. The soyabean magic seems to even work on preventing fragile bones or osteoporosis.

Salmon Burgers- healthy for women with menopause

Wheat Germ Salmon Burgers.
1 can salmon, drained with skin and bones removed,1 cup toasted wheat germ, divided, 1/3 cup sliced scallions,3 eggs divided, 2 Tbsp. reduced fat mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except ½ cup wheat germ and one egg and shape into five patties. In one bowl, place the remaining ½ cup wheat germ and in another, place one egg, slightly beaten. Dip each patty in wheat germ, then in the egg mixture and again in wheat germ. Cook the patties over medium heat until gold and heated through. Serve on toasted hamburger buns with tomatoes and lettuce if desired.**Not only is salmon high in the Omega 3 family of fatty acids, canned salmon is also an excellent source of calcium.

Supplements for hot flashes

Common supplements for hot flashes:

Vitamin E (400 - 800 IU)
Dong Quai
Wild Yam
Evening Primose Oil
Scientific evidence of these supplements for hot flashes is not strong. It's best to discuss with your physician before taking these herbal supplements as they may interact with drugs you are taking.

Women in Japan

Soy contains phytoestrogens, an estrogen-like substances. In Japan, where soy foods are commonly consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. In fact, there is no word in the Japanese language for "hot flashes". However, clinical trials have generally yielded unimpressive results. The safest approach is to incorporate whole soy products such as soy milk or tofu in you diet. Indeed, the North American Menopause Society in 2000 recommended that 40 - 80mg of isoflavones daily may help relieve menopausal symptoms - that is 1 - 2 servings of soy products.

Black Cohosh and hot flashes

Black cohosh is an herb used extensively in Europe for treating hot flashes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports short-term use of black cohosh - up to six months - for treating symptoms of menopause. But the exact effects of longer-term use aren't known. Studies are underway to determine the effectiveness and long-term safety of taking black cohosh supplements.

These foods make hot flashes worse

Menopause Diet for Hot Flashes
Avoid the following food items in your diet. Most women found these foods make hot flashes worse.

Tea
Coffee
Alcohol
Caffeine containing soft drinks
Spicy foods
Smoking

What are the herbal remedies about?

black cohosh - herbal remedy from the plant Cimicfuga racemosaA First Nations' therapy used to treat menopausal symptoms particularly hot flashes and mood disorders. Several small German studies have shown improvements in menopausal symptoms.

chasteberry - an herbal therapy from the plant Vitex agnus-castus used to treat pre-menstrual syndromeOne small trial of 36 women reported an improvement in both physical and psychological symptoms when using this product. Chasteberry may interfere with birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy.

evening primrose oil - oil from the plant Oethra biennis Evening primrose oil is used as an herbal treatment for a number of conditions including premenstrual syndrome. Widely used in Britain for this condition, small British studies have shown it is effective particularly in treating premenstrual irritability and depression. Naturopaths suggest four to six months of use are necessary to observe benefits.

Alternative treatment for menopausal women with low libido

Studies have suggested that supplements of the male hormone testosterone may help increase libido and the intensity of orgasm. Side effects of testosterone are very rare, especially with the low doses used today. Rare side effects may include hoarseness or development of facial hair or acne.
Some women are trying natural products, which contain estrogen-like substances. Soy products such as tofu or soymilk added to the diet may lessen some of these symptoms. Some women report success with herbal 'hormonal stabilizers' like black cohosh, chasteberry or evening primrose oil.

HRT

Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) usually refers to supplements of estrogen and progestin. Although estrogen effectively treats these disturbances, progestin is necessary to protect the uterus unless a woman has had a hysterectomy.
Temporary side effects of HRT may include:
breast swelling and tenderness
bloating
headaches
mood changes
These side effects usually occur in the first three months of therapy, then decrease over time. HRT may cause "breakthrough" spotting in the first year. The spotting stops with continued use. Changing the dose, schedule or product may reduce the side effects.

Changes during menopause and how to deal

Some of the changes associated with menopause can be treated simply. A lack of vaginal lubrication can be overcome by purchasing a lubricant at the drug store. You can also buy vaginal moisturizers that help protect vaginal tissues from dryness and thinning. Simply going slower during sexual activity may help to increase lubrication and build a more intense orgasm.
For some women these tactics are not enough. They may chooose supplements of hormones to deal with sexual changes and/or other signs of menopause such as:
hot flashes
sleep disturbances
urinary tract infections
night sweats
bone thinning
mood changes

Sex and Menopause

A couple's sexual relationship may change after menopause.As a woman ages, her sexual desires change and her interest in being sexually active may decrease or increase. Changes may be prompted by her past sexual experiences or by the availability of a sexual partner.
Menopause occurs when a woman's body stops releasing eggs and her menstrual cycles cease. The hormonal changes associated with menopause may affect a woman's physical responses and interest in sex (libido.) Hormonal fluctuations in the time before menopause (called peri-menopause) may also affect a woman's libido and sexual experience.
Sexual Changes Associated with MenopauseSome of the sexual changes commonly associated with menopause are:
slower sexual arousal
less lubrication produced during sex
the vaginal wall gets thinner and intercourse may be uncomfortable
intensity of orgasm may be reduced
skin sensitivity is often increased Although many women have a reduced interest in sex, others have an increase in sexual desire.
What needs to be done about these changes depends on how you feel about them and how readily you can incorporate them into your current sexual life. Even women who find that their sexual interest is greatly reduced may accept these changes, particularly if they have lost their sexual partner to illness or death. If the changes are less dramatic, a woman may welcome a slower, more sensual, sexual experience that emphasizes non-sexual touching and allows more time for lubrication. Since men also become aroused more slowly as they age, heterosexual couples may adapt their sexual lives in a way that 'works' for both partners. If both lesbian partners are experiencing menopause, the changes in their desires may also fit well together.
For some women and their partners, these changes are a problem. Women may be frustrated that their orgasms don't feel right. Partners may conclude that a woman is less interested, because she lubricates less. It is important to talk to your partner(s) about the changes that are happening to your body and what both of you are feeling about these changes.

Spicy Black Bean Soup

2 teaspoons extra-light olive oil 2 teaspoons chili powder 1/2 teaspoon oregano 3 cans (19 oz. each) black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (5-1/2 oz.) spicy mixed vegetable juice 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1-1/2 cups water 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream Half an avocado, peeled and diced (1/2 cup) 1/4 cup chopped red onion 4 lime wedges

In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add cumin, chili powder, and oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant about 10 seconds. Add beans, vegetable juice, salt, cayenne, and water and bring to a boil. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors. Remove soup from heat. Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender until fairly smooth. Return pureed soup to pan with remaining soup. Whisk in sour cream. Ladle soup into bowls and top each with 2 tablespoons of avocado and 1 tablespoon of onion. Serve with lime wedges.