General Health & Fitness for Women
(Transcript of interview with Jayne Parish for Health & Fitness Magazine)
Q1: In your opinion and area of expertise what are the top health truths women should know?
JP: Some fats are good for you. The oral contraceptive pill depletes nutrients. Not all health food supplements are of equal quality and women’s unique physiology means they are more likely than men to suffer from nutrient deficiency at some stage in their life.
Q2: What are a few things women going through menopause do/have more or less of?
JP: Every woman’s experience of menopause is different. The process of menopause involves a decline in ovarian function, resulting in a decreased frequency and eventually cessation of ovulation.
The result is that during menopause the body's levels of oestrogen and progesterone are drastically reduced, which can cause a range of symptoms including:
- sudden irregularity of menstrual flow
- vasomotor flushes (hot flushes)
- irritability/ mood swings
- depression
- weight gain
- fluid retention
- vaginal dryness
- loss of libido
- skin and hair changes
- sleep disturbances.
Further, there is an increased risk of osteoporosis as well as an increase in the likelihood of cardiac infarction due to increases of serum cholesterol and triglycerides. These have been deemed serious health risks for women in their post-menopausal years.
Q3: What are some simple things women can do, eat or drink to help manage: stress, sleeplessness, symptoms of PMS?
JP: Stress occurs for many reasons and will present differently for everyone. Research indicates a strong causal relationship between stress, hormones and immunity. Meaning that when we get stressed we are more likely to get sick. Women are also more likely to suffer more with hormonal imbalances when they are stressed and this can exacerbate symptoms of PMS and menopause.
