Dr. Verma: Is it menopause or just sugar?

Dr. Verma-Dzik is the owner and founder of Ridgefield-based Fairfield Naturopathic Health. A board-certified Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Verma is also a certified medical acupuncturist who practices holistic medicine in the treatment of acute and chronic health conditions.

Dr. Verma gets to the root of many health issues facing women in this week’s segment: Is it menopause or just sugar?

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At one point in my life, I really enjoyed my wine and bread.  Who doesn’t?  Many evenings during the week, as I whipped up a healthy meal for my family, I would stand at the stove sipping some wine and munching on good bread with olive oil.  It was my end of the day peaceful ritual.  It was my time with myself, in my kitchen cooking with my wine.  Little did I realize at the time that this was an every night routine that became habitual.

Then, the sleepless nights began with the tossing and turning and middle of the night wake ups which found me drenched in sweat.  Of course, the next day, the poor sleep caused me a bit a bit edgy, not to mention, completely exhausted in the afternoon.

So here’s the thing, I'm forty. This couldn’t be menopause...or could it? I know it can make an early start and last ten years (ugh), but me?

After the holiday season ended, as I normally do every year, I dove into my annual herbal detox, where I would continue eating healthy with eliminating the only dirty things I was consuming, wine and bread.  Of course, within a couple of weeks I was sleeping better, in a better mood, had more energy, was no longer crashing at the end of the day, and some pounds came off making my belly flatter.  

So, why was I feeling menopausal?

We all know that wine and bread contain sugar.  When we consume sugar, our blood sugar levels increase, which causes our bodies to secrete a hormone, insulin, to balance the blood sugar.  This is a normal function that occurs in our bodies.  However, over time, as we eat more and more sugar, our hormones cannot keep up, and, as a result, our blood sugar is on a rollercoaster ride, which affects our sleep.  Thus, when we do not get adequate sleep, our blood sugar is further imbalanced, along with all of our hormones, including insulin, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone and more.  To say it simply, the imbalance in blood sugar leads to an imbalance in sleep, which in turn leads to an imbalance in our sex hormones leading to worse symptoms of menopause.  These symptoms, by the way, can even occur when we are not in our menopausal years, but during our menstrual cycle, making it seem like we are going through menopause.  

The best thing to do is to cut down the alcohol, sugar and refined carbohydrates.  Stick with foods that have a lower glycemic index, and a diet rich in vegetables and lean protein.  The key is to keep your blood sugar balanced throughout the day so there are no significant fluctuations causing a hormonal imbalance.  Since cortisol also plays a role in our blood sugar and sleep, address any stress that may exist in your life, and work on ways to combat it through positive life changes and stress reduction techniques. These are just simple changes.  Sometimes simple changes can make a world of difference.

Fairfield Naturopathic Health is located at 20 Prospect Street inside Susi Laura Massage in Ridgefield. Learn more about Dr. Verma and Fairfield Naturopathic Health here.