Effective Menopause Relief Strategies Inspired by Horticulture: Proven Remedies to Consider
Seven Ways Gardening Can Boost Your Menopause Journey
This year at the BBC Gardeners' World Live Show at Birmingham's NEC, menopause guru Dr. Louise Newsome teamed up with renowned garden designer Ruth Gwynn to create the Menopause Garden. This year, women's health takes center stage at the BBC Gardeners' World Live Show- "the walk-through garden reflects Newsome's health's ethos of inclusive and accessible menopause support for every woman." While gardening won't cure hot flashes and mood swings, it can help you overcome them. The Garden aims to create a sense of connected community and brings the physical and mental benefits of plants into the spotlight.
So, let's dive into how gardens and gardening experiences can aid a woman's journey through menopause:
- Stock up on calcium-rich goodies. Plant your patio garden brimming with kale, okra, spinach, basil, thyme, sage, and rosemary. Having these nutritious options readily available makes it easy to add much-needed calcium into your favorite dishes.
- Soak in the sun for vitamin D. Gardening gets you out and about in the sunshine, a major source of vitamin D. Getting your daily dose of this vital nutrient can help balance your hormones and keep your mood steady during menopause.
- Take a beat for your mental health. Find moments to slow down, practice gratitude, and combat stress triggers. Gardening serves as a mental health booster, providing stress relief and improving overall well-being.
- Eat minerals for stronger bones. Grow herbs and vegetables that keep your bones strong and aid in maintaining a healthy weight. Food can indeed act as medicine, and home-grown seasonal herbs and vegetables add essential nutrients to your meals.
- Keep moving for stress relief. Regular exercise supports energy levels, improves metabolism, fosters healthier joints, and aids in getting a good night's sleep. Gardening gets you outside, engaging in watering, harvesting, nurturing, and feeding, keeping you physically active and promoting emotional satisfaction.
- Stay hydrated to combat dryness. During menopause, dryness can be an issue due to decreased estrogen levels. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily aids with these symptoms. Infuse your water with freshly harvested herbs from your garden to make hydration more enjoyable.
- Combat hot flashes with cool foods. Eating cooling foods like leafy greens, spinach, kale, and mustard greens can help alleviate hot flashes. These veggies are easily grown in a home patio garden, helping you beat those steamy moments in a natural way.
Venturing into the world of gardening truly brings joy, and during menopause, happy days cannot be overrated. Menopause shouldn't be viewed as the end of all good things, but rather a new chapter, something to be celebrated and embraced. Embrace gardening- for fun and for all the benefits it brings.
- Including kale, okra, spinach, basil, thyme, sage, and rosemary in your patio garden can provide a rich source of calcium for healthy, menopause-friendly diets.
- Engaging in gardening activities can maximize your exposure to sunlight, helping your body absorb essential vitamin D, which may help balance hormones and stabilize mood during menopause.
- Pausing to appreciate the beauty of your garden, practice gratitude, and reduce stress reactions can boost your mental health, offering relief during the menopause journey.
- Growing herbs and vegetables known for their bone-strengthening properties, such as basil and thyme, can aid in maintaining a healthy weight and Provide essential minerals necessary for stronger bones during menopause.
- Regular physical activity, accomplished through gardening tasks like watering, harvesting, and nurturing, can support energy levels, improve metabolism, and promote joint health, ultimately fostering a restful nights sleep.
- Drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily, particularly when infused with freshly harvested herbs from your garden, can help combat dryness associated with decreased estrogen levels during menopause.
- Eating cooling foods like kale, spinach, and mustard greens, which are easily grown in a home patio garden, can contribute to alleviating hot flashes and maintaining a balanced body temperature during menopause.
