Helen Ritchie
Registered Nutritional Therapist
What are phytoestrogens and what menopause symptoms can they help with?
Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds that have a similar structure to human oestrogen. They can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and have a mild oestrogenic effect [about 1/1000th as potent as human oestrogen], which can help to reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms. They are clever too, in that they can help reduce high […]
Are you getting your daily dose?
To feel good at menopause every little thing you can do to boost your happiness levels can make a difference. Focus on getting a daily dose of these 4 important chemicals. Here’s how: ? Dopamine - the "reward" chemical that is released when you achieve a goal or experience something pleasurable. Boost your dopamine levels […]
Hair on the chin [nose, lip]? It’s a menopause thing!
If you’re like me and have noticed excess hairs on the chin, upper lip and up the nose, now you're menopausal, you may have wondered why this is happening? It’s all because of the relatively lower levels of oestrogen versus testosterone [aka an androgen excess], so essentially another symptom of hormonal imbalance. Is there a […]
Are menopause and alcohol a toxic cocktail?
In my clinical experience, drinking alcohol is linked to hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disruption, weight gain and much more. So the answer is most definitely yes! Here's the lowdown: ? Alcohol can disrupt your sleep and make it harder to fall asleep. ?Alcohol can dilate your blood vessels, which can trigger hot flushes and […]