Menopause- Part 4, The Prevention Issue

Hi there! This is the final video in this four-part Menopause series of blogs I am sharing. If you haven’t watched part one go back and do so now HERE. Part one explains the emotional/social aspects of this life stage and sets the framework for what’s to come. I’m going to dive right in and discuss heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer prevention here with you today.

In menopause risk factors increase for heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. This is mainly due to declining hormone levels, nutrient deficiencies, and toxin build-up. You want to think of your body as a high performing machine. It requires good clean food and hydrating beverages to function at its best.

Heart Health

When it comes to heart health there is an overall increase in heart attacks about 10 years into menopause. So, if you went into menopause at age 50 then changes to cardiovascular tissue can be noticeable around age 60. About 1 in every 3 menopausal women struggle with cardiovascular issues like elevated blood pressure and increases in LDL cholesterol.

Hormones Play a Role 
A decline in the natural hormone estrogen is a factor in heart disease. Estrogen is believed to have a positive effect on the inner layer of artery wall, helping to keep blood vessels flexible and bouncy. This allows them to expand and contract with ease.

Hormones aside other contributing factors to heart disease risk include weight gain, nutrient deficiencies and increased body toxicity. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, your body is a very large filter. If you have gone five decades without detoxifying it then you are dealing with a clogged filter. Clogged filters are over worked and functioning at less than half their capacity. This leads to debris in the pipes and inflammation.

Bone Health

When it comes to bone health hormones also play a significant role. Women will lose the most bone in the first 5 years of entering menopause. This is triggered by the decline in estrogen and progesterone.  Having a proactive plan in place will support your bones through the menopausal transition and for years to come.

Your bones are “living” tissue. They can regenerate and strengthen themselves, as long as they are given the proper building blocks.

There are a number of supplements that are valuable in re-correcting mineral imbalances. They include calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, Vitamin K2, boron, horsetail, and strontium.

You should talk with your alternative practitioner about the correct dosages for you. Bio-identical hormone replacement can be extremely helpful at building bone for those women who need it.

Silica is important for bones and connective tissue such as ligaments, teeth and tendons. Foods high in silica include melons, artichokes and cucumbers.

Cancer Prevention

Want to prevent cancer? Start with food. Here is the mantra “Five to Thrive.” That’s it, five to thrive, five to thrive, five to thrive.

Simply put, eat at least five servings for fruits and vegetables each day. You can eat more but you shouldn’t be eating less.

One of the easiest ways to do this by making a big fruit and vegetable smoothie each day. That could have at least 3 servings of your fruits and veggies right there.

Schedule your screening exams; things like colonoscopies, skin checks, annual blood work and breast exams are important pieces to your overall health program.

Three Keys to Prevention

Here are my three keys to a long healthy life. By following these three keys you can support your heart, your bones and prevent cancer. That’s what I love about natural medicine, each recommendation has multiple side benefits that help the whole body.

1. Healthy Diet – High plant based diets are recommended to lower heart disease risk, cancer prevention, and strong bones. A cup of kale contains 94mg of calcium, 1oz of almonds 80mg and 1 oz. of sesame seeds a whopping 280mg!
2. Exercise – A brisk walk for 30 minutes after dinner 5 x per week is what’s required. Regular exercise lowers cancer re-occurrence by 50%, strengthens bones and is good for your heart.
3. Detoxification – If you have implemented the first two steps above you may be ready to take it deeper and do a 21-day detox. This is focused on detoxification of the colon, liver, and kidneys and not on weight loss. The goal is to help clean out your filters and get your body functioning optimally once more. Talk with your alternative practitioner about guiding you through a detoxification program.

I know I spoke about some scary stuff today. Heart disease tops the chart as the number one killer of all Americans followed by cancer at a close second.

For many, a hip fracture, can set off a chain of events that also results in a poor prognosis. This is not meant in any way to discourage you.

I want you to be informed. Prevention really is the best medicine. If you know how to take care of yourself and you are doing it, you will enjoy good health for decades to come. Menopause is the time to re-energize yourself and recommit to building your health and life the way you most want it.

Here’s the take-a-way that you can do starting today:

Go for a walk tonight after dinner.

A healthy dinner and a brisk walk afterwards helps to prevent cancer, is good for your bones, and great for your heart. A triple win. You can do this

This concludes my 4-part series on menopause.

If this has sparked something inside of you share by leaving a comment below.

Like I always say, “You become who you hang around” so let’s hang out some more, be good to yourself and we will help change medicine one person at a time.

With so much love,
Dr. Purcell

(This blog is originally from my Facebook Live Video, you can watch this video HERE)

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