Menopause is a natural component of all women’s sacred cycles of life. Menopause occurs when a woman has her last period (the average age is 51 according to the National Institute on Aging.
However, many women begin the process of perimenopause some years before their periods actually cease.
Risks Associated with Early Menopause
While menopause is natural and to be expected, early menopause can cause a number of health problems. A 2010 study printed Maturitas: The European Menopause Journal evaluated the risks of early onset of menopause (before the age of 40).
The study concluded a number of health risks existed with the early onset of menopause including:
- Increased risk of overall mortality
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Increased risk of psychiatric disease
- Increased risk of osteoporosis
- Increased risk of neurological disease
- Changes in mood and sexual function
Some Causes of Early Menopause
Early menopause can crop up for both medical and/or natural reasons. According to WomensHealth.gov, there are a number of things that this may occur:
- Hysterectomy or oophorectomy (uterus or ovary removal)
- Cancer treatment
- Autoimmune disorders
- Prescription medications
- Viral infections
- Genetics
A Surprising Cause of Early Menopause
A recent study, however, suggests a very surprising cause of early menopause: wearing too much makeup. Yes, it’s true! Makeup can affect your body’s sacred hormonal cycles. Who knew? Many types of makeup contain chemicals called pthalates – a family of chemicals also known as plasticizers.
These chemicals are present in a number of petroleum products, and have been found in a number of articles humans use and absorb including makeup, nail polish, household cleaners, air fresheners and food packaging.
Along with exposure to phthalates via makeup and household cleaners, packaged foods provide a significant source of phthalate exposure.
According to the study, women with the highest levels of phthalates in their urine went through menopause an average of 2.3 years earlier than their lower phthalates counterparts, and some women were going through menopause as early as 15 years prematurely.
Dangers of Phthalates
According to the Environmental Working Group, phthalates present a number of health hazards to humans, including:
- Disrupted endocrine function
- Reduced sperm counts in men
- Testicular atrophy
- Increased risk of liver cancer
Scary stuff. Further, the EWG states the effect of phthalate contamination in the human body is cumulative and the negative effects compound as levels increase. About 84 percent of the population shows phthalate contamination at any given time, according to the EWG.
It’s so prevalent now that we’ve all most like had lots of exposure. Don’t let that dishearten you though, as there is lots we can do to prevent lots more future exposure (keep reading).
Symptoms Associated with Menopause
Along with health risks, some of the symptoms of perimenopause/menopause can be uncomfortable and disconcerting for women. These include:
- Changes in your period
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Sleeping difficulties
- Vaginal and bladder changes
- Heart palpitations
- Libido changes
- Mood changes
How to Stay Healthy
Your best bet is to avoid using substances that contain phthalates.
| Phthalate-containing product | Alternative |
| Deodorant/anti-persperant | Sally B’s Skin Yummies Herba pad underarm deodorant |
| Perfume | Essential oils |
| Lotion | Try just using coconut oil on your body |
| Nail polish | Try Vapour’s fabulous nail polish, free of the big 3 nail toxins |
| Makeup | Try Vapour’s great foundations and Aura Multi-Use blush in Courtesan, personal favorites!As well as Vapour’s Siren Lipstick. Try Sally B’s Get Even Mineral Powder |
| Air freshener | Dilute essential oil of grapefruit into distilled water in a spray bottle. |
| Cleaning products | Buy fragrance-free cleaning products and seek out natural brands or non-toxic alternatives like vinegar and water |
| Packaged Foods | Buy organic, unpackaged produce and prepare it yourself. Or only use products from companies that use non-leachable packaging. |
Naturally Beautiful
You don’t need to use a lot of chemical laden products to be beautiful! Many women notice that, as they follow The Beauty Detox Solution, their skin gains a natural glow of good health, and they don’t need to use as much makeup.
To give yourself a natural glow:
- Eat an organic, plant-based diet
- Drink plenty of pure water
- Follow a regular program of detoxification
- Avoid processed and chemical-laden foods
- Avoid use of chemicals in your environment and on your person
- Get plenty of fresh air and exercise
- Take care of your skin using non-toxic products and regular exfoliation
- Practice dry brushing to stimulate lymph draining
By caring for your health, you’ll be naturally beautiful – without phthalates! And your body will more free to follow its own natural cycles.
Love,
Kimberly
Hey KImberly,
your book changed my lIfe, I lost 66lbs!! tweeted you a pIc a whIle back. i just wanted to say thank you!! :-)
Do you have any advice for pregnant women?
here is her blog entry on pregnancy:
https://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2012/02/07/what-foods-you-should-eat-and-not-eat-when-pregnant/
:)
Neways is a great company that sells chemical free products, cleaning products, make up etc. They have eliminated the use of over 3000 known chemicals and are continually improving their products
good to know all this information I want to share with you that I started using less products on my skin and my hair and found natural replacements for pretty much everything and I have seen great changes thank you Kim
Does anyone have any advice, instruction, video on dry brushing? I’ve been hearing so much about it but I don’t really know how to get started. Thanks!
Hi Kimberly,
A little off topic but I was wondering what you thought about the new YouthH20 drink that everyone is talking about. It’s supposed to be “life changing” so I know you would know best please help with your opinion. Thank you!
Hi Kimberly,
This comment is unrelated to this blog. I’ve been meaning to let you know about my experience with your diet. I started it in June and got extremely sick about a month thereafter. I was in the Blossoming Beauty phase, when I got some sort of flu and became very ill. I’m not sure if the diet was related to the sickness, but prior to trying your diet I NEVER got sick. I’m extremely athletic and am one of those people that has an immune system of steel. I’ve read that the reduction in protein might have been responsible for the decreased immune system. After getting sick, I started having severe “brain fog”, and now I’m a diabetic. I don’t know for sure that the sickness is related, but credible medical websites that stated the relationship between low protein diets and depressed immune systems. I lost quite a lot of hair, became diabetic, and have put on 20 pounds. I weighed 120 before your diet, now I weigh 140. A connection has been made between illness and the onset of adult diabetes, so these things might all be related. I have also been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Just thought you might find this interesting.
Hi Rachel,
I’m not a dietician or a doctor but I really can’t believe that a diet full of greens and protein (from plants) could possibly give u or anyone these health problems. It makes no sense at all. That you have become ill, I am very sorry and hope that will recover well however it is scientifically proven that a diet high in animal proteins is is not good for our liver or kidneys and causes cholesterol levels to rise. I found That if I change my eating habits too quickly I lose energy but eating a plant based diet really isn’t a big change or something unnatural. It’s not like you went from a normal diet onto me which you only eat 1 thing. Unfortunately, this seems like a sad coincidence and I know it’s easy to try to find a reason and someone to blame but sometimes these things just happen.
Best of luck,
Hi Dana,
Your comment: “I’m not a dietician or a doctor but I really can’t believe that a diet full of greens and protein (from plants) could possibly give u or anyone these health problems. It makes no sense at all.”
Unfortunately your statement is not true – as I have found out from having a teenager who is allergic to naturally occuring chemicals, called salcycliates, in fresh fruit and vegetables.
If this diet works for you, great, But a one size fits all approach to the complex human body is not going to work for all.
@ Rachel, care to list any of these ‘credible medical websites’? No offence, but I am finding your story a bit hard to believe, especially since you are implying that this diet made you a diabetic.
With regards to lack of protein- the Blossoming Beauty phase isn’t that severe – you can still eat animal meat most evenings so you aren’t missing out on that much.
Rachel,
There are indeed a many reasons as to why you may have started getting sick. One of the details that stands out to me is the fact that you are an athlete. Athletes usually require a higher level of protein and not protein from vegetables. From what I have read about this diet, it is extremely low in calories, fats and animal proteins. It is an extremely cleansing diet. Cleansing is indeed good, but you must be very careful embarking on a cleanse like that. You need to have your gall bladder working properly and you need to make sure your blood sugar levels don’t drop, leaving you in a flight or fight status that can eventually push you into metabolic syndrome–> Type 2 Diabetes.
Start by making some homemade chicken broth and eating it daily. You should also check your B-12 levels as well as your thyroid levels.
Feel free to email me with any questions and I hope you feel better soon.
Sondra C.
Nutritional Therapist
hi I am 50 years old, and experiencing hot flashes and sleepless, I sleep for two hours a night and I toss and turn the whole nite, what can possible help.
I am turning 50 and have been battling perimenopause for years. I started having the hot flashes/night sweats symptoms this past year.
I started taking black cohosh extract every day and the hot flashes/night sweats have gone away. It is wonderful, you can buy it at a vitamin or health food store to get a reputable brand. Try it, it works!!
Hey Kimberly,
I love your blogs and posts but I was wondering your thoughts on colon cleanses. I recently started the Dr. Natura colonix cleanse and have seen some pretty interesting results. Including parasitic worms and waste that may not of passed without the cleanse. What are your thoughts? Have you attempted a cleanse before? Please share.