If you're experiencing menopause symptoms but haven't yet ceased having your period for twelve consecutive months, you're in perimenopause. You may think that your major symptoms during this period, which usually lasts five to seven years, will be hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and other "classic" menopause symptoms. This may not entirely be the case, though, since one major symptom for many women is perimenopause cramps.
These cramps are more likely to occur in women who had cramps during their menstruating years as part of their menstrual cycle, but they can actually happen to anyone. There are a couple of potential reasons that these cramps might happen. One is that even on the months when you skip an actual period because your body didn't ovulate, you can still experience PMS and period-like symptoms, including cramps. Another is that an estrogen surge, which isn't uncommon even when your overall levels of estrogen are decreasing, can cause a heavy, cramping feeling in the pelvic area.
Interestingly enough, both of these things are caused by an increase in estrogen levels. During your normal menstrual cycle a few years ago, you would have experienced cramps in part due to the fact that your estrogen levels were beginning to rise during the first half of your cycle, which is actually when you're on your period. Even though your cramps are caused by estrogen surges, they can be prevented or calmed by estrogen-like compounds: phytoestrogens.
How do Phytoestrogens Help Relieve Pre Menopausal Cramps?
Helping a symptom that's caused by estrogen with a compound that mimics estrogen is a bit counterintuitive, we'll admit, but it makes sense if you learn more about it. In your body, there are receptors for every hormone your various glands and organs produce. Think of these receptors as little ports that are shaped like the specific hormones that attach to them. Phytoestrogens are shaped very much like estrogens, and they "fit" into these receptor ports for the most part.
However, since they aren't exactly the right shape, they have a fainter effect on the body. When phytoestrogens bind with your receptors, they block the actual estrogens, which have a more powerful effect, from doing just that, which can actually decrease some of your estrogen-related symptoms.
Beverages with Phytoestrogens for Perimenopause Relief
One simple way, as many people know, to work various types of nutrients into your diet is through beverages. Sometimes the body can process nutrients that are in liquid form more quickly. Plus, taking in fluids is something you do on almost an hourly basis throughout the day, so it's a simple matter to change some of the liquids you're consuming over to healthy beverages that are rich in phytoestrogens. Three such beverages include green tea, soy milk, and red wine.
Green Tea - This is another very old beverage that's still very popular. Enjoy up to six glasses of hot or cold green tea a day to reap the benefits of its phytoestrogen content. Don't let it steep too long, or it will get bitter, and squeeze out the bags before you take them out of your glass to get all the nutrients from the tea that you possibly can.
Soy Milk - Working soy milk into your diet isn't as difficult as dairy-lovers might think. It can be found in flavored varieties, and you can use it on cereal or mixed in tea or coffee. Soy is a particularly phytoestrogen-rich substance, but it should be consumed in moderation, so limit your intake to one serving of soy milk a day.
Red Wine - This age-old treasure is not only good for your heart, but its phytoestrogen content can ease cramps, as well. Of course, this is a good thing that should definitely be enjoyed in moderation; have one small glass of red wine a night - or even every other night - to enjoy its good effects without getting any of its bad ones.
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