Why We Need to Start Talking About Menopause Before It Happens

She also has a program that she does to help women who are dealing with perimenopause , menopause and various other health concerns . Like you know , our health is very important and she's also the co-founder of Nourish Doc , a holistic wellness platform dedicated to empowering women and advocating for women in various channels . I guess , Hi , Amita .

It is a change and there are certain things that you can do with your diet and your lifestyle , but I think there's other things that are hereditary that you can't control . But I think the one thing that's amazing that you do is that I guess you have a wellness program and you help other individuals that are maybe suffering Right .

So , to start things off , what is perimenopause and menopause

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And then rest of your life you're in menopause Now . The perimenopause starts typically age 40 or even earlier , 35 plus . It can last up to 10 years , believe it or not , and there are over 48 symptoms associated with this whole thing . Can you imagine ? So no wonder you're feeling .

You know whatever you're feeling because more than likely , your hormones have started fluctuating .

You know what I mean , and so it's just been always trying to balance everything out when I already have what do you call it An autoimmune deficiency or whatever they say in medical terms right , which doesn't help my situation , but , like you said , 10 years and so what are the symptoms ?

I know a lot of symptoms are similar , but are there different symptoms in perimenopause ? You mean from menopause ? Yeah , yeah .

You know some of the common symptoms brain fog , you can't remember , suddenly things that said , oh , what did I say ? And then suddenly your memory feel like your memory laps a little bit and sleep at night could be a problem . You know you start getting bloating all the most of the time . So these kind of things start happening . And there are so many other .

Now menopausal women have something else to worry about , because 80 percent of the women in the united states over the age of 55 which are obviously menopausal most of , I'm assuming , with because of the age they have one chronic condition so they have to worry more about .

Oh , they don't get into any chronic conditions like diabetes , like osteoporosis , like heart health , right , like even cancer , even dementia . It becomes more of thinning and skin and weight , all those things , anxiety , all those things . And relationships

, even loss of libido . You know that's another one of the symptoms . So I don't know when what happens when you know it's different for every moment . But , like you were saying , a lot of things you can do with dietary and lifestyle modifications .

But the way our genes are , the way the culture we are coming from , it depends a lot on the lifestyle we've had , even the lifestyle our moms have led . All that can contribute to the journey of how we are going to go through the perimenopause as well with other than perimenopause .

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So what we are trying to do is we are trying to help you through the journey of going through this midlife whatever using dietary lifestyle and some holistic therapies , for example , like naturopathy , like CBT , like hypnotherapy , like aromatherapy , like Ayurvedic therapy , like massage therapy , like acupuncture , acupressure , yoga , breath work , meditation , diet right , food

as medicine , herbs and supplements right . so I'm counting there are over 15 yeah , right , 15 or 20 different therapies , that we have incorporated all these things into simple self-care program that women can take as a first step right Now .

If some women , let's say hypothetically is suffering from fibroids or endometriosis , then our program alone is probably not sufficient , is what I'm trying to say . You need an expert intervention along with that , right ?

This program is for generally women who doesn't have these conditions and she started these perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations and having all these symptoms and doesn't know what to do . Then , okay , the first step is okay . Let me just try to understand what is . How can I change my diet ? How can I change my lifestyle ? How can I do that ? So ?

But as soon as you put , hey , I have fibroids or whatever , then we have vetted and curated experts who can help you based on your personal needs , right ? So that's kind of how it's structured , because the reason is we wanted to make it very affordable for every single woman in the world . That was the way we have done it .

This was the only way we could have done it . So the self-care is going to be priced like $5 . So it's going to be super , super cheap . And then , of course , we know how much a naturopathic doctor charges , or you know , that's not our , we don't control that . That's how much they charge . That's kind of the one-on-one consultation or a group coaching , right .

So that's kind of how this whole thing is structured I understand that .

Maybe the diet , like I mean , because even though you see a doctor like I mean once you figure out what's wrong from your doctor , then you can look at other ways in which you can help yourself .

If you're dealing with perimenopause because it's it's not something that's fun you know what I mean having the hot flashes , always being hot , having problems sleeping like you know what I mean , sleep is the most important thing in in daily life and and I can say for myself , like you know , when I have problems sleeping , it's not fun .

So I'm Based on your background . You mentioned that you're in San Francisco and you know , obviously the weather's a lot warmer there than here in Canada . So I guess what I'm trying to say is you offer a service for anyone anywhere . It's not limited because it's not an office , it's all online and and so what pushed you to create this platform ?

Maybe I can't do my work properly if I express that I'm going through all these symptoms . I mean , I'm talking about a decade back .

. We have to be so mindful of that , so even now it's the same thing .

Can you imagine going into HR and saying , oh , by the way , I was lucky , we were lucky in our generation that we were getting some time off when we had babies or kids , and even that was considered like oh , are you taking six weeks off ? You know so it was very different a decade back , 10 years back . So I just kept suffering and suffering .

So I just kept suffering and suffering . And suddenly in the last two , three years , you know , somehow I got an opportunity after COVID to .

I wanted to always create something that has a meaningful impact for younger women who are coming behind me , and this is something I felt very passionate about , you know , and I felt like I never spoke up and this is the opportunity for me .

I'm wiser , you know , I can help so many other women who are behind me , who are going to enter this space , and why not go deeper into it and start talking about it ?

Right , and that's kind of how it started , and I personally had a lot of issues and I honestly , didn't even know that this is all perimenopause , because even the doctors are not taught about perimenopause . Obgyn told me and they never told me that you're going through this hormonal fluctuation . I wish I had known about it .

I just started experimenting on myself research , experiment , research , experiment , fail , success , you know going through this whole roller coaster and finally I figured out a way that I'm able to maintain my metabolism and maintain my whatever mental mind , mind , mind , body connection and balance , so to speak . Yeah , there's a lot of trial and error .

And even for me , like I think I can relate to you , not with perimenopause , not with menopause , but with my own issue when I ended up in the hospital too , and like you're speaking for other women and that's what pushes you , and I think that's what pushes me too , because I want other women to advocate for themselves , because sometimes , even if you're not

silent , your family doesn't educate you . My mom didn't tell me about certain things because she's part of your generation , she made me what's it called . Your parents always make you eat certain foods and I never understood why am I eating ? Why do I have to eat spinach ? Why do I have to do all this ?

You know what I mean , and obviously it's to help my anemia . You know what I mean , but , like when I had my own health scare , I had no idea that this was something that was hereditary until after , when it's like you know .

So you creating something like this for other women , especially women all over , like anyone who has access to the internet , can go online on the website and look at courses or find a mentor or something , right ? So basically tell me you said that it's 3000 , you have 3000 experts along those lines , like you were saying earlier , right ?

The reason is , as I said , I think but by the time you are 50 years old , like me , it's too , too late . It's that you know , if you're over 50 , it's too late .

What you need to do is you really need to come here when the woman is about 35 plus , and that's what I really wanted to capture those women , because we know almost everyone is working , they're all digitally savvy and they're the ones who are going to suffer until they hit , you know , the 5-0 button , right ?

So that was where we went back and said we want to create something for women who are entering perimenopause or going to enter perimenopause . The menopause part , like I said , it gets too late , because now you're worried about hopefully I don't have a chronic condition , right , it's a different phase of life . Diva Tonight Glamour for your ears .

or maybe you haven't had perimenopause already because menopause is 51 52 , that's what menopause age is very normal I'm talking about the normal , but menopause is also different . As for the culture , a lot of us we don't understand that , you know .

As for the cultural and the ethnic backgrounds , also , at the journey of a penny for you might be different than , uh , another woman who's from a different culture , is what I'm saying .

Because she said she already went through all that , but her symptoms may be similar to what I get , because I mean , it's all in your family history too in some cases , right ? Or you said cultural ethnic background yeah , cultural .

I originally come from india but I I didn't get menopause at 46 , but most of them in india are getting in the mid 40s , which is pretty scary , which is not good .

So those are some of the factors . Now in indian women is the lifestyle , the very sedentary lifestyle . Typically typically this age women 40 something , 50 something don't work , they quit working , they are generally home , they're taking care of the kids .

Even in today's day and age , majority of them and they repeat , they lead a very sedentary lifestyle , not very active lifestyle , and also the culture of generally women being subservient .

Now the things have changed , of course , all over the world , but I'm talking about a decade back , 10 years back , right , my generation of 50-something women are not working in a lot of places in the world is what I'm saying . So it's a lot of cultural being subservient , being not active , physically sedentary lifestyle , not eating properly at the right times .

All those things contribute . It's not just one thing . And , of course , environmental too . There's more pollution and toxins in the environment sorry , that could be endocrine disruptors and that are not good for women's bodies as well . Right , so there's a multitude .

It's very complicated , it's very difficult to understand , but , overall , what the research has been done , that's what the research I'm sharing , the research , that which is important , which is important , they've taken a subset of not everyone in those countries .

And so you were talking about african-american women , latino women , which is a culture where , even here in North America , a lot of highly processed foods , but also in the Caribbean , we eat a lot of , like curry , chicken , rice , all these foods that are high in carbohydrates .

You know what I mean and like , and not a lot of leafy greens , like in the main dishes , so that those things . But I think the one thing that you address in the beginning that's really important is the timeline that I think a lot of us are not aware of . That perimenopause starts like 12 months before you even miss your period .

So you know what I mean , like leading up to that too , and like your body's changing and noticing those things , right . So , as someone like myself , who's , I guess , african-american or , you know , a black female with a lifestyle of my own , where do you start ? Because you said you have it's a lot of things , it's not just one .

But I guess what are the stepping stones to change , you know ?

So so where do you start Right ? That's why we've created this whole self-care thing , helping women . To where do you ? Where do they start ? But just to give you an idea , start with simple making small changes every single day . Start with adding some more , like getting rid of red meat . Maybe you know I don't know if you eat red meat as an example .

You know they also do fibroids , so I don't know what the system is in canada , but consulting someone who can help you , uh , you know , putting together a holistic plan is what I'm saying . It's not just one thing right and sticking to it .

And now what the heck happened , you know . So I think all of us have gone through this problem . It's having to do what we can maintain and sustain . That is the hard part for all of us .

It's really you really have put in the work , which is amazing . You know what I mean , especially now more than ever , it's not just physical health , it's mental health too . That are struggling um more in north america , across the world , you know .

I had different anxiety issues I'm not sure if I had suicidal thoughts , but but a borderline of you know , a lot of time depression , serious depression , dark thoughts , right . So how do you , how do you handle all this ? How do you come out of right ? That's the problem . You have to be open communication and that was what I never did .

I like I said I told you I was holding on to everything inside my , my little thing . I'm like , I'm never going to talk about it , and that's the problem . It's not just me . A lot of women around the world , they want to project themselves as being almost perfect . That is how we've been brought up right Stereotypical .

Oh , you have to look a certain way or you have to behave a certain way . You cannot show weakness . You are the caregiver . You know all those things are kind of fed into our brains when we are little girls . You know , I'll tell you , irrespective of the culture I literally didn't matter which culture women are coming from most of the women feel like that .

So that is the problem . We women have to keep shed our you know those kind of masks . You know the , the superficial masks that we put on and let people see our loved ones or the family and the people who are . We are with that . We are going through some problems and we need help . We need to seek help .

We need to be open communication and that is the only thing I would say and and not feel , oh my god , I what if I say this and that person's going to feel bad , it doesn't matter , you need to take care of that , and that's the fundamental issue I have with myself , and I decided to do that after 10 years of when I went through the journey .

I never said a word . I kept going silent , silent , silent . That's not the right thing to do . Is what I'm saying ? You need to speak up , open up . It's a natural phase of a woman's life . There's nothing bad about it . There's nothing wrong about it . That is just all women are going to go through .

All women are not going to get pregnant , but all women are going to go through this , whether they like it or not , right ?

I think I appreciate what you said there , because that hits home for me , because it's , like you said , whatever you're going through , like when you suffer in silence , the only person suffering is you , and it's hard .

Like you said , we have in many cultures , and I think not just in your culture you're originally from India , right so in many cultures , even in the Caribbean , like you said , many women . We are always . We always have to be strong , we always have to put our fist up you know what I mean and put on this mask , as you said .

So when you have those moments , you're like , oh my gosh , I can't believe I did that . But getting back to this amazing website , you said there's an app coming , so tell me more .

So somewhere over there we're going to launch the app and the web portion as well , when women will be able to log in and spend only like $5 a month . That's it to start on the self-care journey . And then , if they need any intervention and most of them are all holistic experts we'll have medical doctors as well .

Then they can get consultation or get a personalized meal plan or personalized holistic plan , even group coaching , if they want to do it . Initially affordable , all those things are going to be offered through the app . That's the intention to start with , super affordable , really cheap , so that everybody can get access to that .

And then , as you progress , you know , of course , whatever the doctors , whatever the experts charge , we just facilitate that as a plan .

Maybe there's a community of women who have fibers as well . You know things like that right . It's not just you don't feel alone and and you have some somewhere to go and for reference and for checking or what you know , all those things right . So that's really the intention yeah , well , you know what ?

When the app comes out out , we will be announcing it as well .

this with this simple things .

You can text the show if you found this topic interesting or if you want more information from Amita . That'd be great .