From the desk of Dr. Meagan:
I’m writing this from my parents’ place on Lake Wawasee in Syracuse, Indiana. I’m on a much-needed vacation with Harper and David, taking a little time to recharge after a crazy–and incredible–first half of 2024. But something I’ve become acutely aware of is how I have a hard time slowing down.
Getting up to work out at 8 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. feels weird. Not having to shuttle from one event to another because my schedule is stacked like Tetris feels off. Cooking dinner after a day on the lake at 7 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. feels strange.
My patients often say they have trouble slowing down, too. They’ve been running at a breakneck pace for so long that it’s not easy to suddenly shift into first gear and embrace a *go-with-the-flow* mindset.
I think many women feel they need to be given permission to slow things down and take a break when they need one. So let me be that friend who says it’s okay to enjoy the time you have with friends and family, it’s okay to read a book or just float on the lake while the kids attempt to slalom. It’s ok to reset and refresh.
It’s time to enjoy yourself. Doctor’s orders.
Dr Meagan
Is menopause making you thirsty?
Not that kind of thirsty, but legit, you may feel dehydrated or more thirsty than usual.
Estrogen and progesterone affect the cardiovascular system and fluid and electrolyte balance.
Research suggests that increasing water intake during menopause is important for regulating heat balance, detoxification, and maintaining proper GI tract function.
TLDR: Lugging around that cute Stanley is more important than ever.
In fact, if you feel thirsty, you’re already too late to the game. Head it off at the pass instead and aim to drink at least 70-75 ounces or roughly 10 cups of water per day. <<That’s two 40-ounce tumblers.>>
Break a sweat without hot flashes
A recent study published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society, indicates that acute increases in physical activity can trigger hot flashes in midlife women during both waking and sleeping periods. The study involved nearly 200 participants across different menopause stages and found significantly higher odds of experiencing hot flashes following spikes in physical activity. This supports earlier findings that physical activity, which raises body temperature, may influence hot flashes.
Yes, but let’s not cut off our noses to spite our faces.
The study discusses *acute increases in physical activity.* Acute meaning suddenly intense, quick, and sharp. The research is NOT implying that a gradual increase in activity means more hot flashes.
You can and should continue to raise the bar when it comes to physical activity–start lifting heavier weights, taking longer runs, or upping your workouts from 3 to 5 days a week. But by all means, don’t kill yourself.
Brewski, anyone?
There’s nothing like an ice-cold beer after a long sunny day of skiing on the boat. I love my usual cocktails 🍸 but suds just sound and taste better in the summertime.
Because I’m trying to maintain a healthy balance, I sometimes choose a non-alcoholic beer, and luckily, the beer industry has taken note. The beer-drinking population has gone from 0.6% NA beer drinkers in 2020 to 5.2% in 2023, and the beer-making industry has more than doubled over the past three years.
A few of my favs to try are:
- Anything from Athletic Brewing Company (I love Upside Dawn and Run Wild)
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro
- Corona Non-Alcoholic
- Stella Artois Liberte
PRO-TIP: Make sure it’s ice-cold.
