It’s a common thought by women that when menopause occurs, the body’s hormones just stop being produced and you have to begin a hormone replacement therapy program. If you choose to do this, you will hopefully opt for a healthier system of bio-identical hormones.

It is little known is that there is a backup system in place where the adrenal glands and our body fat provide a “back-up” plan of continuing hormone production after menopause begins. However, the extreme personal and environmental stresses that most of us live with counteract the back-up system, so that in any cases, it does not work to capacity. However, our bodies do, at some level, produce
estrogen from the ovaries as well as a male estrogen-like hormone called androgen The adrenal glands, not the ovaries are the primary source of androgens. Even women in their 80′ produce some androgens which play an important roll in sexuality and health in general. They serve other purposes, such as muscle strength, vaginal elasticity and sex drive.

Androgens are converted to estrogen in women’s body fat, as the ovaries are no longer a primary source of these important hormones. The amount of estrogen converted by body fat is dependant on the amount of body fat present. In other words, thinner women have a harder time with menopause than heavier women
with more body fat.

Chances are that if you are “stressed out”, you’re not even eating well to begin with, because the body uses increasing amounts of nutrients as stress rises. Some signs of adrenal insufficiency include chronic low blood pressure, fatigue, low stamina, sensitivity to cold and addiction to either sweet or salty foods. Many women entering menopause are in a state of adrenal “burnout”or hyperfunctioning . Hyperfunctioning of the adrenals can result in many of the symptoms of menopause including high blood pressure, dizziness, headaches and hot flashes, facial and body hair growth and other masculine tendencies, and even more severe conditions like allergies, low blood sugar and diabetes.

At some point, the adrenals are no longer functioning effectively and no longer producing beneficial androgens, which can relieve many menopausal discomforts. It is now that the daily diet should be seriously analyzed and positive, supportive
changes made. Adequate protein and a number of vitamins, minerals and herbs can support and enhance adrenal function at this time. Some of the most important of these nutrients are the minerals Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, PotaSSium, Sodium and Copper. Due to the depletion of androgens, some of the  very best and unadulterated food sources of naturally balanced minerals to support the adrenals come from sea vegetables, such as hijiki. One half cup of cooked hijiki is higher in Iron than two eggs and contains the same amount of
Calcium as one-half cup of milk. Nori, a nutty tasting seaweed contains almost 30 percent protein. It comes in sheets and can be toasted, crumbled, then sprinkled on any food you re eating. Other green sea vegetables that are potently nutritional are spirulina, kelp, arame, wakame, and sea palms contain sodium alginate that pulls heavy toxic minerals from the body’s systems These may be unusual foods to many, but they are packed with nutrition and good taste. They can readily be found in any good health food market or Japanese food store. There are more familiar foods that you can choose including richly colored vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, kale, spinach, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and fruits such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe. Legumes such as lentils
are rich in Iron, soy products like tofu and tempeh are rich in Copper and eggs and meat are good sources of Manganese and Zinc. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are most often more nutrient packed .
The B-complex vitamins, known as the anti-stress vitamins are crucial during stress. Vitamin C, Zinc and manganese are also important for healthy adrenal glands. Some Vitamin C rich foods are citrus fruits, cantaloupe, green peppers and broccoli. Both Manganese and Zinc are involved in numerous enzyme systems that are necessary for the absorption of Vitamin C. Good sources of manganese include leafy greens, seaweeds, whole grains, cereals, nuts and seeds. Good sources of zinc include lean red meats, eggs, brewer’s yeast, seafood, pumpkin seeds and whole grains. Some herbs may also reduce stress, alleviating stress on the adrenals. These include hops, passion flower, skullcap and Chinese or American ginseng.
In addition to nutritional improvements, there are a number of lifestyle changes that can help the adrenal glands recover from exhaustion and help us cope more