Hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, weight gain, sleep problems, mood swings, and more … most of us think we have to endure these undesirable symptoms in menopause only. But while menopause typically begins in a woman’s early 50s, the phase leading up to it – perimenopause – is when these symptoms are often at their worst. They can hit even when you’re still having your period, and you’re caught totally off guard.
During perimenopause – which can last anywhere from five to 15 years - you may feel like your body isn’t your own anymore, like something is seriously wrong. Do migraines mean a brain tumor? Do palpitations signal a heart attack? No . . . it is just nature messing with your hormonal balance.
Your reproductive hormones are beginning their descent. The first to retreat is progesterone, followed by estrogen and others. When these hormones decline during perimenopause, cortisol and insulin go up. All of this leads to very annoying, sometimes scary, symptoms, for women over 40 years old.
What’s so amazing, though, is that these crazy hormonal fluctuations can be controlled almost entirely by going Keto-Green – a diet that combines ketogenic and alkaline nutrition – and the subject of my new book Keto-Green 16. It outlines a 16-day plan in which you can efficiently restore normal hormonal balance and lose up to a pound a day. Here is a closer look at how it gets your hormones back in sync during perimenopause, Keto-Green style:
Reverses insulin resistance. This refers to a condition in which insulin goes unrecognized by cells. They don’t allow insulin to usher glucose into cells for energy. Insulin resistance is generally caused by eating too many carbohydrates and refined sugars. It is the leading cause of hot flashes and night sweats. Keto-Green 16 cuts carbohydrates back to 40 grams of carbs or less daily. With fewer carbs, there is less insulin circulating in the body, and this works to reverse insulin resistance and the symptoms that go along with it.
Promotes intermittent fasting. With this strategy, you go up to 16 hours without eating, mostly overnight, as part of the Keto-Green 16 diet. Intermittent fasting prevents insulin resistance and clears unhealthy estrogens from the body. We’re exposed to these estrogens from the environment, including non-organically raised meats, and they cause estrogen imbalances. Intermittent fasting is thus an excellent way to turn up hormone-balancing a few more notches!
It is packed with detoxifying vegetables. Most of the vegetable choices on Keto-Green 16 are highly alkaline, especially green leafy veggies; cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and bok choy; and onions, garlic, and scallions. These alkaline vegetables help the liver detoxify more efficiently and reduce the production of excess estrogen.
Emphasizes hormonal-balancing fats. Insulin is managed well by monounsaturated fats, namely those in avocados, my favorite Keto-Green fat. Highly alkaline, avocados support weight control, as several clinical studies suggest. Monounsaturated fats, in general, also provide the building blocks the body needs to make and rebuild both estrogen and progesterone.
Includes hormone-building vitamin B12. Animal proteins such as grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, and organically raised poultry are high in vitamin B12. These foods are included on the Keto-Green 16 diet. A deficiency in this vitamin can lead to decreased estrogen and progesterone, along with increased cortisol levels. Vegans and vegetarians are often low in this nutrient because they avoid animal products. Please understand that vitamin B12 is the single most important nutrient affected by aging and starts its downhill descent by midlife—which is why supplementation is essential, especially if you don’t eat animal products.
Reduces excess cortisol. A simple dietary change can help your body naturally decrease cortisol: have a tiny portion of healthy carbs prior to bedtime. Keto-Green 16 recommends digestive-support carbs such as mango, papaya, or pineapple in the evening. Carbs like these lower cortisol at night so that you sleep better. Poor sleep has been solidly linked with hormonal imbalances, cravings, insulin resistance, and weight gain.
Recommends herbal supplements. The Keto-Green 16 diet outlines several weight-control and hormone-balancing supplements that you’ll want to check out. Two of these – black cohosh and chasteberry – are important in perimenopause because they contain hormone-like natural chemicals. Black cohosh helps boost estrogen when you’re in perimenopause, for example. Chasteberry stimulates the making of progesterone, which can help to balance out the lack of estrogen during perimenopause and help ease symptoms. Both herbs are part of my Zenful supplement.
You can learn much more about how the Keto-Green 16 diet resolves perimenopause symptoms when you get your copy of my book.Â
- A Keto-Green Quick Start Guide: Contains all the products you need for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Feed your body, boost energy, curb cravings, fight inflammation. You’ll feel better than you have in years.
- An additional 3-day meal plan with recipes:Â Â
- Keto-Green Recipe Videos (watch recipes being made!), and more recipes to help you “feast” healthfully:Â
When all your hormones are in sync by going Keto-Green, you minimize the uncomfortable, often scary symptoms of perimenopause and get on with living a happy, energized, and content life.
