Menopause and Minerals

Filed in archive Menopause on May 19, 2007

The side effects of menopause are many, from mood swings to iirritability to hot flashes. Another complication is insomnia. All these things may be caused by a mineral deficiency. According to Medical News Today:

As menopause approaches, another emerging link between estrogen decline and its symptoms is the aspect of mineral deficiency. Mildred Seeling, M.D. describes this in the Journal of the american college of nutrition. She says "Estrogen enhances magnesium utilization and uptake by soft tissues and bone and may explain the resistance of young women to heart disease and osteoporosis -- as well as the increased prevalence of these diseases when estrogen production ceases."

For those who suffer from menopausal insomnia, the Insomnia Connection tells us:

So are hot flashes the only cause of menopause insomnia? No. Speaking from experience I've found that the anxiety that sometimes comes with the menopause can be a major cause of lost sleep. Anxiety and stress can lead to a condition called "monkey mind" where the mind jumps from one thought to another and is very difficult to quieten down.

A tip of the proverbial hat to the Menopause Report for bringing this story to my attention.