HOW TO RESET
Stress, inflammation and poor nourishment can throw off the body’s hormonal balance and trigger issues, but there are some basic techniques Lara Briden recommends for all her patients, focusing on soothing, cooling and nourishing the body:
Schedule two hours of something you love every week. It could be visiting a gallery (Covid rules permitting), walking, swimming – anything to reduce stress
Try meditation, massage or yoga
Include protein with every meal – including breakfast – to stabilise blood sugar
Aim to sleep well for seven hours each night, tackling as a priority possible causes of poor sleep, such as perimenopause symptoms, stress, grief and exposure to blue light
Find an exercise you enjoy and make sure you do it regularly
Avoid inflammatory foods, such as sugar. Make sure each meal comprises starchy carbohydrates, protein and healthy fat – and eat only until you’re full
Try giving up cow’s dairy for a couple of cycles as it’s an inflammatory food for many women – goat and sheep’s dairy is better, while certain cow’s dairy products, including ricotta and butter, are OK Maintain gut health with probiotics Give up smoking and stick to five drinks a week
Find out what supplements can help. This varies depending on age, diet, sensitivities and conditions, but Briden recommends 300mg of magnesium glycinate, “the miracle mineral for periods” after food (it’s not advised for people with kidney disease), along with B vitamins and zinc, where there’s a deficiency