Menopause is the period when estrogen levels gradually decrease, reaching their lowest point when menstruation ceases, typically around age 50. At this time, women have completely lost their fertility. In fact, women begin to enter premenopause around age 45, and ovarian function gradually declines, leading to reduced estrogen secretion. Consequently, skin hydration decreases, wrinkles gradually appear, and the skin loses its former luster and elasticity. Before age 50, women have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to men because estrogen maintains the flexibility of blood vessels, making them less prone to hardening. However, after estrogen disappears, women's risk of these diseases increases. Simultaneously, osteoporosis begins to appear, and most women experience lower back pain, primarily due to osteoporosis.
Around the time of menopause, one of the most common changes is hot flashes, facial flushing, and uncontrollable mood swings-all due to a decrease in estrogen production from the ovaries. Artificially supplementing estrogen with medication can induce certain cancers, such as breast cancer and endometrial cancer. However, modern people can choose to return to natural health principles, meaning that estrogen supplementation can be integrated into daily life.
Experts recommend that women pay special attention to supplementing their diet with soy products from a young age. After the age of 30, they should ensure that they consume a cup of strong soy milk or a piece of tofu every day. This is mainly because the effect of soy on estrogen cannot be immediately seen, so it is important to start supplementing with soy products as early as possible.
Homemade drinks to supplement estrogen: When premenopausal symptoms, such as mild hot flashes, begin to appear and soybeans alone are no longer effective, a decoction of angelica root (about 10 grams) daily, drunk as tea, can significantly alleviate symptoms caused by decreased estrogen. Angelica root has long been considered a "holy medicine" in traditional Chinese medicine for treating various gynecological diseases. Another method involves brewing tea with hawthorn, dandelion, and ginger, starting around age 40, as a daily beverage to gradually and naturally supplement the slowly decreasing estrogen levels.
Stir-fried lettuce gives you a radiant complexion. Lettuce is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and iron, as well as many vitamins, especially vitamin E. This dish can slow down aging and prevent skin pigmentation, thus delaying the appearance of age spots. It also promotes blood circulation in the extremities, making the skin moisturized and healthy, especially the facial skin, resulting in a smooth and beautifying effect.
White fungus is an excellent skin-moisturizing food. Rich in natural plant-based collagen and possessing yin-nourishing properties, it is a good skin-moisturizing food for long-term consumption. It is inexpensive, can be prepared in many ways, and is suitable for long-term consumption. White fungus is typically stewed with rock sugar or used in soups with red dates.
Lotus Seed Beauty Soup: 30g lotus seeds, 30g fox nuts, 50g Job's tears, 10g dried longan pulp, and honey to taste. Preparation: Soak the lotus seeds, fox nuts, and Job's tears in water for 30 minutes. Then, add the dried longan pulp to a pot and simmer over low heat until tender. Add honey to taste. Benefits: Dried longan pulp greatly replenishes vital energy, lotus seeds nourish the spleen and stomach, and Job's tears and fox nuts are excellent for strengthening the spleen and promoting diuresis.
Modern pharmacological studies have shown that fox nuts contain vitamins A, C, and B, which are essential for beauty, while honey contains collagen and enzymes, which help stimulate skin cell growth and promote metabolism.
In addition, steeping about 10 dried longan berries with goji berries in hot water to make tea is also effective.
Among bees, the queen bee, who grows up on royal jelly, spends her entire life laying eggs. Despite this enormous expenditure of energy, her lifespan is dozens of times longer than that of ordinary bees. It has now been discovered that this is because the queen bee consumes royal jelly secreted from the mandibular glands of worker bees. Women entering premenopause should regularly consume small amounts of royal jelly to supplement estrogen.
Eggs, milk, and soy products contain protein, which is one of the essential nutrients for the human body. Regular consumption of eggs, milk, and soy products, which are rich in protein, can promote the growth of subcutaneous muscles, making them fuller and more elastic, thus preventing skin sagging and delaying aging.
Foods rich in vitamin E include sesame oil, wheat germ oil, peanut oil, and lettuce leaves, as well as butter and cod liver oil. The vitamin E in these foods can prevent subcutaneous fat oxidation, enhance the vitality of tissue cells, and make the skin smooth and elastic.
Foods rich in vitamins and minerals include radishes, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables such as cabbage and celery, as well as apples, citrus fruits, watermelons, and dates. The vitamins and minerals in these foods help enhance skin elasticity, suppleness, and complexion, and are very effective in preventing dry, cracked, and rough skin.
