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Lynne Wadsworth, a Certified Health/Life Coach is very intimately acquainted with how migraines can wreak havoc on your life, and be totally debilitating. She has lived with them since age 21.
In this episode, we will take a look at some of the issues with hormonal-related migraines and find some keys for prevention.
What We Discuss With Lynne Wadsworth In This Episode
Were you aware that prior to puberty, migraines are three times more frequent in males than in females but after puberty that switches up and women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men? In a study in Oxford, it was found that women are twice as likely to have migraines and that:
“Brains are deferentially affected by migraine in females compared with males. Furthermore, the results also support the notion that sex differences involve both brain structure as well as functional circuits, in that emotional circuitry compared with sensory processing appears involved to a greater degree in female than male migraineurs.”
Menstrual Migraines
- Around 50% of women with migraine say their menstrual cycle directly affects their migraine.
- The hormones involved that can trigger migraines
- What about Progesterone?
- What about Estrogens?
Menopausal Migraines
- Approximately two-thirds of women who experience migraines say their symptoms improve as they reach menopause.
- For some, migraines actually worsen and for others, migraines may start for the first time, or worsen, around peri-menopause because of new hormonal fluctuations.
Why Is Diet Important For Menstrual Migraine?
- Small variances above or below the normal regulated estrogen levels can have significant impacts on your health.
- Your diet can play a huge role in your wellness. Menstrual migraines are no different.
- Diet is thought to be the biggest factor that affects your hormones.
- Certain food ingredients act like toxins and can, therefore, disrupt your hormonal balance.
Examples of toxins you may commonly come across include:
- MSG (monosodium glutamate) – found as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods.
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
- Aspartame
If possible, avoid or eliminate:
- refined sugars;
- simple carbohydrates;
- processed foods; and
- avoid of well-known migraine trigger foods
If you are not sure which food(s) trigger your attacks, then you might want to consider some of the following:
- keep a food diary;
- food allergy testing;**
- detoxification;
- an elimination diet (which I can help you with); and
- work with me as your health coach to cut through the confusion
Lifestyle Factors
- Lifestyle factors like sleep and exercise play a central role in migraine management and sustainable remission.
- The right levels of sleep and exercise are VITAL.
- Sleep has a restorative effect on both the brain and body…and it’s not just about getting enough sleep each night. It’s about how regular your sleep/wake cycle is.
- It’s also about the quality of sleep.
- Exercise promotes a healthy metabolism, hormonal balance, reduces stress, assists in sleep, stabilizes your mood and gives you an overall sense of well-being — and if you need another reason, the brain loves exercise.
- The evidence for daily exercise is growing. You will feel better for it. When you take care of the body, the body is more likely to take care of you.
Hormone Balancing
- Hormones do have a significant influence on your bodily functions.
- Most often, the key trigger with menstrual (hormonal) migraines is the falling levels of estrogen which occurs naturally beforehand.
Preventative Menstrual Migraine Treatment
- Preventative treatments can include magnesium.
- As a dōTERRA Wellness Advocate some options that can offer prevention
While hormonal changes, can be a migraine trigger for some, there are a few things you can try naturally to help remedy this situation.
If you want more information about natural solutions to migraines, check out Lynne’s book: Conquering Migraines: Your Guide to A Life Without Pain,” available at: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/conquering-migraines/ It’s available as a pdf download or on Amazon and contains a LOT of migraine friendly recipes.
Also, check out Lynne’s free resource:- https://giveawayproducts.s3.amazonaws.com/Migraine+Tool+Kit.pdf
Connect with Lynne:
If you are looking for a community of like-minded women on a journey – just like you are – to improved health and wellness, overall balance, and increased confidence, check out Lynne’s private community in The Energized & Healthy Women’s Club. It’s a supportive and collaborative community where the women in this group share tips and solutions for a healthy and holistic lifestyle. (Discussions include things like weight management, eliminating belly bloat, wrangling sugar gremlins, and overcoming fatigue, recipes, strategies, and much more so women can feel energized, healthy, confident, and joyful each day.