Bottoms up? 🍷Alcohol in peri/menopause...

I'm the founder of a little thing called M-brace The Change 🙂 We help people going through the stages of menopause, and work with experts in their field to support and guide. One of our experts is a fabulously knowledgeable nutritionist called Joanne Posey (Life Lessons Nutrition), and here's a little something from her on alcohol tolerance in menopause... Anyone no longer the woman they used to be? Does a glass of wine the night before translate into the hangover from the hell the following day? This appears to be less a symptom of menopause as such (although oestrogen does have antioxidant properties and it also seems to have a role in proper liver function), but more of ageing (as if that's any more comforting!) As we age, our liver function declines by around 1% year on year from age 40ish onwards. We also have less water in our bodies to dilute any alcohol and have diminishing numbers of liver enzymes to cope with toxins. What to do? 🍷Cut back. There's no way around this. If your body can't cope with the toxins it's being subjected to, damage may be the result if you keep pushing it. That's not to say that you have to give up your favourite tipple, but find a level or combination of alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks that works for you. There are loads of low/no-alcohol options available that are very pleasant to drink. 🍷Add in supportive food. These include asparagus, avocado, walnuts & green leafy veg. These are all direct sources of glutathione, our master antioxidant. Be sure to take on board your sources of vitamin C - this boosts glutathione levels. Sources include most fruits, peppers, tomatoes & green veg. Add in more green leafy veg. These are so chocka with nutrients that you really can't eat too much. Be careful if you have thyroid issues - don't consume raw. Add in berries. These (of course) are rich in vit C, but they also contain a range of further antioxidants & phytochemicals that support your liver functions. 🙂🩷