Midlife Flow

Let’s be real - perimenopause is wild. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re crying for no known reason. Sleep? Inconsistent. Mood? Unpredictable. Bones? Apparently crumbling if you’re not paying attention. For a while, I was just trying to get through each day. But when I started looking deeper into how nutrition impacts what I was feeling - especially the stuff no one talks about - I kept coming back to two unsung heroes: calcium and magnesium . These minerals don’t just support bone health (which is important, especially as estrogen dips). They also affect how you sleep, how calm or anxious you feel, and how steady your mood is. This isn’t about popping random supplements - it’s about understanding what your body actually needs during this major shift. Why Calcium and Magnesium Matter More Than You Think Calcium: More Than Just Bones Calcium gets a lot of attention for keeping our bones strong—and for good reason. As estrogen declines during perimenopause, your bone density c...

The Silent Struggle of Sleepless Nights If you find yourself staring at the ceiling night after night, feeling exhausted yet unable to sleep, you're not alone. Perimenopause - a transitional phase leading up to menopause - brings a host of changes, with sleep disturbances being among the most disruptive. Understanding the underlying causes and implementing effective strategies can help you reclaim restful nights and restore your well-being. When I first started experiencing perimenopause, it felt like sleep was slipping further and further out of reach. I’d toss and turn, overthinking every little thing, sweating one moment, shivering the next. And no matter how exhausted I felt during the day, nighttime seemed to mock me with its refusal to let me drift off. But I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t go on like this. And that’s when I started digging deeper, looking beyond the usual advice like cutting caffeine or creating a sleep routine - things that just weren’t enough. Fi...

Perimenopause can feel like an unexpected storm, disrupting the familiar rhythms of life. One moment, everything seems in balance; the next, you're navigating mood swings, sleep disturbances, and a shifting sense of self. If you're experiencing this, know that you're not alone. I've been there, and through self-therapy and introspection, I've found tools to cope and thrive. I want to share my journey with you, offering insights and resources that may help you on your path. Understanding Perimenopause: More Than Just Physical Changes Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, marked by fluctuating hormone levels that can cause a variety of symptoms. These changes can affect your body, emotions, and mental clarity. Common symptoms include: Irregular periods Hot flashes and night sweats Mood swings and irritability Sleep disturbances Decreased libido Brain fog and memory issues These symptoms can be disorienting, especially ...

I remember sitting there, hearing the words: "I think we should try antidepressants." And honestly? It felt like a punch in the gut. I smiled and nodded because… well, that’s what we do, right? But inside, I was thinking, Wait - me? Depressed? That didn’t feel right. I walked out of that office with the prescription crumpled in my hand, sat in my car, and just stared at it. I felt so confused. So heavy. Like, how the hell did I end up here? Sure, I’d been feeling off. Crying at random things, snapping at people for no reason, feeling so tired even after a full night’s sleep. But depressed? I wasn’t so sure. And maybe you’re feeling the same right now. If you’re somewhere in this crazy stage of life—perimenopause—and everything feels upside down, I just want you to know: You’re not the only one. The Unspoken Realities of Perimenopause It wasn’t until I started really looking into it that I realized: this is what perimenopause can look like. Hormones swinging all over the plac...

Eat the rainbow! Hormones Got You Feeling Off? Let’s Fix That - Starting with What’s on Your Plate When I first started noticing the early whispers of perimenopause - irregular sleep, mood swings, fatigue that no amount of coffee could fix (actually coffee made it much worse because it trigged my anxiety!), I felt like a stranger in my own body. And like many women in midlife, I assumed it was just stress or lack of sleep. But underneath it all, my hormones were waving a big, red flag. What I didn’t realise then is how much what you eat can either support or sabotage your hormones - especially during perimenopause. And no, I’m not talking about an extreme diet or cutting out all the fun stuff. I’m talking about everyday, bioavailable, hormone-friendly foods that work with your body (not against it). The goal? To help you feel more like you again. Let’s dive into 10 foods that support hormonal harmony, why they work, and how to make them part of your daily rhythm. 1. Cooked Leafy ...

There’s this video of me from 2018 - my skin is glowing, I’m smiling softly, and I remember exactly how I felt in that moment: calm, cared for, me . Fast forward a few years... and let’s just say that version of me vanished. This is me looking after myself in 2018 After becoming a mum, self-care slowly slipped down the list. After baby number two, I held on for a bit. I still found time to move my body, eat well, take deep breaths. But then - like for so many of us - COVID hit. And then perimenopause hit. And that hit different. I didn’t recognise myself. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, energetically. It was like someone hit the dimmer switch on my life. And no one really talks about that part—the quiet unraveling. How you start forgetting what it feels like to feel good . If I could go back and sit beside that overwhelmed version of me, I’d gently take her hand and say: You’re not doing anything wrong. You just need to start taking care of you again. Slowly. Gently....

I didn’t always have beef with dairy. In fact, for most of my life, I was obsessed. I was that girl who added extra cheese to everything . Pizza? Double cheese. Pasta? Yes please, parmesan. And let’s not even talk about my love for chocolate milk after dinner - it was a whole thing. But here’s the truth: dairy didn’t love me back. And in midlife, that one-sided relationship started wreaking havoc on my body — especially my hormones. My Wake-Up Call: From Cravings to Chaos At first, I didn’t see the signs. I just thought I was “getting older” and “more sensitive.” I had recurring sinus issues, random sore throats, weird bloating, and PMS that seemed to get worse each month. Oh — and my periods? Heavy, painful, and so unpredictable. Still, I clung to dairy like an old friend I didn’t want to let go of. But one day, after another bout of shoulder bursitis and a hip that ached for no reason, I started looking deeper. T hat’s when I learned about histamine intolerance , gut health , and h...