I’ve been talking about menopause—and the years leading up to it—for decades.
In fact, I wrote Before the Change and Hot Times at a time when women were still being told to simply put up with hot flashes, sleepless nights, mood swings, weight changes, and all the other surprises that can come with “the change.”
But even after all these years, menopause research can still surprise me.
And this one certainly did.
A fascinating new clinical trial suggests that some of what happens during menopause may be connected to a place most women would never think to look:
The gut.
Researchers gave 245 peri- and postmenopausal women either a specific three-strain probiotic or a placebo every day for three months. By the end of the study, the women taking the probiotics showed significantly greater improvement in overall menopausal symptoms than the placebo group, particularly in physical symptoms that can include hot flashes, sweating, sleep problems, and joint and muscle complaints.
So what could your gut possibly have to do with menopause?
Scientists are paying increasing attention to the estrobolome, the community of gut bacteria involved in the way your body metabolizes estrogen. Certain gut microbes can influence whether estrogen is eliminated or recirculated back into the body.
That makes the health of your gut particularly interesting during perimenopause and menopause, when estrogen levels are already changing dramatically.
The Bottom Line
We’ve always known hormones play a starring role in menopause. Now we’re learning that the gut may be part of the story, too.
That’s one more reason I believe in supporting a healthy microbiome with fiber-rich foods, prebiotics, and a quality probiotic. My choice is UNI KEY’s Flora-Key, which combines probiotics with prebiotic support to help maintain healthy intestinal flora.
After all these years of studying menopause, I’m convinced of one thing: we’re still discovering just how connected the female body really is. And the gut may be one of the most important pieces we’ve overlooked.
Learn more about “The Change of Life” in my best-selling books:
