Why being active helps with the menopause

Being active during the menopause is vital to protect bone and muscle strength, support your heart and avoiding weight gain. These include:

• preserving bone density

• reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

• managing weight

• alleviating mental health symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog.

Examples include:

• A walk – make the time to get out and enjoy scenery. Your body is benefitting by improving cardiovascular health, aids in weight management, and strengthens bones and joints. It also boosts mental well-being by reducing stress.

• Yoga or Pilates class – these are highly effective, low-impact disciplines that improve core strength, flexibility, and mental well-being.

• Run, body weight circuits or sports including tennis – a high impact sport improving cardiovascular health, building bone density and burning calories.

These are only a handful of exercises. I could go on all day. Find out what you enjoy and commit to that regularly.

Guidelines suggest that we should be doing 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (raises your heart rate and makes you breath harder) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity (significantly raises your heart rate causing heavier breathing).

It improves your mental wellbeing with the following:

• Better mood - releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins to reduce stress.

• Sharper brain - improves memory and lowers the risk of mental decline, reducing brain fog.

• Better sleep - helps you fall asleep faster and rest more deeply, enabling you to wake up with more energy.

• More energy - reduces daily fatigue and increases overall stamina.

• It's fun - when you find an activity makes that gives you those feel good hormones, you are more likely to do it regularly and enjoy it.