Gerontologist and biohacker Zora Benhamou discusses changing our mindset about menopause, offering tips to make it empowering. She covers stages of menopause, taboo cultural views, and disrupting ageist stereotypes. Topics include breathwork for healing, navigating menopause phases, empowering women through biohacking, optimizing health for aging well, and societal attitudes towards aging.
Menopause can be a smooth transition with the right mindset and lifestyle choices.
Proper breathing techniques can aid in managing menopausal symptoms and improving health.
Understanding the stages of menopause and taking a holistic approach can empower women.
Deep dives
Menopause Simplified
Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life with over 50 million women globally experiencing it. Zora Benamu, a gerontologist, sheds light on the stages of menopause, from perimenopause to postmenopause. She emphasizes how menopause is often misunderstood, leading to stereotyping and taboo discussions. Zora offers practical tips and resources to manage menopausal symptoms, promoting a positive and empowered approach to this life stage.
Breath Work's Healing Power
Zora narrates a powerful story about helping a woman with cancer through breath work during the COVID-19 pandemic. By teaching her simple breathing techniques, the woman experienced significant relief from pain and improved sleep, eventually becoming cancer-free. This transformative experience highlighted the importance of proper breathing not just for cancer patients but also in managing various health challenges, including those associated with menopause.
Understanding Menopause Stages
Zora delves into the nuances of menopause stages, clarifying the differences between menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause. She discusses the average age of menopause, hormonal fluctuations in perimenopause, and conditions like early onset menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency. By elucidating these distinctions, Zora aims to educate women on what to expect and how to navigate through each stage effectively.
Biohacking Menopause
Zora advocates for biohacking menopause through a holistic approach, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and supplementation. She emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation through healthy lifestyle choices to alleviate menopausal symptoms. By empowering women to personalize their approach and prioritize their well-being, Zora encourages them to take proactive steps in optimizing their health during menopause and beyond.
Shifting Mindsets on Aging
Zora highlights the significance of mindset in shaping the experience of aging and menopause. She discusses the impact of ageism and negative stereotypes on health outcomes and longevity. Encouraging women to cultivate a positive attitude towards aging, Zora stresses the power of self-perception and societal views in influencing physical and emotional well-being. By fostering a supportive and empowering mindset, individuals can embrace aging as a natural and enriching journey.
Menopause is inevitable. Suffering is optional. So says our guest gerontologist and biohacker, Zora Benhamou. Zora is the host of the "Hack My Age" podcast, and she reminds us today that through our mindset and lifestyle choices we can make menopause a smooth, even empowering chapter of our life. She covers the various stages of this life transition for women (peri-menopause, post-menopause, and everything in between) and offers insights and tips for managing them. She also talks about what a taboo subject menopause is in many cultures. Finally, she reminds us there's nothing to fear about it and suggests we can disrupt ageist stereotypes at every age and stage.
