5 amazing & healthy foods that reduce symptoms of menopause

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It’s the time of life every woman dreads – the scary “m” word.

Menopause occurs after a woman’s final menstrual cycle. It is a period of changing hormones, which can cause a number of symptoms, including hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, brain fog, and more.

There is still not enough research about possible treatment for menopause, which is why, this Women’s Health Month, I would like to share five foods you can eat to improve your menopausal symptoms & reduce the risk for certain illnesses. In addition to exercise, healthy sleep routines & supplements, these five foods can drastically improve a woman’s experience during menopause.

1. Milk

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There is a decline in estrogen levels during menopause, which can increase the risk for bone fractures & osteoporosis. Milk and other dairy products are high in calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, & vitamins D & K. These vitamins & minerals help strengthen your bones.

Many women in menopause also struggle with sleep. The amino acid glycine, which is found in milk & cheese, can help ease this symptom & promote deeper rest. Milk & other dairy products are also high in protein, which can decrease the risk of reduced muscle mass & bone strength, which is common during menopause.

2. Salmon

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Salmon and other fatty fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce the frequency & severity of hot flashes. Fish, like milk & dairy products, is also high in protein, which can help decrease the risk of reduced muscle mass & bone strength. This, in turn, also reduces a woman’s risk for osteoporosis.

3. Quinoa

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Quinoa & other whole grains are high in fiber & B vitamins. These nutrients reduce the risk of certain diseases associated with menopause, including heart disease & cancer. Quinoa in particular is also higher in protein, which, as stated above, reduces the risk of decreased muscle mass & bone strength, which can help protect woman from developing osteoporosis.

4. Broccoli

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Fruits & vegetables are full of healthy vitamins & minerals, fiber, & antioxidants, which can help reduce hot flashes & weight gain associated with menopause. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, are especially helpful in protecting menopausal women from breast cancer.

5. Chickpeas

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Chickpeas are high in phytoestrogens, which act like estrogen in the body. This can be helpful for women during menopause, when estrogen levels drop. Eating foods rich in phytoestrogens can help reduce all symptoms of menopause. Additionally, chickpeas are high in protein, which, as stated above, helps reduce the risk of decreased muscle mass & bone density, & can help protect women from developing osteoporosis.

Are you or someone you love struggling with symptoms of menopause? Email me at Tyler@EvolveHolisticWellness.com to learn how Evolve Wellness can help & schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation.

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Punch Gunk: The anti-inflammatory product revolutionizing pain-management

Me after running a half-marathon in a snow storm! I definitely needed some Punch Gunk that day.

Note: This article does contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking a link, I may earn a commission off of that purchase.

Dealing with aches & pains is something everyone is familiar with, but if you are an athlete, or someone dealing with a chronic or acute pain disorder or injury, you know that dealing with regular or severe pain or soreness can greatly detract from performance & quality of life.

One common solution to deal with pain is to take an over-the-counter or prescription pain medication, but in my experience as an athlete with a chronic pain disorder, these pills often don’t work. Not only am I discouraged by the long list of side effects that come with taking an over-the-counter pain reliever regularly, but so often the medications don’t provide any relief, or they focus on relieving some inflammation from all over my body rather than targeting the actual point of pain that is bothering me. 

But now, I have Punch Gunk, & I can honestly say it has changed the game in pain management. 

Punch Gunk was started by husband & wife team Cameron & Nadene McIntyre, who wanted to create a natural remedy for pain relief for athletes. Their displeasure with current products on the market was that most of them had an unpleasant odor, were greasy, & did not penetrate far enough to get the needed work done. After conducting extensive research with multiple athletes, & through collaboration with chemist Fred Khoury at Above Rinaldi Labs, they created Punch Gunk. It’s an FDA-compliant topical pain reliever made with nine natural extracts, including aloe, witch hazel, licorice root, & tea tree heart. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, & full of antioxidants; it’s designed to help relax sore muscles, reduce inflammation, fight free radicals, detoxify your body’s cells, & moisturize your skin. Their product has been endorsed by a number of high-profile athletes, including Pedro Minc, Kevin Holland, & Jessica “Evil” Eye

Full disclaimer: This company contacted me on Twitter & sent me a box of their products to try for free. However, everything I am writing here are my own, honest thoughts about this product.

The cream is like nothing I have ever used before. In the past, I have used two creams to help with pain: Icy Hot for athletic soreness, & magnesium lotion for chronic pain. Icy Hot is nice, but it’s a tad intense, & the medicinal smell isn’t always my favorite. Magnesium lotion has by far been my favorite pain relief cream because it does provide relief for chronic pain & it’s made with essential oils & other natural ingredients, so it’s gentle on my skin. However, the pain relief doesn’t last for long – it just doesn’t penetrate deep enough.

Punch Gunk is like a combination of the two, but so much more effective. It had a gentle cooling & heating quality to it, much like Icy Hot but a lot less intense. It smells wonderful, & it’s made with all-natural ingredients. Most importantly, it takes my pain away completely, & the pain stays away for much longer than it does with the magnesium lotion.

What I was most impressed by was the pain it removed in my rib cage. In my junior year of high school, I dislocated three of my ribs, & one of them still pops out of place pretty frequently. The only way I can get it back into place is to see my chiropractor, & when those visits are far apart, it means I have to deal with the pain of a dislocated rib & the associated muscular inflammation for sometimes months at a time. Nothing has ever taken away the pain of my dislocated rib except for a chiropractic adjustment. At least, nothing had taken away the pain until I tried Punch Gunk. By no means did it put my rib back into place, but it provided such exceptional pain relief that I forgot about the injury for hours. That is a huge win for me. 

Punch Gunk doesn’t just make pain relief cream. I was also sent a couple bath bombs to try, & I had the same pleasant experience. The bath bomb doesn’t have a strong, perfumed scent; it was much like slipping into a bath filled with epsom salts, but the relaxed sensation I felt in my muscles after my soak was much more enhanced. I felt relaxed all evening, & I slept through the night after my soak, which is another rare feat for me.

I strongly recommend Punch Gunk’s products for anyone. Whether you are dealing with minor aches & pains from sitting at the office all day, or you’re someone who struggles with chronic pain; if you’re an athlete dealing with soreness from an intense workout, or if you are nursing an injury back to health, this product will provide the pain relief you are looking for without any nasty side effects or toxic chemicals. And the pleasant aroma will help you feel relaxed & rejuvenated to tackle whatever you have left in your day. 

Punch Gunk’s slogan is “Tough Stuff for the Rough Stuff.” Life can get pretty rough sometimes, but with Punch Gunk, you can tackle all your goals without anything, even pain, holding you back. 

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