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The Reason Behind Muscle Weakness In Menopausal Women (And a Natural Remedy to Help)

Menopause is a testing time for all women. Starting at 45-55 years on average for most ladies, this natural part of their lives comes with a lot of physical and psychological changes—and most of them are far from positive.

Hot flushes, mood swings, depression, sleep issues, fatigue, lack of motivation… Every woman experiences her very own horror movie that is menopause. 

But what does menopause have to do with muscle weakness?

In a nutshell, menopause is accompanied by a significant drop in estrogen levels, and this hormonal change is a very common cause of reduced muscle mass and muscle weakness in women.

If you’re looking for a natural way to relieve this issue, first you’ll have to learn the basics of estrogen—and its interaction with muscle function.

What are the causes of estrogen deficiency in women?

According to multiple studies, here are the most common causes of low estrogen levels in women:

  • Menopause (Age > 45)
  • Stress
  • Premature menopause (abnormal menopause before the age of 40, happens in about 1% of women) 
  • Severe malnutrition and anorexia
  • Chronic kidney disease.

But what’s the link between estrogen and muscle function in the first place? Why does a drop in the former lead to muscle weakness?

How does estrogen deficiency affect physical performance in menopausal women?

Though estrogen is an important female sex hormone, its benefits extend way beyond just regulating the reproductive organs. 

For instance, estrogen has important metabolic functions as well, and some of them are directly related to muscle function. 

Muscle regeneration

Did you know that estrogen plays a significant role in the recovery of damaged muscle tissue? Estrogen reduces the wear and tear of muscles due to physical exercise and reduces the muscle inflammation following workout sessions.

This beneficial effect is attributed to the hormone’s ability to enhance the healing of miro-injuries in muscle tissue. Most likely, this ability is based on the antioxidative effects of estrogen. That’s why some women use phytoestrogenic skincare to support the recovery of local muscle groups, like breast serums to support the pectoral muscles.

Muscle growth and strength

Studies on the effects of hormone replacement therapy on muscle strength have revealed that synthetic estrogens like tibolone can increase muscle mass in women.

A study was performed to look at the effects of HRT on identical twins. 15 pairs of twins in the menopausal age group (54-62 years) were tested. One of the twins received HRT while the other did not receive any menopause-related treatment. 

strength training for cyclists, carbs

7 years later, the twin who received HRT was able to walk faster. She also had stronger muscles and lower body fat percentage when compared to the other twin (the one who didn’t get any HRT). 

So, the study concluded that estrogen could promote muscle growth and physical strength—or at least prevent them from going down during menopause. Which brings us to the core question of this discussion: how do you fix low estrogen levels?

How can you relieve estrogen deficiency?

Conventional medicine provides an obvious answer to low estrogen levels: hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But the obvious answer may also be a dangerous one. HRT is known to have a lot of side effects due to the synthetic estrogen administered. 

These side effects can be as minor as bloating, vomiting, and headaches. But they can also be severe—like an increased risk of blood clots and even a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer. 

To summarize, HRT can be a life-changing form of therapy for severe menopause symptoms that can’t be relieved through natural means. At the same time, taking HRT for the sole purpose of increasing muscle strength or building lean muscle mass just isn’t worth the risk.

That’s why many women prefer natural alternatives for HRT: phytoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens as a safer alternative to HRT

Phytoestrogens are basically plant-derived estrogens.

Women all around the world have been consuming plant-based estrogens for centuries to support their youthfulness—way before phytoestrogens were discovered in the first place.

You can get a good dose of phytoestrogens from many common foods:

  • Soy and its products (such as soybeans and milk)
  • Berries like strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries
  • Red grapes and red wine
  • Dried fruit 
  • Parsley
  • Sesame seeds
  • Flaxseed

Eating more of these foods could be enough to slightly curb menopause symptoms, but a wiser approach would be to take a herb with a higher content of active phytoestrogens—like Pueraria Mirifica. 

Pueraria mirifica is one of the best sources of phytoestrogens ever, with over 17 active compounds from different groups. Also known as Kwao Krua Kao, the shrub is indigenous to the deep jungles of Thailand. It was dubbed as “the Fountain of Youth” by one of the greatest Buddhist monks of his time, Suntara.

Thanks to its outstanding content of phytoestrogens, taking Pueraria Mirifica would be much more effective than stuffing yourself with soy every day. Moreover, since this herb is available in the form of various topical products, it can be applied whenever you need some extra support for a certain group of muscles.

Fitness goals aside, skin serums with phytoestrogens are a great natural way to support skin health, fight off signs of aging, and promote local hydration without using any synthetic skincare products.

Not only do serums ensure a good amount of phytoestrogenic supply to the muscles and skin directly, but they’re also much safer than oral forms of phytoestrogenic supplements.

The Take-Home Message

Unknown to many athletes, trainers, and even doctors, low estrogen levels can have a huge detrimental impact on a woman’s muscle strength and mass. Adequate estrogen levels promote muscle recovery after physical exercise too. 

Women approaching menopause should remember that menopause is NOT a disease but a physiological process that needs to be managed. There’s no cure for menopause (yet), but there are a lot of options to make your menopausal period slightly more bearable. 

While HRT is a viable option for managing menopausal symptoms, it can also cause extreme and troublesome side effects. 

Furthermore, while estrogen increases muscle strength, it is not advisable to overdo the consumption of synthetic estrogen and its supplements. Excessive estrogen levels can weaken tendons and ligaments and ultimately do more harm than good. Thus, moderation is the way to go while consuming estrogen and its supplements.

A much safer natural alternative would be to use phytoestrogens, and those derived from Pueraria mirifica are probably the most cost-effective option.

It is worthwhile to consider phytoestrogens as an alternative to HRT for the management of menopausal symptoms and as an alternative to synthetic anabolic supplements to increase muscle strength. It would be a great option to explore under the supervision of your primary physician.

Published by

HoylesFitness

Owner of www.hoylesfitness.com. Personal Trainer, Father and fitness copy writer. Working hard making the world fitter and healthier!

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