Noticing the Patterns: How Food Triggered My Symptoms
It didn’t happen overnight. But as I was living out my menopause symptoms, I finally started paying attention—really paying attention—to what was happening in my body after I ate or drank certain things.
And let me tell you… the patterns were loud and clear.
Alcohol
For me, even half a glass of wine or a cocktail turned into a one-way ticket to Sick Town. My face would flush, I’d feel fuzzy, and then—boom—I just wanted to crawl into bed for a nap. Life of the party? Nope, not anymore. So I made the call about six years ago to cut alcohol out completely. Honestly, my body (and my microbiome!) have thanked me ever since.
Sugar, Fast Food & Processed Carbs
Think burgers, fries, sweets. Basically, all the “comfort food” you can grab at a drive-thru. Except, it was anything but comforting—my hot flashes got worse, my stomach ballooned, and I just felt miserable. When I started saying no to those foods, my body said yes. I could feel the difference almost immediately. Wild how food plays such a big role in how our bodies react during menopause.
Protein & Gut Health
This has been my big “aha” the past two years. I learned that aiming for about 30g of protein per meal could be a game-changer for stabilizing energy and keeping symptoms calmer. But the real eye-opener? The gut.
With all the bloating and stomach issues, I dove into courses on the microbiome. Wow. Mind-blowing stuff. They call it our “second brain,” and it truly runs the show for overall health. In March 2025, I started taking i26 from Youngevity, and it’s been a huge shift for me. I’ll write a whole blog on that soon, because I honestly believe supporting my gut has been one of the biggest wins in my menopause journey.
Stress, Cortisol & Belly Fat
Here’s the kicker—menopause isn’t just about food. Stress hormones like cortisol love to mess with us too. Stubborn belly fat, poor sleep, inflammation… it all ties back to stress. Once I started connecting those dots, I realized that managing stress had to be just as much a priority as managing my meals.
So here I am, years into this, and I’ve finally landed on a way of eating and living that feels steady, supportive, and actually helps. I’m not perfect, but I’m finally listening to my body instead of fighting against it.
And now, I want to anchor this story with what the science says—where my discoveries line up with research, where the evidence is still emerging, and what practical “rules of thumb” might help you if you’re nodding your head saying, “Yep, that’s me too.”
Because here’s the truth: you don’t have to just suffer through menopause. You can pay attention, notice patterns, and make small but powerful shifts that change the way you feel.
P.S. What I’m Really Excited About: HOPE by Youngevity
Here’s the fun part: I’m beyond excited about this new product I’ve recently started using — HOPE by Youngevity. It’s designed exactly for the kind of shifts I’ve been working toward: gut health, menopause support, and more.
Here’s what HOPE is all about:
It’s a 3-product system that aims to help address key menopause symptoms, support a balanced gut and vaginal microbiome, and boost cellular longevity. youngevity.com+1
The three parts are Women’s Probiotic COMPLETE, Rejuvenate, Rewind, Restore, and Life Balance Menopause Support — together they combine probiotics, botanicals, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more to give holistic support. youngevity.com
It’s gluten-free, and is positioned as a “targeted nutrition” solution for menopause and aging support. youngevity.com+1
I genuinely believe that combining what I’m learning (about food, stress, microbiome) with a carefully formulated supplement system like HOPE might help shift things in a more balanced way.
