OCTOBER 2023 EDITION

Before writing to you each month, I spend time considering the issues that matter to me, and choosing to cover those that I feel might be of interest to you too. As a woman in my forties, I’m firmly in the perimenopausal stage of life and, as October marks ‘World Menopause Month’ (with today being ‘World Menopause Day’), I decided to dedicate this issue of The Blend to the menopause and the hormonal shifts that can affect how we can feel physically and mentally. Despite 25 million women passing through the menopause each year, this stage of our lives is often needlessly shrouded in secrecy and shame; I hope that by talking openly, we can all help to remedy this.

One of the particular challenges facing women during the perimenopause is the way that changing hormones can adversely alter our skin. Falling levels of the female hormone oestrogen contributes to a decrease in collagen production: you start to lose around one percent of your collagen annually in your thirties, but this depletion quickly climbs to five percent during the menopause, resulting in more noticeable signs of ageing.

So, how else can the skin be impacted during the perimenopause and menopause?

Increased dryness: The decline in oestrogen decreases your skin's ability to produce and hold onto moisture. As the skin becomes drier, tiny micro-tears can form which allow moisture to escape, and irritants and allergens to enter; as a result, skin can become more sensitive.

Dullness: Increased dryness coupled with lagging cell turnover can make the skin look lacklustre.

More fine lines and wrinkles: The culprit here is the dwindling collagen supply.

Our Collagen Boost Face Oil and ever popular Terahertz Gua Sha beauty tool.

We have formulated our Cotswold Remedies skincare range to help address some of the changes that occur in perimenopausal and menopausal skin. For example, we have included active ingredients such as marine algae and organic sea buckthorn in our award-winning Collagen Boost Face Oil – they work wonders when it comes to stimulating the production of collagen. After use, hydration is restored and the skin looks plumper and revitalised. This product can either be gently massaged into the skin with fingers, or worked into the skin using our popular Terahertz Gua Sha beauty tool.

News from the workshop

Our new cleansing oil is nearly here...

This month

I’ve been busy with: Our stall at the DEYA Harvest Fest

Running the stall with my two little helpers

Last weekend saw me setting up stall at the wonderful DEYA Harvest Fest event in Cheltenham. With many stall visitors commenting on how the cold autumnal weather is starting to dry out their skin, it was no surprise that our Collagen Boost Face Oil sold really well. The Essential Oil Reed Diffusers were also very popular – the gorgeous aromas of rosemary, lemongrass and blood orange always draw people to our stand!

I’ve been listening to: Dr Ranjan Chatterjee's Feel Better, Live More podcast episode: 'Fasting, Hormones & Menopause: Why Women Need A Different Approach To Men with Dr Mindy Pelz'.

Whilst listening to this podcast I had a real penny-drop moment and immediately sent the link to lots of friends. Dr Mindy Pelz is a nutrition expert and a pioneer on the subject of female health and hormones. In one particular section, she discusses what goes on during the four phases of a woman’s cycle and how this can affect how we feel, both physically and emotionally – this really resonated with me. From working to workouts, she introduces the idea that we should be tailoring how we work, exercise, socialise and eat in a way that matches our hormonal profile throughout our cycle.

Mindy also discusses the different stages of women’s lives – reproductive, perimenopausal and post-menopausal – and how different types of fasting can be optimised during each stage. I have never tried fasting but I have to say that the podcast piqued my interest and I intend to try one soon (following Mindy’s guidelines on how to do it safely).

I’ve been reading: Preparing for the Perimenopause and Menopause by Dr Louise Newson

I’ve been cooking:

In previous editions of The Blend, I have introduced you to all manner of soups, stews and cakes, and here I bring you…‘Menopause Cookies’. They are actually a hybrid of several recipes I have experimented with, and the name I have given them reflects the fact that the ingredients will help to tackle many of the symptoms associated with the perimenopause/menopause.

During this stage of life, gut function can sometimes be negatively affected; there can also be changes to blood glucose (sugar) balance. Both of these may result in mood changes and feelings of lethargy, and possibly migraines and headaches. Oats and buckwheat contain soluble and insoluble fibre, both of which help with blood glucose balance and gut function, as well as feeding your beneficial gut microbiota. The dark chocolate contains magnesium, which helps to raise serotonin levels – one of the things responsible for stabilising mood – and flavanoids that enhance blood flow to the brain and can tackle brain fog.

These cookies are semi-sweet, but I think they taste just sweet enough. They are a nutritious and delicious snack, no matter what your age.

Ingredients

70g hulled buckwheat groats (soaked overnight), 35g oats, 45g dark chocolate (70-80% cocoa content is best), 40g raw almonds, 55g dried fruit (I use 30g figs and 25g cranberries), 15g desiccated coconut, 1 teaspoon dried ginger, 40g spelt flour, 55g maple syrup or honey, 30g extra virgin olive oil, 1 egg (lightly beaten).

Method

• Chop the chocolate, dried fruit and almonds into small pieces about the size of small sultanas

   

• Mix all the ingredients together to make a sticky mass

   

• Take about 1 heaped tablespoon of ingredients and, using your hands, form a ball shape and squeeze the mixture together (you may wish to wash your hands after rolling a few balls, as they can become sticky!)

   

• Put the cookie balls onto a flat tray lined with baking paper. Slightly flatten each cookie onto the tray

   

• Bake for 18-20 minutes at 180 degrees celsius, or until the cookies become golden brown around the edges