Dr. Sarah Berry

Yes, I still sleep really badly. I don't think HRT is the answer for everyone. And some people can't take it if they're contraindicated with certain risk related to cancer. And some people choose not to take it. And it certainly doesn't solve everything. I do think the evidence is very compelling for reduction in many symptoms.

Yes, I still sleep really badly. I don't think HRT is the answer for everyone. And some people can't take it if they're contraindicated with certain risk related to cancer. And some people choose not to take it. And it certainly doesn't solve everything. I do think the evidence is very compelling for reduction in many symptoms.

I think the evidence is compelling or increasing and building for the beneficial effects it also has on some of these health effects that happen during menopause, like blood pressure, cholesterol, tummy fat. So I've chosen to take it for both health and for symptoms. reduce symptoms.

I think the evidence is compelling or increasing and building for the beneficial effects it also has on some of these health effects that happen during menopause, like blood pressure, cholesterol, tummy fat. So I've chosen to take it for both health and for symptoms. reduce symptoms.

There isn't a one size fits all, there isn't a silver bullet, but an overall healthier dietary pattern, I believe can reduce menopause symptoms. This comes from other published research, as well as our own research that we've done at ZOE, where we've looked in a subgroup of individuals over 12 to 18 week period and looked at those

There isn't a one size fits all, there isn't a silver bullet, but an overall healthier dietary pattern, I believe can reduce menopause symptoms. This comes from other published research, as well as our own research that we've done at ZOE, where we've looked in a subgroup of individuals over 12 to 18 week period and looked at those

who transition to a healthier diet, they're actually following the ZOE program, but the underlying principles are the same for all individuals to follow a healthy diet. So increased plant diversity, increased fiber, a very kind of Mediterranean style diet. And what we see in those people who are improving their diet, they have 35% reduction in symptoms. Now that's huge.

who transition to a healthier diet, they're actually following the ZOE program, but the underlying principles are the same for all individuals to follow a healthy diet. So increased plant diversity, increased fiber, a very kind of Mediterranean style diet. And what we see in those people who are improving their diet, they have 35% reduction in symptoms. Now that's huge.

I do have to caveat that to say though, that there wasn't a control arm. So it's not a clinical, an RCTS, we call it. It's a study where we followed people at one point in time and collected data at another point in time. What we now need to do is repeat this with a control arm to see if we see the same size effect.

I do have to caveat that to say though, that there wasn't a control arm. So it's not a clinical, an RCTS, we call it. It's a study where we followed people at one point in time and collected data at another point in time. What we now need to do is repeat this with a control arm to see if we see the same size effect.

But there are other studies that have, in a randomized control trial, asked people to follow the Mediterranean diet or control diet, and they see a similar magnitude of around 30% reduction in symptoms, which is huge and promising, I think.

But there are other studies that have, in a randomized control trial, asked people to follow the Mediterranean diet or control diet, and they see a similar magnitude of around 30% reduction in symptoms, which is huge and promising, I think.

But I think where we have to be really careful with menopause because we are desperate, because we're struggling, I think we're really susceptible to marketing to this menowashing. And I think there are so many supplements that are being sold as the silver bullet, you know, and I see it on social media. And I think firstly, okay, if it works for you, great. If you can afford it, great.

But I think where we have to be really careful with menopause because we are desperate, because we're struggling, I think we're really susceptible to marketing to this menowashing. And I think there are so many supplements that are being sold as the silver bullet, you know, and I see it on social media. And I think firstly, okay, if it works for you, great. If you can afford it, great.

But what worries me is people who are spending a lot of money that they could be using to for a healthier dietary pattern or, you know, a gym membership or whatever on a supplement that there is no evidence to support. And the evidence is very, very weak. Except for a supplement called soy isoflavones, there is very weak evidence that any other supplements will work consistently.

But what worries me is people who are spending a lot of money that they could be using to for a healthier dietary pattern or, you know, a gym membership or whatever on a supplement that there is no evidence to support. And the evidence is very, very weak. Except for a supplement called soy isoflavones, there is very weak evidence that any other supplements will work consistently.

They might work for some people, but consistently.

They might work for some people, but consistently.

Yeah. So soy isoflavones are a particular chemical that are found in some foods. It's a chemical that has a structure very similar to oestrogen. So it actually binds to the oestrogen receptors in the body, which is why it has a beneficial effects on many symptoms. Now, soy isoflavones are consumed in quite small amounts in the UK and the US.

Yeah. So soy isoflavones are a particular chemical that are found in some foods. It's a chemical that has a structure very similar to oestrogen. So it actually binds to the oestrogen receptors in the body, which is why it has a beneficial effects on many symptoms. Now, soy isoflavones are consumed in quite small amounts in the UK and the US.