What is lifestyle medicine?
Lifestyle medicine is a globally recognised medical discipline with a strong evidence base and widespread practice. It’s not about pills and procedures, it’s about behaviour change.
It’s movement, mindset, meals, and sleep. It’s saying: I choose to show up for my body – every damn day, and recognising that the small choices you make daily contribute to your overall health and wellbeing, not just on that day, but the weeks, months and years to follow.
Western medicine has evolved into a get sick/fix it attitude and doesn’t really focus on the preventative measures we can take to support our own health. Menopause is unpreventable and unavoidable, but by considering lifestyle medicine, it can help make it more manageable while also supporting your long-term health.
The 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine
It all starts in your gut
What we use to fuel our body is important. We are what we eat after all. Whole foods, lots of plants, protein and fibre that support metabolic and hormonal health. Not sure where to start? Let us give you a starting spoon…
Ashwa-what-now? The real deal on ashwagandha for menopause
Sam Fitzgibbons
Fibremaxxing: TikTok trend or smart health move?
Dr Anisha Patel
Understanding the metabolic changes at menopause: The hidden impact on health
Dr Sam Morgan
Get physical
Regular movement tailored to your body and goals, whether that’s walking, strength training, or dancing. Movement is not only good for metabolism, but our mental health, our joints, muscles and bones, and injury prevention. Need a nudge to get moving?
Strength training in midlife: Perimenopause, muscle loss and mental health
Gail Titchener
The mental health benefits of walking, stretching and moving your body
Lucy Rowland
Rested over tested
Prioritise quality rest to regulate mood, hormones, and immune function. Sleep is such an important factor in our overall health and wellbeing. Easier said than done, right?
During menopause, oestrogen and progesterone levels drop, and that messes with the brain chemicals that regulate sleep.
Less oestrogen = more hot flushes, night sweats, and disrupted thermoregulation.
Struggling to sleep? How Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy can help
Warren Foot
Mental wellbeing
When fluctuating hormones meet cortisol (your stress hormone) it can throw everything further off balance and exacerbate symptoms. Cortisol can increase weight gain, brain fog and make that all-important sleep worse.
Techniques like mindfulness, breathwork, and therapy can help to reduce chronic stress.
Gut health and stress: Understanding the link
Millie Proud
Mindfulness and the menopause
Penny Metcalf
Social connection
Silence helps no one. Community, conversation, and emotional support are powerful tools. You’re not alone. Talk, share, and reach out. Or read other people’s stories.
Be the woman who makes it easier for the next.
Join our 6000-strong Facebook group of Menopause cheerleaders to get that all important support. Find your support team here.
Let’s talk toxins
Perhaps it’s obvious but still important to say – if it doesn’t serve you, swerve it.
Cigarettes, excess alcohol, ultra-processed junk. They don’t just mess with your health. They mess with your hormones.
During menopause, your body’s already working in overdrive. Don’t make it fight harder.
Small steps, big impact. For menopause and beyond.
You’re in control
Lifestyle medicine isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. Every choice you make counts towards a better menopause experience and improved long-term health.
If you still aren’t sure where to start, we’ve probably got a resource for that.
We’ve been vocal about debunking menopause for the last 7 years but love another opportunity to get LOUDER. Remember, menopause isn’t a problem to fix. It’s a phase to reclaim – in your own way.
