Perimenopause sneaks into our lives with symptoms of brain fog, irritability, mood swings, difficulty focusing, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and forgetfulness, for starters. 

We all know the loud, pushy messages from ageist diet/wellness culture we receive at precisely this time of our lives. We are particularly vulnerable to these threats and promises now because we feel our bodies and lives are "out of control." Diet/Wellness Culture directives would have us respond to the changes in our bodies during this chapter of life by restricting what we eat. 

But there's something you should know. 

The brain is the organ affected first and foremost when you are undernourished. 

The symptoms of being undernourished are brain fog, irritability, mood swings, difficulty focusing, anxiety, trouble sleeping, problems with memory, and obsessive thoughts, primarily related to food. ​(based on the Minnesota Starvation Study) ​

Let me break this down a little more here:

This is a thumbnail description of very extensive research that took place in 1944 to help us better understand exactly what happens when a human being is underfed and the safest way to restore nutritional health. 36 college-aged men volunteered to live in a controlled environment for 9 months and be studied psychologically and physiologically. For the first 3 months, they were subjected to a battery of tests while eating as they wished. Then for another 3 months, they were fed half of their previous intake while undergoing the same tests. During the final 3 months, they could return to freely eating without restriction and continued to be tested. The findings emphasized the changes in the brain experienced while eating was limited. 

Restricting your eating contributes to the symptoms we attribute to perimenopause, menopause, and growing older. Your body deserves more tending and care during this time of change. The last thing you need is the added stress of being underfed! 

"And I said to my body softly, 'I want to be your friend.' It took a long breath and replied, 'I have been waiting my whole life for this." — Nayyirah Waheed

I know it is not as easy as it sounds to turn away from the multi-billion dollar machine of the anti-aging and diet/wellness industries. 

Please remember that you are not alone.