As a Menopause Coach and Counsellor, I meet so many women who feel like their bodies are betraying them.
The hot flushes, weight gain, exhaustion, memory lapses, it can feel like everything is changing overnight. But what’s really going on isn’t just happening on the surface, it’s happening deep within, at a cellular level.
Menopause is a natural transition, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. And understanding what’s happening inside your body is one of the most empowering steps you can take to reclaim your wellbeing.
Your Hormones, Your Cells
Menopause officially begins when you’ve gone 12 months without a period. But the changes start long before that, during perimenopause. This is when your levels of estrogen and progesterone begin to decline and that drop affects nearly every cell in your body.
Estrogen isn’t just a reproductive hormone. It helps regulate your brain, bones, skin, heart, muscles, and more. So when it begins to decrease, your cells notice. That’s why you might feel tired, foggy, moody, or achy. It’s not in your head. It’s in your cells.
Fatigue and Mitochondrial Slowdown during menopause
Mitochondria are the energy factories in your cells. Estrogen helps them function well. As your estrogen drops, mitochondrial function slows down, which can leave you feeling drained and foggy-headed—even after a good night’s sleep.
Skin, Bones, and Muscle Changes
Estrogen also supports collagen production, so when it decreases, your skin may become thinner, less elastic, and more prone to dryness or wrinkles. Bone cells, too, are affected estrogen helps balance the breakdown and rebuilding of bone tissue. Without it, bone loss can accelerate, increasing your risk of osteoporosis.
Muscle mass naturally declines with age, but menopause speeds it up. This is why strength-based movement is so important during this phase of life not just to stay strong, but to support cellular function and metabolism.
Cellular Inflammation and Belly Fat
You might notice weight shifting to your midsection. This isn’t just about food—declining estrogen encourages fat to accumulate around the belly. These fat cells also release inflammatory chemicals, which can affect your mood, joints, and overall energy.
Cellular Health: So What Can You Do?
Here’s the good news: we are not powerless. Supporting your cellular health through natural, consistent habits can make a world of difference.
- Move your body daily. Strength bearing activities like Pilates, aqua aerobics, or resistance training boost metabolism and support bone and muscle cells.
- Use transdermal magnesium. It supports over 300 processes in the body, including energy production, nerve function, and sleep. Magnesium sprays can be a game changer.
- Prioritise sleep and hydration. Your cells repair overnight and rely on water to function well.
Move your body daily. Strength bearing activities like Pilates, aqua aerobics, or resistance training boost metabolism and support bone and muscle cells.
Eat with purpose. Whole foods rich in antioxidants like berries, green veg, nuts, and seeds help reduce cellular inflammation.
Use transdermal magnesium. It supports over 300 processes in the body, including energy production, nerve function, and sleep. Magnesium sprays can be a game changer.
Prioritise sleep and hydration. Your cells repair overnight and rely on water to function well.
Menopause is not the end, I call it a cellular recalibration.
