How Wine Affects Menopause: What You Need to Know

Menopause is a natural part of ageing; when it occurs, many women experience physical and emotional changes. While some of these changes can be managed with lifestyle changes and hormone therapy, research has shown that certain foods and beverages can also have an impact.

One such beverage is wine. Menopause and drinking wine are something that a lot of women may have doubts regarding. Although the effects of wine on menopause are still being studied, there are some potential benefits that women should be aware of. First, wine may help reduce the severity of hot flashes, a common symptom of menopause.

Studies have shown that women who drank one to two glasses of wine daily experienced fewer and less severe hot flashes. This is believed to be because wine contains phytoestrogens, which may act as a natural oestrogen replacement. 

Second, wine has been associated with improved mental health during menopause. A review of studies found that women who drank wine were less likely to experience depression and anxiety during menopause. This may be due to the fact that wine contains polyphenols, which are thought to have a calming effect on the body. 

Overall, moderate menopause and drinking wine appear beneficial for women during menopause. However, women should be aware that excessive alcohol consumption can have serious health risks and consult their healthcare provider for advice about alcohol consumption.

Now, let us understand how wine can help or be harmful to women entering their menopause or having hit their menopause. 

Alcohol Drinking and Menopause

Several habits and lifestyle choices can affect the condition of menopause. Alcohol can become one such reason. We will look at the consumption of alcohol in general here and not just wine.

How Does Alcohol Affect?

For a deeper understanding, let us peek at some facts surrounding alcohol consumption. With age, the body of men and women becomes sensitive to the effects of alcohol.

The reason is that the tendons and the cartilage tend to lose water as one ages. This causes the body to hold less water, meaning the lesser amount of water in the body will not be able to dilute alcohol that much. 

Alcohol has more effect on women's bodies than men's. Women usually have lower body weight, so their body absorbs alcohol more quickly. 

Women are less tolerant to alcohol than men because they have less of the alcohol enzyme in their stomach, the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This enzyme is responsible for metabolising alcohol in the stomach. Moreover, this enzyme is relatively inactive in women's livers. As a result, far more alcohol is absorbed in their bloodstream than in men. 

What Is Menopause?

There is a time in a woman's life when her periods stop, and that phase is menopause. When a woman ages, the body gradually produces smaller amounts of oestrogen, the reproductive hormone. 

When a woman hits menopause, she is no longer fertile and cannot conceive children. The average age that a woman reaches menopause is 51 years, but it can differ; some may get in the 40s.

One can know that they have reached their menopause phase through the symptoms. These symptoms may occur in them due to low-level reproductive hormones:

• Night sweats
• Insomnia 
• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Painful intercourse
• Itchiness
• Decreases sex drive

The production of the hormone in a woman's body increases risks for:

• Heart problems
• Broken bones
• Bone loss

What Relationship Does Wine Have With Menopause?

Women enter the menopause phase when they enter the age of 40 or 50's. The common symptoms women face are hot flashes, the main issues of concern that can be affected negatively or positively by alcohol. 

In the words of Dr Michael Cackovic, a foetal medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, "Some studies show that perimenopausal women who drink [alcohol] had a lower risk for hot flashes compared with [abstainers], while some studies show that postmenopausal women who drink have more hot flushes and sleep disturbances." 

He says that less water means less available for the dilution of alcohol. The lesser the dilution, means higher vulnerability to alcohol. He added, "The effects of alcohol [may be] different about where you are in your menopausal journey."

Finally, wine may help reduce the risk of heart disease, a common complication of menopause. Studies have shown that moderate consumption of wine is associated with lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and triglycerides, all of which can help lower the risk of heart disease.

Does Wine Lead To Hot Flashes?

Alcohol can have a complex effect on women with hot flashes. Most women have the opinion that red wine triggers hot flashes. But the number of studies to support this fact are small. The difference in opinion may have been forged depending upon the transition difference of the menopause phase.

A study suggested the fact that perimenopausal women who had alcohol had less risk of hot flashes as compared to women who never had a drink. The sex hormone levels of the participants showed no effect of alcohol. And noticed that they were not affected by alcohol use.

Dr Jodi Flaws, a professor in comparative biosciences at the University of Illinois, says, "We initially thought it could be because alcohol is inducing enzymes that metabolise oestrogen, causing low oestrogen, which is a risk factor for hot flashes,". She added, "However, our analysis doesn't support this concept." "It is also possible that the alcohol is causing dilation of blood vessels, which could be linked to hot flashes."

How Can Mother's Cuppa Tea Help You?

We are in the business of caring for women in their perimenopause. We curate specially prepared teas that address women's problems during this time. We have three special teas in our wellness collection box. The no.1 Energise tea can help you fight lower energy levels, and you can look at the other tea's that help with your symptoms.