Approaching menopause? Know how your gut microbiome can help or hinder
Most women are wary of “that certain age” when their estrogen levels begin to drop. The hormone estrogen is of utmost importance in the human body. It regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, fat deposition, adipocyte (fat cell) differentiation, female reproductive functions, bone turnover, cardiovascular health, and cell replication. Low levels of estrogen in post-menopausal women can have an adverse effect on a large number of physiological processes, which has clinical implications downstream: gynecological issues may manifest; in addition, brain cognition and gut health may be affected. Research has begun to unravel the connection between the gut microbiome and the levels of estrogen circulating in the body, also referred to as the estrogen-gut microbiome axis. The gut microbiome plays a major...