Mainstream menopause narrative busted…again!

In recent years, more and more women have turned to HRT.

This surge isn't random, and it isn't driven by groundbreaking new scientific evidence revealing previously unknown benefits – no such evidence has emerged.

So, what has changed?

Pharmaceutical companies have forged alliances with celebrities, mainstream media outlets and politicians to promote the narrative that HRT is not just helpful for an exaggerated number of symptoms, but essential for safeguarding women's long-term health through the menopause transition and beyond.

Even women with mild menopausal symptoms, or those who develop minor side effects while on HRT, are choosing to medicate through midlife under the persistent belief that it will protect their health.

We're constantly told that the natural drop in hormones that occurs in menopause puts our hearts, brains, and bones at risk. But when we scrutinize the "evidence" cited for HRT's supposed disease-preventing benefits, we don’t find robust studies on women in natural menopause. Instead, we find research involving women who've had hysterectomies, often with ovary removal (find out why such studies are irrelevant for most women here), or flimsy studies that don't hold up as a foundation for medical advice.

In my work, I frequently highlight the Blue Zones (such as regions in Sardinia, Italy, and Nicoya, Costa Rica) as living proof that long-lasting good health doesn't come from pills, patches, or creams. Postmenopausal women in these areas experience a drop in hormones as they move on from their reproductive years, yet without HRT, they outlive and out-thrive the average Western woman.

Tying your well-being to a pharmaceutical supply chain isn't among the health-boosting habits shared by residents of Blue Zones. What is common? Largely FREE lifestyle practices like nurturing family and community ties, embracing faith and purpose, eating fresh whole foods, incorporating natural movement and minimizing stress – all of which come with ZERO negative side-effects!

Such simple, empowering lifestyle interventions challenge Big Pharma's profits in many areas of health, not just menopause. So, it's unsurprising that attempts have been made to undermine the work of Blue Zone researchers, claiming, "We can't verify the ages of these populations."

One could visit a Blue Zone (there's even one in Loma Linda, California), note the vitality of its elders, and compare it to the frailty and medicated decline that is unfortunately often seen among elders in the West, especially in the US, where average life expectancy is low compared to other high-income OECD nations. But now, peer-reviewed research, recently published in The Gerontologist, has validated the Blue Zones' demographic data.

By cross-referencing multiple independent sources (civil records, church archives, genealogical data, and more) and applying advanced demographic methods, this latest research confirms the age data from Blue Zones as "valid and reliable," meeting or exceeding global standards in gerontology.

I've seen menopause influencers tout HRT (and belittle possible negative side-effects) with lines such as, "I'd rather be on hormones now, even with minor risks, than suffer poor health in old age." But HRT doesn’t promote long-term good health. In addition, populations in Blue Zones don't just live longer – they maintain robust health into their later years, thanks to balanced lifestyles, not medications.

The prevailing menopause narrative thrives on fear and unsubstantiated claims. It rests on misogynistic ideas about female bodies being prone to malfunction and uses these ideas as part of a business strategy. Relentless HRT promotion is bullying women to adopt a medical approach to midlife. This is not about genuine care for your long-term well-being.

Wouldn’t you rather adopt Blue Zoner habits over influencer hype? Luckily, we don’t need to move to a different country to embrace the pillars of health found in Blue Zones. We can consciously make shifts in our everyday life, which will help us experience vibrant health now and in the future.

For more on this latest research, check out the study here. Also read the article on the study on the Blue Zones website here.