Some things that work just as well for aleviating menopausal symptoms you can pick up at any supermarket.

The Hollywood top tip for menopause and perimenopause (that stage before menopause that feels like permanent PMT) is to introduce, humous and chick peas into your daily diet. The reason is because chickpeas, seeds and legumes contain compounds called phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen activity. Basically tell your body you are not aging at all but young and vital and then hey presto your body responds with those feelings of vitality.

If you mix it with cold red peppers, carrots, celery, anything colourful makes a great mid morning snack and add in a daily walk, 30 minutes that's it, you will lift your mood and thus your life, leaving you feeling less like a bloated, sweaty mess and more like a healthy goddess.

Sadly women got the short straw when it comes to middle age. Hollywood actress, Suzanne Somers says in her best selling book "I'm too young for this" Women are on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, they are uncharacteristically cranky and fatigued—a bitchy, nasty, fuzzy-minded person they barely recognize and don’t enjoy (and neither, by the way, do their partners and families). Sound familiar?

When you have a life without airbrushing, botox and HRT, turning 50 is the most dreaded mountain for any woman to climb. For those on a budget there are some real natural ways to stay looking younger, fitter and healthier including how to get rid of that constant bloating round the middle (with a mind of it own), always appearing when you least expect it.

Not wishing to sound boring and repetitive there are lots of things you can do but they include giving up alcohol, smoking, meat, caffeine, white carbs and replacing them with water, fruit, brown rice, herb tea, fish, vegetables, loads of humous and before you know it you will look and feel like the old (young) you again.

Photo by: BP Miller Unsplash