A recent study from The Mayo Clinic in the USA found that "menopause-related symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep disturbances, joint aches and cognitive difficulties damage the quality of life for millions of women. They also can adversely affect women in the workplace. A newly published Mayo Clinic study puts numbers on that cost: an estimated $1.8 billion in lost work time per year and $26.6 billion annually when medical expenses are added, in the U.S. alone."
In a recent presentation about menopause and the workplace, Breeda Bermingham, working with Henpicked and AIB told us that more than 800K women in Ireland are experiencing menopause at this time. In 2023, life expectancy and the length of a woman's working life has dramatically increased from where it was 100 years ago and so now women live with menopause for a lot longer. This generation is one of the first to be actively engaged in the workplace through this transition. According to the Fawcett Society report 2022 around 80% of people going through menopause are at work, 1 in 4 consider leaving work and the cost of replacing this talent pool is huge. If you look at the social responsibility case, 46% did not disclose they were suffering from menopause symptoms as they were worried it would be perceived negatively, and 41% were worried their abilities would be questioned. It is the right thing to do, to enable colleagues to continue to thrive at work.
How are you addressing menopause in the workplace? Each workplace is unique, just as each person's experience of menopause is unique.
I find when delivering my 6-week menopause cookery course in workplaces, most like to promote it as a cooking course to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause some like to call it their healthy eating cooking course. That's ok, it is based on eating for 6 key areas that are applicable to all of us; brain health, heart health, inflammation, immunity, mood and ultimate health, either way the company branded cookbook is a winner!
It might be useful for you to know some foods that may help alleviate menopause symptoms. I believe that nutrition and lifestyle are the foundation blocks for a successful menopause transition. Once these are in order, it is then a good time to seek help for specific symptoms and this may be with HRT, supplements or alternative therapies.
According to a US study, (The journal of North American Menopause Society) 88% of women experienced a reduction in hot flashes when following a plant-based diet and consuming 1/2 cup soybeans per day.
Until I experienced induced menopause I did not consume much soy at all. I now know that isoflavones, a phytoestrogen (plant-based compound found in soybeans) mimics estrogen in the body and may help alleviate some symptoms of menopause. It certainly did for me. I include them, as well as other food containing phytoestrogens, like lentils and flaxseeds in my daily diet. In my 6-week cooking course, I teach people how to make easy, tasty and nutritious dishes, containing phytoestrogens to nourish themselves through menopause and those around them.
Did you know that edamame beans are young soybeans? They are a natural source of protein, phytoestrogens, fibre, and vitamins, inc B & K. I like to buy them frozen, in health food shops, larger supermarkets and Asian supermarkets. below are some ideas of how they can be included in your daily diet. I simply steam them for a few mins and & refresh them in cold water then they are ready to go.
Recipes I regularly do:
If you don't know where to start you could look at getting in touch with Breeda Bermingham, Loretta Dignam, Catherine O'Keeffe or Deborah Garlick - Menopause in the Workplace to help set up a programme.
In workplaces I have been in I have seen some of the following implemented:
Every workplace is different. Just like everyone's experience of menopause is different.
I can certainly help from a food perspective. If you would like to have a cookery demo in your workplace so that employees are supported, educated, nourished and empowered to nourish themselves and those around them then please feel free to book a discovery call with me.
You can find out more about the workplace menopause cooking course we offer at Fiona's food for life. here.
