Menopause and Alcohol-Intolerance
Something that has surprised us whenever we have done events with JOMO is the number of women who suddenly find themselves intolerant to alcohol during their menopause. So how exactly does alcohol affect menopause? And can your menopause make you alcohol intolerant? Here is everything you need to know about alcohol and menopause.
Want to keep enjoying cocktails but can no longer drink alcohol? Then try our special JOMO alcohol-free menopause box. This box, created in partnership with the Serenity Women’s Clinic, contains different alcohol-free products to help you through menopause.
What Happens During Menopause?
Menopause is the slow decline in estrogen and progesterone levels. The first stage is perimenopause which can start as early as your late thirties. Perimenopause ends when you have not had a period for 12 months. At that point, you have hit your menopause.
Perimenopause and menopause cause changes in your body. You can experience a range of symptoms and side effects including the following:
Anxiety
Mood swings
Brain fog
Hot flushes
Night sweats and difficulty sleeping
Muscle and joint pain
Changes in your skin
At some point, when you are post-menopause, these symptoms can begin to lift.
Does Alcohol Affect Your Menopause Symptoms?
You might be surprised to hear that there is little research on the connection between alcohol and menopause. That being said, many women claim that alcohol does affect their menopause symptoms.
There are, however, a few specific menopause symptoms that alcohol does seem to affect.
Hot Flushes & Night Sweats
Two of the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flushes and night sweats.
Many women experience increased hot flushes as a result of drinking alcohol during their menopause. After all, a common side effect of alcohol is getting flushed anyway!
Several studies back this up. However, there have yet to be clinical studies (there are observational studies) proving a link between menopause and alcohol, except for specific alcoholic drinks like wine.
That said, it seems to be the case that people who drink less alcohol experience fewer hot flushes and fewer night sweats. So, if you are looking for a way to decrease these symptoms, it makes sense to try going alcohol-free!
Does Menopause Decrease Your Alcohol Tolerance?
Many women find that their tolerance to alcohol starts to decrease during menopause. This could be simply due to age. Women tend to become more sensitive to alcohol as we age. This is partially because our bodies start to lose water, so there is less water to dilute the alcohol.
The number of dehydrogenase enzymes in the liver - the enzymes responsible for metabolizing alcohol - starts to decrease too. That means the body is slower at metabolizing alcohol therefore we become more sensitive to its effects. That means having stronger side effects when drinking, but also more intense hangovers.
Introducing the JOMO ‘It’s My Menopause Box’
If you are one of the many women who no longer enjoy drinking alcohol during their menopause then JOMO has you covered. In partnership with the Serenity Women’s Clinic, JOMO has created a box specifically for women in their perimenopause and menopause. The box is perfect for women quitting alcohol due to their menopause.
This specially curated box contains:
A Bottle of SENTIA - a mood-enhancing alcohol-free spirit
A bottle of the Fluere Alcohol-free Pink Gin
A sample of M Powder’s Peri-Boost which targets many symptoms of menopause.
A Pomegranate & Ginger CBD Drink to help with sleep
A Sparkling Coconut Water to keep you hydrated
A bottle of Willy’s Apple Cider Vinegar to support your gut health
A Bottle of UNLTD Vitamin-Rich Lager
2 snacks which are good for the mind and soul
A Ready To Drink Peach Bellini
Garnishes for your drinks
Printed menopause guidance by Serenity Founder and Consultant Gynaecologist, Miss Smita Sinha BSc MBBS MRCOG
‘Little Read’ Mini Magazine by M Powder
So if you are struggling with your menopause and want a treat to not only indulge yourself but also to help you feel great about yourself, then make sure to order the JOMO menopause alcohol-free hampe