The #1 Lifestyle Tweak That Drastically Improved Gabrielle Union's Menopause Symptoms
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Gabrielle Union first burst on the scene in the late '90s and early 2000s as a star, sidekick and villain in popular teen movies like She's All That, 10 Things I Hate About You and Bring It On.
Union, now 51, is still acting, but she's known for so much more than that. She's the author of two honest, funny and sometimes heartbreaking New York Times bestselling memoirs. She's also the mother of five-year-old Kaavia James, who she welcomed via surrogate with her husband Dwyane Wade in 2018. More recently, Union has become a loud and proud advocate for her stepdaughter, model Zaya Wade, who recently transitioned.
OK, so Union has quite a resume. And now, she's raising her voice to discuss a topic that's still somewhat taboo in our society: Menopause.
“We’re living longer," Union told Parade when asked why she thinks menopause is something we're (finally) discussing more. "And women—surprise!—have a voice, and we’re realizing that we’re stronger together. We’re in a community together, and that means we’re going to talk more and share more, and we’re going to talk about things that have sidelined us for eons. Literally, everything that has to do with reproductive organs, we’ve been shamed, sidelined and mistreated by healthcare professionals forever."
Related: Here's What a Hot Flash Actually Feels Like, According to OB/GYNs
Union is hardly a stranger to managing difficult perimenopause and menopause symptoms. Below, she shares the top thing that drastically improved her menopause symptoms, and what anyone going through menopause should avoid if they want to feel better.
The #1 Lifestyle Tweak That Eased Union's Perimenopause Symptoms
In the mid-2010s, perimenopause symptoms hit Union hard. "I felt like I'd gained 30 pounds overnight," she admits.
But when she made some changes to her diet, Union's symptoms drastically improved. "I started making changes in—it's sad I’m thinking of my years in terms of where my husband was playing—2016, when he was in Cleveland. My girlfriend Hanna Bronfman introduced me to a woman named Alisa Vitti, who was the first person who suggested that I try an anti-inflammatory diet. So no gluten, no dairy, no caffeine, no alcohol."
Related: The #1 Best Breakfast for Lowering Inflammation, According to Registered Dietitians
Union was immediately on board—except for one tiny detail. "I was like, 'I can get you three out of four of those, but I’m going to need a margarita once in a while,'" she says with a laugh. "But once I started following that diet, it greatly reduced the symptoms I was experiencing.”
As for what you shouldn't do when you're experiencing menopause symptoms? Sadly, Union says both alcohol and caffeine should probably be off-limits. “Alcohol, caffeine and anything that causes your body inflammation is going to exacerbate the symptoms you’re experiencing from menopause," Union explains. "That caffeine that you’re guzzling because you can’t sleep? It’s working against you, unfortunately."
Related: The Biggest Hormonal Change That Happens to Women Over 50—and How to Manage It
Helping Women Advocate for Themselves While Going Through Menopause
Recently, Union partnered with ClearBlue on their Menopause Stage Indicator, which can help you figure out which stage of menopause you're in by testing every other day. "You test every other day for five days, and every day you document what symptoms you’re experiencing and the severity," Union explains. "From there, you’ll get your likely menopause stage. This allows you to document what’s actually going on with you."
Other than helping you get valuable information, Union says this tool can make it easier for you to advocate for yourself with your doctor, who may be able to help you with treatment options. "Most doctors are incentivized by insurance companies to only spend six minutes with patients," Union says. "This tool allows you to advocate for yourself and allows your healthcare professional to give you appropriate medical advice."
One thing's for sure: We're happy Union is talking about menopause, because someone needed to!
Next up: Gabrielle Union Shares Adorable Video Montage of Daughter Kaavia's Dance Recital
