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October is World Menopause Month!

If you're one of the 40 million women over 45, you might be having a hot flash now. Menopause is a natural part of the aging process. There are some things to celebrate during the "change," and World Menopause Month's goal is to help you embrace it. Here some books in our health collection to that will hopefully provide the best ways to find balance and well-being.

As women approach menopause, many start to experience the physical and emotional indignities of hormonal fluctuation: metabolic stall and weight gain, hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia, memory loss or brain fog, irritability, low libido, and painful sex. Too often, doctors tell us that these discomforts are to be expected and that we will have to wait them out during "the change"; some of us even agree to be unnecessarily medicated. But Dr. Anna Cabeca's research and experience with thousands of her patients show that there is a fast-acting and nonpharmaceutical way to dramatically and permanently alleviate these symptoms.

Liz Earle, MBE, is one of the world's most respected and trusted authorities on wellbeing. Following up on her bestselling books, Skin and The Good Gut Guide, this beautifully illustrated guide shares all of the information, tips and advice you need for a healthy menopause. She provides guidance on how to balance your hormones, the importance of a nourishing diet, the myths and facts about HRT, osteoporosis, how to optimize bone health, and how to boost energy and self-esteem. An expert on beauty, Liz Earle also provides advice on how to take special care of skin, hair and nails, and how to combat aging with supplements. She also shares 60 nutritious recipes - including many suitable for vegetarians - to help you feel and look your best

For years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was hailed as a miracle. Study after study showed that HRT, if initiated at the onset of menopause, could ease symptoms ranging from hot flashes to memory loss; reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and some cancers; and even extend a woman's overall life expectancy. But when a large study by the Women's Health Initiative announced results showing an uptick in breast cancer among women taking HRT, the winds shifted abruptly, and HRT, officially deemed a carcinogen, was abandoned. Now, sixteen years after HRT was left for dead, Dr. Bluming, a medical oncologist, and Dr. Tavris, a social psychologist, track its strange history and present a compelling case for its resurrection. They investigate what led the public -- and much of the medical establishment -- to accept the Women's Health Initiative's often exaggerated claims, while also providing a fuller picture of the science that supports HRT. A sobering and revelatory read, Estrogen Matters sets the record straight on this beneficial treatment and provides an empowering path to wellness for women everywhere.

The essential guide for women approaching or experiencing menopause from women's health expert, Dr Rosemary Leonard. In this definitive guide, Dr Rosemary Leonard debunks some of the myths surrounding the menopause, including why 'perimenopause' is a layman's term, and the pros and cons of HRT. Rosemary discusses the best approaches to the menopause and whether drugs, holistic remedies or other forms of treatment will work best for the individual.

Covering everything from hot flushes, changes to your menstrual bleeding pattern, how to tackle sex after menopause, and advice on alternative remedies, Menopause the Answers is the comprehensive 'bible' on how to navigate your body's changes.

Bestselling author Maryon Stewart shows how you can alleviate the symptoms of menopause - naturally and effectively; through diet, supplements, herbal remedies, exercise and relaxation.
The Natural Menopause Plan includes more than 90 delicious recipes. All are easy to make and brimming with vital nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and essential fatty acids. Many are especially designed to include naturally occurring estrogens (phytoestrogens); a safe and effective alternative to HRT. You'll find delicious smoothies, pancakes and muesli recipes for breakfast. Lunch and dinner choices include fresh salads, soups, risotto, bakes, curries, stir-fries and more, with plenty of options for special diets. Desserts and snacks offer choices like cheesecake, fruit salads, cakes, bars and breads. Each is specially designed to alleviate menopausal symptoms in a healthful, lasting way.

Deeply optimistic, reassuring, and essential, the book the North American Menopause Society called "required reading" is now revised and updated, with over 20 percent new material that incorporates the latest medical findings, cutting-edge research, and best-practices advice. Expertly separating fact from fiction in the latest "breakthrough" medical studies, it shows you what to pay attention to, and what you can ignore. Learn about the role of hormones and the latest advances in hormone therapy. The truth about hot flashes and how to deal with getting one at work. The impact of menopause on sexuality and how to manage an up-and-down libido. There are chapters on heart health (how to protect it), moods (how to ride them out), and exercise (how to stretch without strain). And finally, why this period of life can be a natural springboard to staying healthy, feeling great, and looking beautiful for the next act of your life.