1. Tired all the time? You are far from alone; persistent fatigue is a regular reason for visiting the doctor. Tiredness can be caused by a too-busy lifestyle but do not brush your concerns under the carpet. Give yourself two or three weeks to make lifestyle changes; get more sleep; trim your social calendar; eat more wholesome food; drink more fluids; cut back on caffeine and alcohol. If you make these changes and still feel the symptoms then seek professional help.

2. Eat more good fat and less bad fat! Good omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, salmon, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds) give your body the raw material for making anti-inflammatory hormones. Food rich in omega-6 fatty acids (corn, safflower, sunflower and sesame oils) are the building-blocks for inflammation-promoting eicosanoids. Try to strike a happy balance.

3. Regular exercise is crucial for every woman. Without it, your bones thin automatically.

4. Looking for a non-hormonal alternative to common menopausal symptoms? Quit smoking, exercise daily, practise relaxation and deep breathing techniques and avoid spicy food, alcohol and caffeine. Try to incorporate one or two daily servings of food rich in isoflavones (soya nuts, soya milk, tofu, lima beans, lentils, kidney beans). However do not exceed 100mg/day.

5. Stop and ask THE question! In the split second after which the urge to complain, criticise, nag, blame, threaten or punish arises, but before the words leave your moth, stop and ask yourself