Estrogen helps optimize health in many ways, including: optimal sleep, brain function, sexual function, and autonomic function (the part of the nervous system that controls temperature, pulse and blood flow). Progesterone helps you maintain a calm mood.

When estrogen dips, symptoms can include hot flashes, poor sleep, memory problems, low libido and vaginal dryness. When progesterone dips, you can have anxiety and mood swings.

Here are 6 ways to address those concerns and optimize menopause:

1. Eat a daily handful of edamame. For many women, all they need to do to handle menopausal symptoms is eat a daily handful of edamame, or soybean pods — a standard appetizer in Japanese restaurants. Edamame is rich in phytoestrogens, a plant-based, weaker version of estrogen. So eating a handful a day raises your estrogen levels naturally. You can find edamame in the frozen food section of most supermarkets and health food stores. Eat the pea-like beans inside the pod, not the pod itself. Add a little garlic or paprika — yum!  

2. Take a black cohosh supplement. Research shows that black cohosh can help promote a balanced autonomic function, which can reduce hot flashes. Take it daily for two months (it takes about that long to see the full effect). After that, stay on it, but you can usually lower the dose.

3. Have a DEXA bone scan. The medical profession has finally (and wisely) come to their senses with formal recommendations for eliminating many unnecessary and harmful medical tests. But some professional organizations overdid it when they recommended an end to DEXA scans for bone density. That may be a smart recommendation for conventional doctors, since their only response to a finding of low bone density is to write a prescription for bone-building medications, which research shows are more toxic than helpful. But many natural remedies (like a supplement of the mineral strontium) can help promote bone health, without the toxicity. I recommend a DEXA bone scan at 45 years of age, and every five years thereafter.

4. Get a colonoscopy. This is one of the cancer screening tests I think is truly helpful in preventing cancer. I recommend a colonoscopy at age 50, and every 10 years thereafter.

5. Check your blood pressure. It's a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. And there are lots of conventional and natural ways to get high blood pressure under control. Most supermarkets have a machine where you can check your blood pressure for free. Do it once or twice a year. Each time, take two or three readings and compute the average.