Remi Odisho Integrative

If you feel like stress suddenly hits harder during perimenopause, you're not imagining it.

Many women notice they become more anxious, overwhelmed, or feel that strange combination of being wired but exhausted. Things that once felt manageable can suddenly feel much harder to cope with.

This happens because perimenopause isn’t just about changing reproductive hormones — it also affects the nervous system.

As ovarian hormone production fluctuates, the body increasingly relies on the adrenal glands to help regulate stress hormones like cortisol. At the same time, sleep disruption, blood sugar fluctuations, and nervous system sensitivity often increase. The result? Your body has less buffering capacity for stress than it did before.

This is where nutrition becomes incredibly important.

The adrenal glands contain some of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in the body, and during periods of chronic stress our requirements increase. Adequate vitamin C helps support cortisol balance, nervous system resilience, and energy production.

Including vitamin-C rich foods such as kiwi fruit, berries, citrus, capsicum, broccoli and leafy greens can be a simple but powerful way to support the stress response during this stage of life.

While nutrition alone isn’t the whole answer, it can play a meaningful role in helping the body adapt to hormonal change.

One of the most common concerns I hear from women in clinic is that their metabolism suddenly feels different.

Let's talk about WHY.

Hormones play an important role in metabolic regulation.

Estrogen, in particular, helps regulate insulin sensitivity, appetite signalling and how the body stores fat. During perimenopause, estrogen levels fluctuate significantly from cycle to cycle, which can affect how efficiently the body processes energy.

At the same time, gradual changes in muscle mass during midlife can also influence metabolic rate. Muscle tissue plays an important role in glucose regulation and energy metabolism.

Sleep disruption and stress hormone changes can further influence metabolic health during this stage.

These physiological shifts help explain why many women feel that the strategies that worked for them in their 20s and 30s are no longer as effective.

Understanding how hormones influence metabolism during perimenopause can help guide more targeted approaches to supporting metabolic health.

If you’re navigating metabolic changes during midlife, integrative support may help provide clarity and structure during this transition.