In my most recent episode of Ask Me Anything, Shelley asked about post menopausal inflammation and high blood sugar peaks and troughs. This is actually something that comes up a lot in Chi Flow with Jo! Most of the participants are peri, mid, and post menopausal so often these symptoms occur.

This is why we do intermittent fasting together as a group in January and February.

Symptoms of joint pain, low energy, putting weight on around the middle, all tend to happen mid and post menopause. This is usually due to liver congestion which can happen from a lifetime of eating fried foods, eating late at night, and alcohol.

So how do we clear the liver so that blood flows well, we don’t have big hot flushes, we don’t suffer from insomnia, and we have good blood sugar levels?

One of the first things we can do in intermittent fasting is Qi Gong. We need to have a good exercise routine to retain muscle mass. This will help things from rocketing out of control and help your resting metabolic rate. So even when you are sitting down at a rest, your body is working well because you have good muscle mass. Gentle squats using the arms are an easy exercise. We don’t need to run a marathon, we just need to stay active.

Late Night Snacks

Another way to give the liver a good cleanse is by not eating late at night. That is why we do intermittent fasting. It’s really important, especially as an older woman, not to over stress the body. When we do intermittent fasting and we are older, if we suddenly launch into not eating for large periods of time our hormones will go crazy and our kidneys will not be happy. Our kidneys manage the balance of our hormones in the body.

So we want to do this gradually and can do that by making our dinner time earlier and earlier.

We do this together in Chi Flow with Jo over the course of six weeks. We start with not eating from 8pm to 8am and gradually extend that time.

Food for the Liver

Colour: The Colour for the liver in Chinese Medicine is green. A green and kind of yellow colour. You’ll see if people have problems with their liver they have yellow eyes and if they have jaundice they have yellow skin. So that helps us to remember that it’s that yellow green that actually nourishes the liver. 

Flavour: The flavour for the liver is sour. You can use sour foods like cider vinegar or lemon in hot water to help cleanse the liver. Other foods would include vinaigrettes on green leafy vegetables.

A food that I really like is milk thistle. Be careful when taking milk thistle though, it has such an effect on the liver that if you’re having a blood test, you must tell the people giving you the test that you are taking milk thistle. I would recommend taking it every other month.

And remember you can’t be eating loads of burgers and chips and then think milk thistle will solve my problems!

Another thing that I really like is turmeric. Turmeric is a stimulant for the bile in the liver and the gallbladder. So taking plenty of fresh turmeric in your everyday diet is really good. Also dandelion root, burdock root, chicory, and bitter greens are really going to benefit the liver. 

We also don’t want to stress the body and one thing that does that is coffee. If you’re drinking lots of coffee and you’re wondering why you’re having all these hormonal problems, try changing that out for dandelion root coffee. Dandelion root coffee is a wonderfully bitter flavour that’s going to benefit the kidneys and will help detox and clear the liver. 

Why not join Chi Flow and see how easy our Intermittent Fasting programme really is?

Intermittent Fasting (IF) is more than just a trendy health practice—it’s a powerful tool to reset your body, mind, and spirit. By alternating periods of eating and fasting, IF can help balance blood sugar levels, support weight management, enhance mental clarity, and promote cellular repair. It’s a natural way to reduce inflammation, improve energy, and align with your body’s innate rhythms.

Ready to kickstart your journey?

Join Chi Flow with Jo’s 6-Week Intermittent Fasting Programme and embrace a healthier, more vibrant you. Together, we’ll combine the ancient wisdom of Qi Gong, mindful self-care, and balanced eating to elevate your New Year energy. Let’s make 2025 your year of transformation!

With Love and Chi,

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.  

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.