Menopause, a natural and inevitable phase in a woman’s life, often arrives accompanied by a cascade of hormonal changes that can profoundly impact physical and emotional well-being. Far too often, discussions around this transition remain hushed, shrouded in misconception. Breaking this silence with her characteristic wit and candor, actor-turned-author Twinkle Khanna has openly shared her personal journey through menopause at 51, offering relatable insights into its struggles and her evolving self-care routine. Her honest revelations are not only sparking vital conversations but also empowering women to embrace this stage with greater understanding and support.
Understanding Menopause: More Than Just “Losing Hormones”
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. It’s a biological process confirmed after 12 months without a menstrual period, stemming from the cessation of ovarian follicles producing eggs and a significant drop in estrogen levels. While often anticipated as a time of relief from menstruation, the journey to this stage, known as perimenopause, can be challenging. Twinkle Khanna humorously notes that she believed turning fifty would mean “finding her true self,” but instead, it’s been about “losing hormones”. The World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights that women during this period often contend with various symptoms due to these hormonal shifts.
The Multifaceted Symptoms of Menopause
Twinkle Khanna has vividly described her experience with a range of menopausal symptoms, illustrating just how diverse and disruptive this transition can be. She likens menopause to a “burglar” that not only takes valuables but also “rearranges the furniture to its liking”. Her candid list of challenges includes:
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: These sudden surges of heat, often accompanied by sweating, can affect the face, neck, and chest, disrupting sleep and daily life. Twinkle has expressed feeling “tired, overheated” and like a “human toaster” due to these episodes.
- Physical Changes: She has noted “eroding bone mass, thinning skin, and a new chin hair”.
- Cognitive and Emotional Shifts: Forgetfulness, being emotional without apparent reason, and increased anger are also part of her experience. She quips about forgetting names, movies, and books, only for them to “return the next day like they’d been on an overnight camping trip”.
- Sound Sensitivity (Misophonia): A lesser-discussed symptom she’s developed is a heightened sensitivity to high-pitched sounds and even the rumbling of tides. This sensory shift highlights the profound impact hormonal changes can have on various bodily systems.
- General Malaise: Twinkle describes feeling “tired and energetic, alert and blurry, hot and clammy,” lamenting that her body, once a “team,” is now “busy performing unwanted tasks and refusing to do the basics”.
Khanna has also openly expressed “men-envy,” observing that men’s hormones “never desert them, while ours scatter like IIT graduates migrating to Silicon Valley”.
Embracing Self-Care and Wellness: Twinkle Khanna’s Routine
Recognizing the significant impact of these changes, Twinkle Khanna has adopted a proactive approach to self-care, focusing on lifestyle adjustments, exercise, and nutritional support. Her philosophy centers on “fixing” her body and finding routines that support her through this transition.
Fitness and Movement
After almost two decades, Khanna has returned to weightlifting, incorporating strength training into her routine. Her daily workout plan, even if only for 10 minutes, includes effective exercises such as planks, squats, and lunges to strengthen muscles and maintain a toned physique. She creatively uses one-liter bottles for bicep curls and overhead rows, demonstrating that effective exercise doesn’t always require heavy equipment.
Nutritional Support and Dietary Changes
Twinkle Khanna has also adapted her diet to better suit her body’s changing needs. While details are evolving, she has mentioned a shift towards lighter meals, sometimes opting for toasted sandwiches for lunch and dinner. She notes a reduced craving for certain snacks like soya chakli, banana chips, or peanut chikki, and now enjoys ice cream with her daughter Nitara only once every two weeks.
She supplements her diet with various compounds, indicative of a holistic approach to managing hormonal shifts. These include magnesium glycinate, ashwagandha, lion’s mane, brahmi, and primrose oil. Additionally, she takes perimenopause supplements, iron, and Vitamin D3, underscoring the importance of addressing specific nutrient needs during this phase. Her morning routine often begins with hot water and half a lemon, followed by black coffee to energize her for the day.
Timeless Hair Care Secrets
Even amidst hormonal fluctuations, Twinkle Khanna maintains a lustrous mane, crediting age-old DIY remedies passed down by her mother, Dimple Kapadia. She humorously describes her scalp as a “fridge” where she “dumps everything”. Her go-to ingredients for hair masks include:
- Beer: Known to add shine and bounce.
- Dahi (Curd): Rich in lactic acid and probiotics, it nourishes the scalp and improves hair texture.
- Eggs: A powerhouse of protein, eggs help repair damage and boost growth.
- Onion Juice: Massaged onto the scalp, it’s believed to reactivate hair follicles and enhance growth due to its sulfur content.
- Oiling: A traditional practice she learned from her mother, involving overnight oiling with a concoction of almond, sandalwood, geranium, rosemary, and lavender essential oils.
These simple yet potent remedies reflect a belief in consistency, tradition, and natural solutions over expensive, trend-driven products.
Breaking the Menopause Taboo
One of Twinkle Khanna’s most significant contributions is her open criticism of the societal taboo surrounding menopause. By sharing her experiences publicly through her column and social media, she normalizes conversations about a universal experience that often leaves women feeling isolated or unprepared. Her candidness empowers other women to speak honestly about menopause and seek support when needed, fostering a community of shared understanding.
Her journey at 51 serves as a powerful reminder that while menopause brings its challenges, it also presents an opportunity for deeper self-awareness and a renewed commitment to personal wellness. By openly discussing hormonal changes and the strategies she employs for self-care, Twinkle Khanna is lighting the path for many others navigating this transformative stage of life.
