Meg Mathews, the former Britpop icon, openly shares her menopause journey, which began at age 49. Initially mistaking symptoms for glandular fever, she discovered she experienced 32 of 34 lesser-known signs, including burning mouth, mood swings, sleep issues, hair loss, and low libido. Feeling isolated due to limited awareness, she now campaigns to destigmatize menopause as she turns 60.
Transforming a Hedonistic Past
After ditching her party lifestyle, Mathews adopts a hormone-balancing routine. Intermittent fasting from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. boosts her energy and allows bodily repair. She starts days with organic coffee blended with MCT cream and drinks 2-3 liters of filtered water. “If I try to put a ring on but my fingers feel swollen, I know that’s a sign I need to drink more water,” she explains.
Plant-Powered Diet
Nearly fully plant-based, her meals emphasize leafy greens, some fish, and calcium-fortified nut milks for bone health. A typical day includes:
- 500ml green juice (cucumber, celery, kale, spinach, rocket, fennel) for breakfast.
- Homemade vegetable stew with greens, barley, sweet potato, or couscous for lunch.
- Water, herbal teas, bone broth, and another 500ml green juice mid-afternoon.
- Large tuna Niçoise salad with vegetables for dinner.
Comfort foods feature sourdough with Marmite and olive oil. A “naughty” drawer holds vegan chocolate, Pulsin protein bars, and cheese-onion crisps.
Active Coastal Lifestyle
Relocated to Cornwall, Mathews swims in the sea daily and trains with a personal trainer three times weekly—upper body one day, lower body the next, cardio, then rest. She rises at 6 a.m. for five minutes of meditation and dog walks on coastal paths. Weekdays at 10 a.m., she follows a 40-minute HIIT class via Instagram TV, plus 10 minutes of yoga. Morning foam rolling eases tension. “Taking Omega 3, collagen, and hyaluronic acid helps achy joints, but foam rolling has changed my life,” she says.
Therapies and Wellness Practices
To counter winter darkness, she undergoes 60-minute red light therapy on an infrared mat with breathwork. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) via Lenzetto 1.53mg estrogen spray on her thigh twice daily manages symptoms. Vaginal health matters too—she uses Vagirux 10mg tablets three times weekly to combat dryness and thinning.
CBD oil under the tongue mornings and before bed reduces anxiety. Mathews launches her own CBD line, including gummy bears. She recommends masturbation several times weekly with Lora DiCarlo vibrators. Grounding sessions on grass at dawn provide mental reset, avoiding excessive social media scrolling.
Embracing the Future
“Who knows what the future really holds? So much of my life hasn’t been planned—you’ve just got to go for it most of the time,” Mathews reflects.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause marks the end of periods and natural fertility, typically between 45 and 55, due to dropping estrogen levels. Symptoms vary: some face few issues, others endure hot flushes, sleep problems, mood swings, and brain fog. HRT often alleviates severe effects by replacing hormones.
