Menopause and Inflammation: What’s Really Going On Inside Your Body?

Have you ever found yourself waking up with stiff knees, tenderness in your fingers, or feeling a general dull ache throughout your body. If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, it’s no wonder! In this post, we delve into the intricate connection between menopause and inflammation, while exploring the underlying mechanisms and revealing how our gentle, supportive reset can be a powerful tool in your journey towards feeling like you again.

Estrogen’s Anti-Inflammatory Shield and its Decline

Let’s start off by saying that not all inflammation is bad. In fact, acute inflammation is your body’s natural defence mechanism and is essential for our survival. It’s how your immune system responds to injury, cut or infections. It sends healing cells to the rescue to repair damage and protect you (for example: that swelling you get on a sprained wrist to protect it from further damage). Without this initial, acute inflammatory phase, even minor wounds could become severely infected, and our bodies would struggle to heal and restore balance after injury or illness, leaving us vulnerable to far greater threats. 

The thing we need to know is that during menopause, this delicate balance shifts. Inflammation isn't turned off; instead, the body loses a significant portion of its natural anti-inflammatory regulation due to declining estrogen levels (estrogen is anti-inflammatory). This means the body loses this crucial ability to effectively control inflammation, leading to a shift where the immune system becomes more prone to a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state.

You probably know by now that estrogen affects your reproductive system. But here’s what often gets missed: estrogen is a systemic hormone, which means it impacts nearly every part of your body as it circulates throughout the body in the bloodstream. So for example it has an impact on your brain, bones, your immune system, joints, skin, and gut.

So it keeps inflammation in check, and plays a crucial role in:

• Maintaining cartilage health and protecting joints

• Keeping synovial fluid flowing in your joints

• Supporting a balanced immune system (not too aggressive, not too sluggish)

So when estrogen starts to decline during perimenopause and menopause, your body loses one of its built-in inflammation regulators, and the ripple effects are real.

What Happens When Estrogen Declines? The Inflammation Domino Effect

As estrogen drops, several things start happening beneath the surface:

• Cytokines (pro-inflammatory messengers) increase, which can lead to swelling, joint pain, and systemic discomfort

• Cartilage begins to degrade more easily, and joint fluid decreases, creating stiffness in the joints

• Your immune system becomes more reactive, increasing your risk of inflammation-related symptoms

• Leaky gut becomes more likely, as estrogen plays a key role in maintaining gut lining integrity

This is why you might suddenly feel puffier, achier, or more bloated than ever, and wonder why your skin, digestion, and mood are acting like teenagers.

The Gut + Menopause

Your gut isn’t just about digestion, it’s a big player in inflammation. During menopause, hormonal changes can weaken the gut barrier, making it more permeable (a.k.a. “leaky gut”).

When that barrier gets compromised, things like undigested food particles, bacteria, and toxins can leak into your bloodstream, triggering immune reactions and inflammation. This can lead to symptoms like:

• Brain fog

• Bloating

• Skin breakouts or rashes

• Joint and muscle pain

• Chronic fatigue

Supporting gut health is one of the most important (and overlooked) ways to reduce inflammation during menopause. And it all starts with detoxing the right way.

Toxins + Menopause: Why Detox Pathways Get Overloaded

Let’s throw one more log on the fire: toxins. From processed food and alcohol to plastics, pesticides, cosmetics, and chronic stress, we’re exposed to toxins every single day. And guess who’s responsible for clearing them out? Your liver.

But here’s the catch: during menopause, your liver is also trying to process and eliminate excess hormones, deal with metabolic changes, and manage a slower digestive system. It’s like asking your kitchen sink to clean up after a dinner party with a blocked drain.

When your detox pathways get clogged:

• Toxins build up in the body

• Inflammation increases

• Estrogen can get “recycled” instead of eliminated

• Symptoms like headaches, bloat, fatigue, and fog intensify

This is why a gentle, well-supported detox during menopause isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

The Hello Mimi 7-Day Reset: Detoxing the Inflammation the Right Way

This isn’t your average detox.

At Hello Mimi, we’ve reimagined what a reset can look like - no starving, no extremes, no one-size-fits-all protocols. Our 7-Day Menopause Reset is a structured, nourishing program designed specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause who are ready to support their body’s natural detox processes, reduce inflammation, and feel better—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Here’s how it works:

1. Liver-Supportive Foods & Practices

Your liver is your hormone-processing powerhouse—so we give it the love it deserves. Our reset includes anti-inflammatory foods like cruciferous vegetables, turmeric, and lemon water, plus daily practices that support your liver’s ability to metabolize hormones and clear out excess toxins with more ease.

2. Gut-Healing Support

Because 70% of your immune system lives in your gut, our plan is packed with fiber-rich meals, hydration strategies, and probiotic-rich ingredients to nourish your microbiome, reduce bloating, and help repair gut integrity—all crucial for lowering systemic inflammation.

3. Stress Reduction for Hormonal Balance

A stressed body can’t detox efficiently. That’s why each day includes calming, nervous system-regulating practices like guided breathwork, mindset journaling, and simple movement techniques to help lower cortisol—the hormone that can trigger inflammation when left unchecked.

4. A Gentle Elimination Window

Just for 7 days, we guide you in pausing inflammatory triggers like caffeine, alcohol, sugar, dairy, and ultra-processed foods—not as a punishment, but as a reset to give your body the space it needs to function more efficiently.

5. Whole-Bodied Support in Just 30 Minutes a Day

With daily guidance and practices that take just 30 minutes total, you’ll experience how small, consistent actions—done with intention and care—can lead to powerful shifts in your energy, digestion, mood, and mindset.

What to Expect After 7 Days

This isn’t about perfection - it’s about giving your body the space, nourishment, and support it’s been asking for. When you do, here’s what many women notice by the end of the reset:

• Less bloat, less puffiness, less inflammation—as your liver, gut, and lymphatic system finally get a break

• Clearer thinking and steadier energy—no more mid-afternoon crashes or foggy mornings

• Smoother digestion and reduced cravings—because your body is actually getting what it needs

• Lighter joints, easier movement—as inflammation starts to ease from the inside out

• A sense of calm and confidence—from reconnecting with your body in a way that feels kind, not punishing

After 7 days, you won’t just feel “cleansed” - you’ll feel clearer, more grounded, and back in your body again. And you’ll walk away with tools you can return to anytime life (or your hormones) throws you off track.

Wrapping It Up: Inflammation Is Real But It’s Not Forever

Menopause and inflammation go hand in hand but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to live with brain fog, belly bloat, and joint pain. When you work with your body (instead of fighting it), healing becomes a whole lot easier.

Supporting your gut, calming your nervous system, giving your liver a break, and removing inflammatory triggers can make a dramatic difference. And it doesn’t have to take months. Sometimes just a week of focused support can be a powerful turning point.

One Last Note (Because We Care Deeply)

Before beginning any detox, always check in with your GP or healthcare provider especially if you have underlying conditions or are on medication. Our 7-Day Reset is gentle and food-based, but your safety always comes first.

Want to Feel Lighter, Clearer, and Less Inflamed?

Join the Hello Mimi 7-Day Menopause Reset and get:

• Our unique cleansing protocol and hormone-supportive meal plan

• Simple, effective liver and gut detox tools

• Emotional support practices for stress and mindset

• A flexible, nurturing structure you can actually stick to

Start your reset today
Or dip your toe in with our free Mini Menopause Detox Guide — a gentle way to get started.

Disclaimer:

At Hello Mimi, we’re here to support and empower you with education, encouragement, and practical tools but we’re not a substitute for personalised medical advice. The information in this blog is for general guidance only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health, diet, or supplements especially if you're managing a condition or taking medication.