It's a time of life most women dread - the Menopause. Kate Wadsworth spoke to Linda Kearns, who has learned to overcome the symptoms.

WHOLEFOOD FAN Linda Kearns believes she's discovered the chemical-free way to beat the menopause.

Linda, an extremely young-looking 52-year-old from Cleckheaton, has come up with a secret recipe for a cake which mimics the effects of hormone replacement therapy.

She developed a natural alternative after losing faith with HRT when she suffered a breast cancer scare last year. X-rays revealed a shadow and not a lump in her breast, but nevertheless she wanted a change.

Linda started going through the menopause when she was only 39 following two operations to remove her ovaries. The surgery marked a sad end to Linda's desperate attempts to give birth to a child of her own.

Her difficulties conceiving began when she was 22 after being admitted to hospital to have a cyst removed from one of her ovaries. But while recovering on the ward she developed an infection, resulting in severe scar tissue which prevented her from getting pregnant.

Linda says she yearned for children and when she could not get pregnant, she decided to adopt a child. Sarah, adopted when she was just six days old, is now 24.

Ten years soon passed and nothing prepared Linda for the totally unexpected trauma ahead. At 39, unbeknown to her, she was finally pregnant - only it was an ectopic pregnancy.

She was rushed to St James's Hospital, Leeds, for emergency surgery, and an ovary was removed.

"I nearly died and had to have six pints of blood to pull me through. It was a terrible experience. I didn't think I could get pregnant, and then it happened like that. In my heart I think it could have had something to do with the fact that I had changed my diet and was eating healthily," said Linda.

Six months later she was advised to undergo surgery to remove the other ovary after she suffered a miscarriage.

Linda says she developed menopausal symptoms almost straight away, including hot flushes, sweats, mood swings and depression. She started taking HRT and was to go on taking it for a number of years.

Last September she started to gradually wean herself off HRT and began experimenting with her diet to compensate for not taking the drug.

Already interested in healthy eating, Linda, knew the type of ingredients which would help ease menopausal symptoms, and she eventually came up with a recipe for a cake.

Now Linda is aiming to market her invention, selling it in a type of flapjack form through health shops.

"Basically I think you are what you eat, and after I had the breast cancer scare I decided to come off HRT and try to develop a natural alternative," said Linda.

"I'm not a crank, but I do like to eat healthily. I don't like taking synthetic things, so I was always a little bit worried by the idea of HRT. But when I came off it I felt terrible, all the hot flushes and other symptoms returned."

Over the next few months, Linda began to perfect her cake, which combines soya and linseed oil, plus a number of secret ingredients.

"The cake is very rich in the type of oestrogen the body needs in the absence of HRT.

"You don't need much to feel the effects. All the types of ingredients menopausal women should eat can be found in one product."

But Linda emphasises that the cake will have a bigger impact if it is combined with a well-balanced diet.

"I've worked in the wholefood line for a number of years so I know the benefits. I feel wonderful and have lots of energy - and I think it's all down to healthy eating."

Linda bakes two of her special cakes, similar in texture to malt loaf, every two weeks.

"It's easy to cut a slice of cake and take it with you. I made the mistake of not taking it with me when I went on holiday, I noticed the difference - I didn't seem to have as much energy and felt a bit low.

"I've had a lot of phone calls from people asking for the recipe, and I am now looking for a company which can produce and distribute it nationwide.

"I think I'm on to a winner and hopefully it will be available in the shops soon."

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