Menopause is a challenging time of transition from the reproductive years to the post-childbearing years for many women. A woman’s body stops causing egg follicles to mature every month and female hormones naturally decline when menopause occurs.
Regrettably, menopause may be very difficult for some women because it is often uncomfortable symptoms. These can include hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of interest in sex, and irritability. Another frequent consequence of menopause is unexpected weight gain.
Sometimes women who gain weight during menopause haven’t made any changes in their eating habits or exercise routine. This can be frustrating, prompting women to wonder what caused this sudden and unexpected weight gain. Other times, weight gain is a result of hormonally triggered overeating. Another cause of weight gain is the natural metabolic slow-down that happens as people age. This slower metabolism means excess calories or an unbalanced diet will have a far greater effect on menopausal women.
Estrogen and body fat work together in a unique way. Body fat helps regulate the production of estrogen, which declines dramatically in menopause. Sometimes, the body will fight to hold on to fat in an effort to stabilize estrogen levels. Hormones and the fat in body is linked together in complex which affect in gaining weight through changes in appetite, digestion, and metabolism.
Not talking about prescription hormone therapy, thus increasing the risk of breast cancer and reproductive system cancers, there are some natural therapies for women to combat the increasing use of menopausal symptoms such as weight gain. Some of these remedies include black cohosh and sage, to regulate hot flashes; chasteberry, for moodiness and general hormonal imbalance; and evening primrose oil, widely used to relieve PMS during perimenopause and control moodiness in menopausal women.
Many women make the mistake of thinking that these remedies will prevent weight gain and other menopause symptoms on their own. The truth is, the best thing you can do to prevent or reverse weight gain in menopause is through healthy diet and exercise.
A more effective approach to maintaining a healthy hormone balance is through a natural approach of eating nutrient dense, whole foods rather than using herbal remedies. A lot of women believe that a healthy lifestyle is more beneficial, during an illness, than herbal remedies.
A healthy, balanced diet means eating heart-healthy fats and avoiding bad fats. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables should form the bulk of the diet, supplemented by lean protein and dairy foods (or non-dairy foods that contain calcium). Obviously, you should generally avoid fats and fried food, too much sugar, and junk foods, and additionally you should stay away from foods that contain excess liquor, spices, and caffeine if you find that these complicate menopause symptoms for you.
Add eight glasses of water per day and about half-hour of exercise as many days per week as possible, and you could be on your way to significant weight loss, even in the face of the hormonal hurdles of menopause. You’re also likely to see an improvement in other menopause symptoms as a healthy diet and exercise program begins to stabilize hormone levels.
