Menopause And 4 Simple Ways To Avoid The Excess Weight

Jul 19, 2018 by apost team

Women go through many physiological changes in a lifetime including puberty, childbirth, and menopause. Menopause brings with it a multitude of biological shifts in how a woman’s body reacts to temperature, fertility cycles, and body weight. According to an article published by the Women’s Health Network, excess weight gain and the difficulties in reducing it affect at least 80% of women who are now experiencing the stage of menopause.

What Causes Weight Gain During Menopause?

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1. The Aging Process

In a study published in Biological Psychiatry, menopause has the effect of accelerating the aging process by at least 6 percent in nearly 3,200 women that were studied during this time in their life. Epigenetic alterations in DNA occur and with this comes loss of muscle and an increase in fat tissue.

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2. Hormonal Change

The sex hormones in a woman are directly affected by the onset of menopause and include estrogen, progesterone, and androgen which regulate body fat and how it is distributed. Once menopause occurs, the hormonal balance of these is interrupted. This results in exceedingly lower levels of estrogen and progesterone. A woman’s body reacts to this reduction of much-needed levels of these hormones for body function with an abundance of fat production specifically around the stomach area of the body.

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With more than several factors that contribute to menopausal weight gain, no one can try to reduce additional weight with just one solution.

You need to look at all the causes related to weight gain during menopause to find a solution:

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According to medical professionals at The Mayo Clinic, replenishing your estrogen level with a supplement not only contributes to reducing hot flashes and mood swings, but it will help to regenerate aging cells. It will also help with reducing fat production and lead to swifter weight loss.

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Eating a diet that is rich in a variety of foods will ease some of the symptoms of menopause including weight gain. This includes avoiding foods that contribute to an unhealthy diet full of carbohydrates that take longer for the body to digest and lead to excess fat. These include the following:

• Processed foods
• Frozen foods
• Greasy “heavy” foods

Opt for foods that are low in fat like vegetables and have natural sugars like fruit. Also, choose foods that are full of “good” fats like Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids as well as high-protein choices. These include the following:

• Nuts
• Legumes
• Cereal
• Leafy-green vegetables
• All citrus fruits

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It may be the first time in your life that you are doing it, but exercise is key in burning calories on a daily basis. It also lowers stress levels that contribute to putting on additional pounds. Create an exercise regiment that you can realistically commit to on a daily basis and vary it with yoga, meditation, long walks, jogging, and cardio workouts. It may be the first time in your life that you are doing it, but exercise is key in burning calories on a daily basis. It also lowers stress levels that contribute to putting on additional pounds. Create an exercise regiment that you can realistically commit to on a daily basis and vary it with yoga, meditation, long walks, jogging, and cardio workouts.

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Designing a very regimented sleep schedule in the early stages of menopause includes a set time on a regular basis to go to bed as well as a sleep environment that is conducive to falling asleep naturally and easily. This includes a healthy diet that avoids alcohol and tobacco consumption, a dark room, a comfortable room temperature, and removing any stimulus such as televisions, tablets, and phones. Longer uninterrupted sleep cycles result in burning more fat.

Have you found other methods that work for you in maintaining a healthy weight during menopause that you can tell others about? And if you found it helpful pass the tips on to your friends and loved ones.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!