Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is said to occur in women when the ovaries gradually produce less and less of estrogen and eventually the production is stopped completely. Women suffering from menopause have to get their uterus removed surgically during the final stages. In the next paragraph we discuss the 35 most common menopause symptoms. The 35 most common menopause symptoms are:-

1) Hot flashes that may occur regularly at night with excessive sweat 2) Irregular beating of the heart at sometime or the other 3) Frequent irritation 4) Psychological problem like mood swings and tears due to lack of sleep at night 5) Insomnia or lack of sleep at night due to hot flashes and excessive sweat. 6) Irregular periods where the gap between two periods becomes shorter or longer than normal 7) The loss of sexual drive or libido. 8) Vaginal Dryness 9) Getting tired quickly after doing chores and tasks. 10) Frequent feelings of anxiety and a feeling of being uncomfortable. 11) Feelings of loneliness and doom 12) Difficulty in concentrating on things and mental confusion 13) Frequent memory lapses 14) Incontinence when sneezing or laughing 15) Skin irritations like itchy and crawly skin 16) Aching muscles, joints and tendons. 17) Increase pain and tension in the muscle and joints 18) Breast related disorders like breast tenderness. 19) Frequent headaches and also migraine 20) Gastrointestinal disorders like excess gas 21) Sudden bouts of bloat. 22) Depression several times a day 23) Exacerbation or excessive worrying for existing conditions 24) An increased risk of suffering from a number of allergies. 25) Excessive weight gain and obesity related disorders 26) Thinning of hair and hair loss 27) Dizziness and frequent loss of balance. 28) Irregular body odor 29) Strange sensation under the skin 30) A tingling feeling in the extremities 31) Increased bleeding in the gums 32) Bad taste in mouth and bad breath 33) Osteoporosis 34) The fingernails become soft and cracked 35) Ringing in ears also known as tinnitus.

These are the most common symptoms found in women during menopause. Women should take care to see that none of the problems occur for a long time. In case any of the problems do not subside or get cured after a considerable amount of time then it is necessary to meet the doctor at once. The doctor will be able to diagnose the menopause and the stage that it has reached. The doctor will then start treatment which includes medications, hormone replacement therapy or completely removing the uterus.

Menopause is said to occur in women after the age of 40 years when the ovaries gradually fail to produce enough estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone produced in the body and is vital for reproductive cycle. As a result women often experience vaginal pain and dryness and also irregular menstrual cycle. Let us now delve further into early menopause symptoms.

There are three major early menopause symptoms which are as follows:

1) Irregular Vaginal Bleeding - This is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. The vagina may bleed at unexpected intervals and the period between two menstrual cycle may increase or decrease than normal. There may be excessive vaginal bleeding as well. In other words the pattern of bleeding not normal but highly irregular. The pattern of bleeding differs from woman to woman and also the stage at which the menopause as reached. Also there is no fixed time for a woman to complete her menopausal transition, as all the women are different. It is necessary to consult a doctor immediately if these symptoms persist for a long time.

2) Hot Flashes and Night Sweats - These are also very common early menopause symptoms. A hot flash is a feeling of unusual warmth throughout the body. A woman suffering from hot flash will feel warm even when the temperature of the environment is low. Hot flashes are always accompanied by excessive sweating, especially during the night. Researchers have not been able to find the exact reason for hot flashes nor have they been able to predict when the next hot flash will take place. Hot flashes occur in 40% of the women above the age of 40 years. Hot flashed tend to decrease over a period of several years after menopause is treated.

3) Mood Symptoms - The women suffering from menopause may experience different types of mood symptoms. Many times they feel that they are doomed. They also live in depression often. They lose their confidence and also may suffer from insomnia. Due to insomnia women suffer from severe bouts of mood swings and lose their cool easily.

Early menopause symptoms mentioned above are the most common symptoms. Women suffering from menopause need the support of their family members, especially of their spouses. Menopause should be looked as a natural ageing process than a disorder and it should also be treated that way. The doctors attending to menopause patients should instill a lot of positive attitude and confluence in them.

Leokadia Angela offers Natural Health Resources and has years of experience selling a wide variety of herbal supplements:
http://www.HerbalBeautyClinic.com

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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Medical Facts About Menopause

Approximately two million American women enter menopause every year. Menopause indicates the end of woman?s reproductive life.

Menopause causes some huge hormonal changes that are blamed for everything from dry skin to mental illness.

The average age of menopause in U.S. is 51. The huge majority of women enter it between 44 and 56. However, approximately one percent of women experience it before age 40.

Perimenopause is the transition that starts when your menstrual periods begin to become irregular. It ends 365 days after they stop totally. Perimenopause typically lasts from 2 to 8 years.

Technically speaking, menopause is just one day. It is the last day of your final period. However, menopause is confirmed after you have missed 12 consecutive periods.

Going through menopause does not mean goodbye to sex. Sex can be painful because there is a loss of vaginal elasticity and a drop in lubrication.

Hot flashes are more common in early postmenopause than in perimenopause, but they go away sooner or later.

Hormone-replacement therapy is not bad. Doctors can?t agree how long it is safe to take hormones. Lots of experts say forever; others say a year or 2; and a handful say never.

There is no scientific evidence that bioidentical hormones are the safest kind of hormone-replacement therapy.

Menopause is not responsible for depression, anxiety, severe memory lapses or erratic behavior.

A great number of menopause symptoms can be caused by other medical problems. You need to have a systematic checkup.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Help for Menopause. If you want to learn more about menopause relief visit his site now.

http://www.helpformenopause.info/menopauseinformation

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Monday, February 4, 2008

8 Ways To Prevent Osteoporosis And Heart Disease During Menopause

Osteoporosis causes bones to lose mass and density. As the bones become porous and brittle, the chance of fracture is greatly increased. Often there are no symptoms and a person only discovers that they have osteoporosis when they suffer a fracture.

Heart disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They includes coronary artery disease (including heart attack), abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, vascular disease (blood vessel disease).

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. thus, it is essential to learn how prevent heart disease.

During menopause, many women are easily getting osteoporosis. Indeed, it would also be easy for them to get heart disease.

How is that?

Women, during menopause, might be lack of estrogen. This causes bones to lose calcium and become weaker, putting them at risk for severe bone loss or osteoporosis. A lack of estrogen also increases risk of heart disease.

However, there are steps you can do to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease, such as:

1. Get enough calcium to keep your bones strong. Before menopause, you need about 1,000 mg of calcium per day. After menopause, you need 1,500 mg per day. You also can talk with your physician about taking medicine to help preserve bone and slow down bone loss. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Try weight-bearing exercises, like walking, running, or dancing.

2. Eat healthy by including plenty of whole grain products, vegetables, and fruits in your diet. Choose a diet low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

3. Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider what a healthy weight is for you.

4. Control your blood pressure. Ask your health care provider what a healthy number is for you and how often you need it checked.

5. If you have diabetes, control and monitor your blood sugar levels.

6. Lower your cholesterol to the right level. Ask your health care provider what a healthy level is for you.

7. If you smoke, try to quit. Ask your health care provider for help or visit this special section of the NWHIC web site: www.4woman.gov/QuitSmoking

8. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink per day.

So, if you think that your menopause has begun, it is important for you to pay attention to the eight essential ways to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.

Riana Lance has a deep concern on health. Get her inspirational guides on How to Cure Insomnia at http://healthifica.com/guides/menopause-stress/ Also, grasp her other motivational health tips at http://www.healthifica.com, a worth-to-visit daily updated blog.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Common Symptoms Of Menopause

Menopause is a natural process in the life of women. It typically occurs in the early to mid-forties, and, unfortunately, it is accompanied by a number of symptoms that can cause women much concern. Learning to identify those symptoms for what they are, may be your first step to learning to deal with this new life stage.

One of the first and most noticeable symptoms of menopause is irregular or missed periods. At the onset of menopause, the body suffers a great decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels, stimulated by the ovaries. The ovaries are no longer signaled to release the egg, meaning that a woman will notice a disruption in her normal monthly cycle. Following puberty, the only occurring menstrual cycle disruptions are as a result of disease or other ovarian or pregnancy problems. However, once menopause begins, it is not uncommon to experience serious menstrual disruptions.

Another common symptom of menopause is the hot flash. Greater than seventy five percent of menopausal women suffer hot flashes, in varying degrees of severity. A hot flash makes a woman feel flush. For example, she may be in a room that is only seventy degrees, but she will feel the overwhelming sense that someone has turned the temperature up to ninety degrees. In an instant, she may feel as if the temperature has decreased by fifty degrees, and she is suddenly shivering. Hot flashes can be accompanied by other symptoms like faintness, dizziness, and heart palpitations. Many hot flashes can be up to ten minutes in duration, but not for all women all of the time. In some cases some women simply acknowledge them and keep functioning as if nothing is wrong. Extreme hormone fluctuations cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly regulate a woman's body temperature. Factors such as poor diet and elevated stress levels have been shown to affect the entire process in a negative manner. Most women will experience hot flashes for five to six years, though there are women who endure them for the ten to twenty years prior to and following menopause.

Hot flashes commonly lead to another prevalent menopause symptom: insomnia. Because hot flashes can occur during the day as well as the night, many women will find themselves awoken drenched in their own sweat. Often they get up to change their clothes and their sheets due to the dampness caused by the sweat. If a woman is a light sleeper anyway, she might find it impossible to fall asleep again. Interestingly enough, though, night sweats are not the only cause of sleep disturbances. The blood hormone levels also affect the quality of a woman's sleep. Adjusting these hormone imbalances can sometimes alleviate sleep difficulties.

Patricia Smith writes content for several web sites, on healthiness and women's health topics.

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Thursday, January 3, 2008

Menopause Symptoms And Solutions

You?ve recently noticed some changes in your physical appearance, your level of energy and/or your overall mood. Could it be that these changes are associated with menopause? If you?re a woman approaching middle age, yes, the symptoms you?re experiencing could very well be associated with menopause, even if you?re still having regular periods. You see, as you approach menopause, your hormone levels begin to decline, which can result in many of the symptoms you?re currently experiencing.

Obviously, the onset of menopause affects every woman differently, and symptoms can range from being very mild and hardly noticeable, to extremely severe and uncomfortable. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes or night sweats, difficulty sleeping through the night, weight gain (especially around the mid-section), vaginal dryness, mood swings or depression, feelings of confusion and hair thinning on your head. You?ll not necessarily experience all symptoms associated with menopause, but it?s quite likely that you?ll notice at least some changes occurring as you approach this time in your life.

Fortunately, there are remedies available to lessen these symptoms and make life much more comfortable and even enjoyable as the menopausal years approach. If you?re like many women, there?s a strong possibility that you?ll want to do all you can to reduce the severity of your symptoms by making a few simple lifestyle changes. For instance, if you?re experiencing hot flashes, try to avoid triggers that can contribute to the frequency and/or severity of this annoying and uncomfortable symptom. Many women have reported that consuming hot or spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine can bring on hot flashes. Additionally, feeling stressed or simply putting yourself in a situation where you?ll be in a hot place can contribute to the onset of hot flashes. If you?ve noticed that this is the case for you, do what you can to avoid these triggers. If you can, try to get into a regular exercise routine, as physical activity and exercise have been shown to reduce the incidence of hot flashes.

If you find that your sleep patterns are no longer patterns at all, but instead broken and interrupted periods of restless sleep, there?s a good chance this can be blamed on your declining hormone levels as well. If you want a good night?s sleep (and who doesn?t?) it?s a good idea to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Don?t, however, do so near your bedtime. Similarly, you?ll want to avoid smoking, consuming large meals and working right before you turn in for the night. It?s recommended that you keep your bedroom dark, quiet and cool so that you?re more likely to stay asleep once you?ve gone to bed. If you should happen to wake during the night, it?s a good idea to get up and read until you?re sleepy enough to fall back to sleep.

If you?ve experienced mood swings associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), there?s a greater likelihood that you?re sensitive to hormone changes and will, therefore, probably notice some moodiness and memory problems as you approach and experience menopause. Staying active and getting a sufficient amount of sleep will certainly help to alleviate these symptoms. Not only has exercise been proven to reduce or eliminate several symptoms associated with menopause, but it has been my own personal savior as I began gaining weight, experiencing night sweats and becoming moody and lethargic. When I began a regular exercise routine, one which included weight bearing exercises, the overall improvement in my physical and emotional states was absolutely astonishing.

Of course, some women will simply need to turn to other solutions to eliminate or lessen the severity of menopause symptoms. Vitamin E and some herbs have been known to reduce the incidence and severity of hot flashes. If you should choose to consider vitamins and herbs to assist with your menopausal symptoms, it?s a good idea to work closely with someone who is quite familiar with herbs and vitamins to ensure that you adjust your dosages as needed.

Hormone replacement therapy can help women who are experiencing more severe and difficult symptoms of menopause. As with many treatments, hormone therapy poses some risks, in addition to the possible benefits. It?s best to discuss the pros and cons of hormone therapy with your doctor so that you?re better able to make a well-informed decision regarding this treatment. If you should decide to use hormone therapy, try to use the lowest dose that helps you, and for the shortest period of time needed.

Remember, this can be the start of a wonderful period in your life. Treat your body well and the results will be extremely beneficial now and in the future.
Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. She is a grandmother, who started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life.

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Monday, November 19, 2007

Menopause, Soy Food and Hormone Balance


In an 8 year study, Freeman's group tracked 231 women who were about to enter menopause, none of whom had any history of depression up to the time they enrolled. The Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CED-D) scale was used to assess depressive symptoms during followup. The probability of a high CES-D score (at least 16) was four-fold greater during the menopausal transition than during the premenopausal phase, the report indicates. Similarly, entering menopause was tied to a more than doubled risk of being diagnosed with a depressive disorder.


Soy foods contain several ingredients that may be useful in preventing disease during the time where women lack the protective hormones. Isoflavonoids, such as genistein and daidzein are weak estrogens and may lessen the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Protease inhibitors in soy foods may reduce the risk of cancer.
Many women notice early symptoms while still having periods, when the hormone production is declining very gradually. This stage of gradually falling and fluctuating hormone levels is often called the 'climacteric' or the 'change' and often begins in the 4th decade and can last for several years. Because ovarian function fluctuates, women may experience menopause symptoms intermittently. Some women experience an early, or premature menopause following which, symptoms may occur immediately, depending on the cause. Immediate onset of menopause symptoms often follows a surgical menopause. The duration of 'early' symptoms is very variable from a few months to many years and the severity varies between individuals. (see Balance Hormone)


A study at Bowman Gray Medical School showed twenty grams of soy a day decreased hot flashes. Compared to a placebo (sugar pill) group it also lowered both blood pressure and cholesterol. A study at the University of Illinois showed a significant increase in bone density after six months of a high soy diet.


Hormones can affect many vital functions in your body. That's why keeping your hormones in their proper balance is essential to the way you live. Find out about Balance Hormone at http://www.smartreviewguide.com/balancehormone

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Monday, November 12, 2007

Menopause: The Emotional & Psychological Impact


Menopause, which literally means the cessation of menses, represents the stage in a woman's life when her reproductive capacity has been brought to an end. There are many hormonal changes that lead to the cessation of menses. The main cause is the drop in oestrogen.

Hormonal Changes

It has been traditionally assumed that depression and other psychological problems are a direct cause of menopause. However, recent studies have revealed that this is not necessarily true. Researchers have discovered a rise in the incidents of depression in women ranging form 35 to 43 years old, which is a lot before menopause. In most cases, menopause occurs between 49 and 51, although some women may experience it before 40.

Most hormonal changes occur during the few years before menopause, which are referred to as the perimenopausal stage. These changes may increase the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain connected to depression. This is why mood swings are not uncommon during this period. Another hormonal change during the perimenopausal stage is the decrease in the oestrogen level.

Psychological & Emotional Impact

Oestrogen, which is linked to depression, explains why there are higher depression rates in women than in men. However, as the oestrogen level decreases before menopause, the risk of depression should also decrease.

The increased depression rate encountered during menopause suggests that it is not actually the hormonal changes, but the psychological impact associated with this stage that causes the problems. For most women, the changes in status and fertility associated with menopause affect a wide range of other aspects, such as the way they view themselves and their sexuality.

Menopause is also associated with some changes in body tissues. Breast tissues become less firm, while the genital organs become smaller. Between 50% and 75% of women experiencing menopause have hot flushes, which consist of brief body temperature rises accompanied by sweating and skin flushing. These hot flushes can cause not only physical discomfort, but also occasional social discomfort and sleeping disorders.

Attitude

While everyone agrees that dealing with all the physical changes that occur during menopause is not easy, most psychologists feel that depression during this stage is more a matter of attitude. The changes associated with menopause can be viewed from a different angle. During this stage, women can explore their creativity and social potential and expand their contribution to society. The fact that they are now freed from the fear of pregnancy gives them the opportunity to rejuvenate their sex life. Unfortunately, most women feel that the end of their fertility is the end of their sexuality too.

Psychologists state that women who have a positive attitude on the changes that happen in their body look healthier and are likely to have an increased interest in sex. In contrast, those who believe in the myth that menopause is the end of their womanhood, the start to lose their attractiveness and vitality and look older. Other studies have proved that negative attitudes on menopause also increase the unpleasant symptoms associated with it, such as hot flashes, fatigue, night sweats, sleeping disorders and aches.


Sue Taylor is the webmaster of a site dedicated to the impact on women of undergoing menopause. Refer to http://www.menopausesite.info

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Menopause: The Emotional & Psychological Impact


Menopause, which literally means the cessation of menses, represents the stage in a woman's life when her reproductive capacity has been brought to an end. There are many hormonal changes that lead to the cessation of menses. The main cause is the drop in oestrogen.

Hormonal Changes

It has been traditionally assumed that depression and other psychological problems are a direct cause of menopause. However, recent studies have revealed that this is not necessarily true. Researchers have discovered a rise in the incidents of depression in women ranging form 35 to 43 years old, which is a lot before menopause. In most cases, menopause occurs between 49 and 51, although some women may experience it before 40.

Most hormonal changes occur during the few years before menopause, which are referred to as the perimenopausal stage. These changes may increase the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain connected to depression. This is why mood swings are not uncommon during this period. Another hormonal change during the perimenopausal stage is the decrease in the oestrogen level.

Psychological & Emotional Impact

Oestrogen, which is linked to depression, explains why there are higher depression rates in women than in men. However, as the oestrogen level decreases before menopause, the risk of depression should also decrease.

The increased depression rate encountered during menopause suggests that it is not actually the hormonal changes, but the psychological impact associated with this stage that causes the problems. For most women, the changes in status and fertility associated with menopause affect a wide range of other aspects, such as the way they view themselves and their sexuality.

Menopause is also associated with some changes in body tissues. Breast tissues become less firm, while the genital organs become smaller. Between 50% and 75% of women experiencing menopause have hot flushes, which consist of brief body temperature rises accompanied by sweating and skin flushing. These hot flushes can cause not only physical discomfort, but also occasional social discomfort and sleeping disorders.

Attitude

While everyone agrees that dealing with all the physical changes that occur during menopause is not easy, most psychologists feel that depression during this stage is more a matter of attitude. The changes associated with menopause can be viewed from a different angle. During this stage, women can explore their creativity and social potential and expand their contribution to society. The fact that they are now freed from the fear of pregnancy gives them the opportunity to rejuvenate their sex life. Unfortunately, most women feel that the end of their fertility is the end of their sexuality too.

Psychologists state that women who have a positive attitude on the changes that happen in their body look healthier and are likely to have an increased interest in sex. In contrast, those who believe in the myth that menopause is the end of their womanhood, the start to lose their attractiveness and vitality and look older. Other studies have proved that negative attitudes on menopause also increase the unpleasant symptoms associated with it, such as hot flashes, fatigue, night sweats, sleeping disorders and aches.


Sue Taylor is the webmaster of a site dedicated to the impact on women of undergoing menopause. Refer to http://www.menopausesite.info

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Thursday, November 1, 2007

Natural Menopause Treatment

 Signs of Menopause


For more information please visit


  • Am I Menopausal?

  • Natural Menopause Relief

  • Menopause Symptoms

  • Defeating Menopause




  • Description


    * Menopause refers to the cessation of menses, a normal process in a woman's life. It marks the ending of a woman's reproductive years, and the beginning of a new stage of life known as the climacteric stage. Menopause usually occurs near the age of fifty, but can begin in the early forties.,


    * During menopause, the production of ovarian hormones, including androgens, decreases. This can result in signs of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, depression, vaginal dryness, excessive perspiration, headaches, memory impairment, digestive disturbances, and sleeplessness. At the time of menopause there is an increase in the production of androgens from other androgen-producing sites in the body. Androgens act as weak estrogens, helping the body to adjust to the hormonal changes that are occurring.


    * The stronger the woman's adrenals, and the better her nutritional status, the easier is her transition into menopause. Chronic stress over long periods of time can lead to adrenal depletion. If a woman is nutritionally depleted and emotionally stressed she may require hormonal, nutritional, or other support.2


    Prevention and Management of Signs of Menopause Symptoms


    * Regular physical exercise is necessary to protect against bone loss. Exercise has many other benefits as well.


    * A diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol and high in complex carbohydrates, such as grains, fruits and vegetables is important.2


    * Vitamin E supplementation may reduce symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, and breathing difficulties.,,


    * Calcium is important in maintaining bone mass.
    * Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption.
    * Magnesium intake is often low in women with osteoporosis. Low magnesium intake is associated with low bone mineral content (BMC).


    * Boron reduces urinary calcium loss and increases serum levels of 17 estradiol (estrogen).


    * Essential fatty acids can help prevent dryness of the hair, skin and vaginal tissues.


    * Soy supplementation has been suggested as a possible alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Soy isoflavones act as estrogen-like compounds. Forty-five grams of dietary soy, per day for 12 weeks was shown to decrease post-menopausal hot flashes.


    * Certain herbs such as black cohosh, chasteberry, licorice and dong quai have shown to have a beneficial effect in managing many of the menopause symptoms.

    References

    1 Golan R. Optimal Wellness. New York:Ballantine Books; 1995 p 359-40.
    2 Mayo JL. A Natural Approach to Menopause. Clin Nutr Insights 1997;5(7):1-8.

     

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    Friday, August 31, 2007

    Menopause and Weight Loss

    During menopause, many women report that the challenge of weight loss becomes even more difficult. The need to lose weight haunts women most of the time, and now more men are reporting the same struggle. When women hit menopause, weight gathers around the waist and hips; despite our best efforts to diet and exercise.

    What we know is that this additional body fat is linked to your hormones. Most women follow a conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet with lots of processed foods. Eventually this diet creates a condition known as insulin resistance; see Dr. Schwarzbein's book on the book list. When you are insulin resistant, your body converts calories into fat even when you are dieting. Menopause feels like a losing battle, but it doesn't have to be.

    When you are stressed, as the body typically is during menopause, stress hormones block weight loss. Despite adequate food, the body acts as if it's in a famine and stores all spare calories as fat.
    This leads to a metabolic disorder called adrenal fatigue.

    Many women combine a high-stress life with a low-fat, high-carb diet which creates a powerful hormonal imbalance which causes us to gain weight. Yo-yo dieting exacerbates the problem.
    Also, when a woman is on a high-carb diet she is often barraged with a craving for sweets. The body can't maintain optimal blood sugar and serotonin levels, so you snack and drink caffeine to feel better. That makes your insulin resistance worse and the vicious cycle of gaining weight is accelerated.

    During perimenopause, women lose estrogen which is an added factor to this problem. As estrogen decreases, the body needs extra fat resources. Other factors that play into this problem, are unresolved emotional issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues such as yeast, and even heavy metal toxicity.

    So what do we do?

    The most important step is to GET HEALTHY!

    Follow an eating plan like the one in the Schwarzbein Principle or the Zone Diet

    You need protein at every meal, low carbs, very little to no processed food, and lots of fruit and vegetables

    Drink plenty of water

    Take nutritional supplements

    Try Supplements Designed for Menopause

    Stop weighing yourself, use your clothes as a gauge (focus on your health not your weight)

    Start exercising - walk 4-5 times a week for 30 minute (it boosts metabolism)

    Get help for emotional eating - you have to face your fears to get through them

    Reduce the stress in your life, make time for fun and relaxation - strive for BALANCE

    Learn to love yourself during menopause and accept who you are and at what stage in life you find yourself

    Menopause can make weight loss even more challenging for both women and men. But with the right knowledge and some hard work, it can be done.

    The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.


    Cathy writes frequently on mid-life issues for women and men particularly menopause, and a copy of her book can be found at http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com
    To read a sample of this book go to http://www.everythingmenopause.com/currentissue.html

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