Biomimetic Hormones | Weight Gain at Menopause

Weight Gain at Menopause

Controlling Weight at Menopause involves a two pronged approach – healthy living and balancing your hormones with natural Bioidentical – Biomimetic Hormones

One of the symptoms of menopause is the rapid gain of weight due to the declining levels of hormones in the body. The problem of weight gain for men and women in their 40s and 50s is partly due to hormonal imbalance, a diet high in carbohydrates, sugars and processed foods, stress levels, insulin resistance and a lack of exercise. All of these factors combined are responsible for weight gain at menopause for women and andropause for men.

One of the factors linked to weight gain is the relationship between body fat and insulin resistance. Other symptoms associated with insulin resistance include cravings for sugar and carbohydrates, irritability, fatigue, headaches, and shakiness. Cravings for sugar are directly related to blood sugar crashes which are the result of dramatic rises and decreases in levels of sugar in the blood. The most serious consequences of Insulin Resistance are Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and clogged arteries, all of which lead to heart disease. Insulin Resistance can be treated with proper diet, exercise and medication if necessary.

What occurs in the body when insulin resistance is present is that the cells of the body become resistant to the hormone insulin. A healthy diet will decrease the rapid ups and downs of blood sugar levels which occur when the diet includes foods such as candy, donuts, pop, etc. White sugar, white flour and processed foods should be eliminated from your diet completely.

Healthy foods such as legumes and fruits do contain sugar, but the types of sugars in these foods are absorbed slowly by the body and insulin is released slowly. With the intake of foods such as cakes, cookies, pizza, candies, sugar enters the bloodstream as glucose. This rapid surge in glucose is toxic to your organs and insulin levels rise rapidly to be processed. When glucose levels rise rapidly, the body stops using stored fat. Glucose levels build up in the bloodstream and the pancreas work overtime to manufacture more insulin. This state of affairs leads to Type 2 diabetes, low energy levels, increased fat, and, more seriously, to the conditions that lead to heart disease.

Another factor involved in weight gain at menopause and andropause is stress. Many of us live highly stressed lives because of the demands of work, teenagers, and perhaps the care of aging parents. Modern life is a stressful one indeed! This stress leads to high cortisol levels, which results in abdominal weight gain and stops weight loss. It is up to you to take care of your body and learn different methods of coping with stress which do not include eating bad sugars and bad carbs.

Estrogen plays an important role in weight gain. As levels of estrogen production in the ovaries decline, the body begins to generate estrogen in the secondary areas such as the body fat, most specifically around the waist. This can sometimes lead to estrogen dominance. Although women with estrogen dominance may not suffer from menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, they are in a dangerous position because estrogen dominance can lead to cancers, especially breast cancer.

As can be seen, the combination of high cortisol levels, insulin resistance, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet all lead to hormonal imbalance. If you find yourself suffering the symptoms of andropause or menopause around the ages of 40 – 50 years, it is necessary to visit your doctor to have your hormone levels checked. The results of this testing will show what hormones need to be supplemented in the body. We recommend natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Natural bioidentical hormones can be used either by static dosing or by using the Wiley Protocol. Talk with your doctor about these methods.

A combined approach to the problem of weight gain at menopause and andropause is necessary. This approach involves a healthy diet, nutritional supplementation, a reduction of stress levels, exercise, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and balancing your hormones with bioidentical – biomimetic hormones.

Filed Under Bioidenticals, Biomimetics, Estrogen, Hormones, Menopause |

Tagged With Andropause, balancing your hormones, bioidentical hormones, biomimetic, Menopause, weight gain at menopause

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