Some Tips On How To Speed Up Metabolism During Menopause

By Daphne Bowen


Menopause is associated with many physical and psychological changes. One of the biggest changes that women may notice is an abnormal increase in body weight. Research has established that, this is related both to reduced activity and the hormonal changes that favor putting on weight. A reduction in estrogen hormone activity is responsible for most of the changes. Here is how to speed up metabolism during menopause.

Just as is the case with any medical condition or disease, it is advised that one starts with the conservative options. The rate of breakdown of macromolecules to produce energy is directly proportional to the rate of physical activity. The easiest option, therefore, is to increase your rate of physical activity. Taking part in intense physical exercises for at least 30 minutes three days in a week is good enough for most people.

Hormone replacement therapy has the advantage of taking care of many other problems besides the metabolic disorder. Estrogen and progesterone are usually administered together so as to archive the necessary hormonal balance. There are no hard and fast rules as relates to the duration of therapy of this is mainly determined by the initial severity of symptoms. Your doctor will typically carry out routine tests so as to monitor your hormonal levels.

Estrogen has two main effects; increasing the rate of metabolism and influencing the site of fat deposition. In presence of normal hormonal levels, fat deposition takes place mainly in areas around the hip, thighs and buttocks. In its absence, it is mainly deposited around the abdominal region. This type of fat is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and other conditions.

Proper weight control during the menopausal period has many benefits. For example, it helps reduce the risk of suffering non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The levels of cholesterol are lowered and this also reduces the risk of suffering from heart attack and stroke. Other diseases whose incidence has been shown to be greatly reduced include diverticular disease, kidney stones and colon cancer.

Enough sleep is an important component in metabolism. Contrary to common belief, increased states of wakefulness do not increase calorie breakdown. Having adequate sleep does. Studies have shown that one sleepless night reduces the metabolic rate by up to 5%. Interestingly a better metabolic rate is also likely to contribute to better sleep. Strive to sleep for between seven and eight hours daily.

Different types of foods are broken down at different rates. Proper dietary habits include eating smaller frequent meals as opposed to large few meals. The frequent meals ensure that the breakdown mechanism remains active at all times. When the levels of glucose in blood reduce, a hormone known as cortisol is released from the brain. This hormone leads to muscle breakdown as an alternative source of glucose. The effect of all these activities is reduced muscle mass and metabolic rate.

As we advance in age, our metabolic rate is bound to slow down. This effect is most pronounced among women undergoing menopause as a result of hormonal changes associated with the period. Undertaking lifestyle changes is one of the interventions that can be undertaken. Hormonal replacement therapy is also beneficial and involves the use of synthetic estrogen and progesterone levels.




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