The steady decline of your estrogen levels at menopause also brings about a slow down in your metabolism. This is the culprit of weight gain during menopause. Estrogen levels influence the distribution of your body fat and when these levels decrease, your body tends to store fat, especially around the abdomen, the exact reason of which is yet unknown. Loss and weakening of muscle tissues may also be attributed to a reduction in physical activity for menopausal women. Body fat stored around and within the internal organs (known as “visceral fat”) and abdom- inal wall, respectively, is a known high risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Hormones Triggering Menopausal Weight Gain
An estimated 90% of menopausal women gain weight …show more content…
•Androgen– this hormone’s amount increases at menopausal onset and is re- sponsible for adding the weight in your mid-section.
•Testosterone– calories consumed become lean mass of muscles, so a drop in testosterone levels means less calories are converted into lean muscles, slowing down metabolism resulting in weight gain. Menopause Diet If you are willing to alter your eating habits, you may be able to reap the benefits of the menopause relief you are seeking. Generally published guidelines for a basic menopause diet include: •Between two and four servings daily of foods and beverages which are cal- cium-rich including dairy, fish like sardines, legumes, and broccoli to meet the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for calcium at 1,200 milligrams. •Eight milligrams daily of iron from lean cuts of red meat, fish, eggs and poul- try, green vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. •Fiber in brown rice, pasta, nuts, breads, cereals, vegetables, and fruits at 21 grams everyday as per RDA amount. •Reduced consumption of foods high in sugar, sodium and fat, and alcohol. •Drink plenty of water (a minimum of 8 8-ounce glasses per day is recom-