There are many changes, both physical and psychological that take place during the period of menopause. While some of these changes are almost unnoticed, others are very dramatic and bothersome. Weight loss is one of the changes that has been reported by a large number of women approaching this period. The two main causes for this problem appears to be a reduction in general physical activity and reduced estrogen levels. Here is how to speed up metabolism during menopause.
The starting point is to try out the conservative options. It should be understood that the metabolic rate is controlled to a great extent by muscular muscle requirement which is in turn related to physical activity. More activity translates to more energy requirement and higher metabolism. Increase your daily activity gradually so that you have at least thirty minutes of intense workout for three days in a week.
Hormone replacement therapy is a widely used intervention that is easily accessible. In the therapy, estrogen and progesterone are administered for a given period of time to restore the initial hormonal balance. The duration of therapy is highly variable and is mainly determined by the initial deficiency. The doctor may need to conduct periodic tests in a bid to monitor the hormone levels.
Estrogen works mainly on two fronts; increasing the metabolic rate and influencing the distribution of fat. When the hormone is present in normal levels, fat is mainly deposited around the thighs, buttocks and hips. This is in contrast to situations in which the hormone is deficient in which case fat is mainly deposited around the anterior abdominal wall. The latter effect is undesirable for most women.
Proper weight control during the menopausal period is associated with many benefits. The amount of cholesterol is reduced and this in turn helps to reduce the risk of contracting non communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Low cholesterol also reduces the number of strokes and heart attack events. Other diseases whose risk is reduced include colon cancer, diverticular disease and kidney disease.
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 age catches up with us, many things happen to our bodies. Slowing down of metabolism is one of these changes. It is seen in a significant number of women in menopause. This effect is mainly attributed to reducing levels of estrogen hormone. Lifestyle changes are an important intervention that can be undertaken by affected persons. Hormone replacement therapy is another popularly used treatment.
The starting point is to try out the conservative options. It should be understood that the metabolic rate is controlled to a great extent by muscular muscle requirement which is in turn related to physical activity. More activity translates to more energy requirement and higher metabolism. Increase your daily activity gradually so that you have at least thirty minutes of intense workout for three days in a week.
Hormone replacement therapy is a widely used intervention that is easily accessible. In the therapy, estrogen and progesterone are administered for a given period of time to restore the initial hormonal balance. The duration of therapy is highly variable and is mainly determined by the initial deficiency. The doctor may need to conduct periodic tests in a bid to monitor the hormone levels.
Estrogen works mainly on two fronts; increasing the metabolic rate and influencing the distribution of fat. When the hormone is present in normal levels, fat is mainly deposited around the thighs, buttocks and hips. This is in contrast to situations in which the hormone is deficient in which case fat is mainly deposited around the anterior abdominal wall. The latter effect is undesirable for most women.
Proper weight control during the menopausal period is associated with many benefits. The amount of cholesterol is reduced and this in turn helps to reduce the risk of contracting non communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Low cholesterol also reduces the number of strokes and heart attack events. Other diseases whose risk is reduced include colon cancer, diverticular disease and kidney disease.
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 age catches up with us, many things happen to our bodies. Slowing down of metabolism is one of these changes. It is seen in a significant number of women in menopause. This effect is mainly attributed to reducing levels of estrogen hormone. Lifestyle changes are an important intervention that can be undertaken by affected persons. Hormone replacement therapy is another popularly used treatment.
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