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Perimenopause Weight Gain

Perimenopause weight gain may be attributed to an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in the body, often helped by lifestyle changes or hormone replacement therapy. Some women find that they may gain as much as 20 pounds during the onset of menopause. This doesn't have to be a permanent situation. It is best to view this as a time to fine tune lifestyle issues, make some healthier choices when eating and start a regular exercise routine. Regular exercise and eating healthy can help with many of the symptoms associated with menopause. Some of the signs of perimenopause include hot flashes, night sweats, cold chills, insomnia, mood swings, depression, anxiety, heart palpitations, weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, urinary incontinence and vaginal dryness. Processed foods that are high in sodium or sugar should be eliminated completely from the diet. Replace these products with whole grain, low-fat, low-sugar choices. Fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, oatmeal, and fish are healthy. Limit caffeine, alcoholic beverages, and sodas. Drink lots of water, and unsweetened fruit juices.

Emotional attachment to foods can sabotage a weight loss program. Certain foods bring comfort because there are happy memories associated with them. Probably just about everyone has one food that they are emotionally attached to. Totally eliminating comfort foods is probably not a good idea but healthier snacks can be substituted for many of the unhealthy ones. Hormonal imbalances can trigger cravings that can lead to overeating. These cravings can be contributing to perimenopause weight gain. Many people reach for sweet treats because they raise serotonin levels in the brain, making them feel good. Over indulging in sweet treats can lead to weight gain, high triglyceride levels, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Many of these products are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup and contain partially hydrogenated oil characterized as bad sugar and bad fats or trans fats. Food manufacturers use partially hydrogenated oils to prolong the shelf life of many products. Studies have shown that trans fats increase the risks of heart disease even more so than saturated fats. Many of these products include, fried chicken, french fries, fried pies, donuts, crackers, cookies, pop tarts, margarine, canned biscuits, microwave popcorn, and some instant coffee beverages, among others.

Hormonal balance can be best achieved by providing the body with the necessary nutrients. Adding vitamins and minerals will help the body to work properly. Nutritional supplements can help the body fight the symptoms and signs of perimenopause. Vitamins and minerals help the body fight the toxins that are in food and the environment. A good supplement should contain essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, including calcium and magnesium. These should be processed with no sweeteners, artificial colors or flavors, preservatives or fillers. Everyone is exposed to environmental toxins through prescription or over-the-counter drugs, food, air, and water, ingested by mouth, absorbed through the skin, and by breathing them in. The body has a natural detoxifying system but since most of us are consuming a multitude of chemicals every day the body cannot eliminate all the toxins that one is exposed to. Signs of perimenopause have similarities to signs of toxicity including, headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, allergies, coughing, rashes, digestive problems, and irritability. Toxicity may first show up through digestive disturbances such as, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and/or a bad taste in the mouth. Digestive disturbances may also be caused by food allergies and food sensitivities.

Some of the symptoms associated with menopause can become almost unbearable. One of the signs of perimenopause is depression and this particular illness can become very serious if left untreated. A health care provider will often try prescribing anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication for depression. Side effects associated with anti-depressants are perimenopause weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, panic attacks, and digestive problems. Before opting to use anti-depressants it may be wise to consider alternatives first. Having faith in God and becoming involved in worship services may be very helpful in dealing with stress and anxiety. God's Word provides us with many wonderful promises that can help us live this life without having to worry about everything. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Give troubles, anxiety, and worries to God and let him take care of everything. In addition, consider using natural hormone replacement therapy to help with menopausal symptoms.

Other options to help curb menopausal systems are bio identical hormone replacement therapy and synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Synthetic hrt have had some negative press of late and should be used with caution. These substances have been around for over 60 years but long-term use may be risky since studies have shown a risk for developing breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Perimenopause weight gain may be helped by using bio identical hormone therapy. Bio identical hormones are made from plant derivatives that resemble human hormones. Women should not try to self-prescribe any type of hormone replacement therapy but should talk to a physician before self-medicating. A physician will need to know as much as possible about medical history and what prescriptions are currently being taken. Ask a physician about all alternatives available and weigh the benefits against the risks before beginning treatment.

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