Friday, October 9, 2015

Ideas On How To Speed Up Metabolism During Menopause

By Daphne Bowen


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.

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.

The effects of estrogen in hormone replacement are two fold; to increase the metabolic rate and to influence the distribution of fat. In the presence of the hormone, fat is predominantly deposited around the hips, thighs and buttocks which is a desirable effect for many women. In its absence or deficiency, fat deposition takes place mainly around the abdominal area.

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.

The metabolic rate slows down as we grow older. The effect is most evident among women in menopause due to the gradual changes in hormone levels that take place. Making lifestyle adjustments should be the first step in dealing with the problem. If this fails to yield fruits, hormone replacement therapy should be considered.




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