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  • By Daphne Bowen


    Menopause is a period that is characterized by many physical and psychological changes. Some of the changes are subtle while others are rather dramatic. An increase in body weight is one of the most frequently reported changes. This change is attributed to the fact that women of the menopausal ages are generally inactive physically compared to younger women. The other perhaps more important factor is the change in estrogen levels. The following are options on 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 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 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.

    Adequate sleep is important. Contrary to popular opinion, being awake for long hours does not increase the metabolic rate. Enough sleep does. Studies indicate that there is about 5% reduction in the rate whenever a night of sleep is missed. Ensure that you sleep between seven and eight hours. A better rate of metabolism will improve your quality of sleep.

    Dietary modification will most certainly be required. Since different foods have different levels of calories, the metabolic rates will also be different. The idea is to have a metabolic rate that is sustained over a long period of time. In this regard, having small frequent meals will be more helpful. Large fewer meals may cause sudden drops in glucose and release of cortisol hormone. The hormone breaks down muscle and reduces the basal 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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