Ideas On How To Speed Up Metabolism During Menopause

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.

Conservative treatment options have to be attempted first before considering the invasive interventions. The rate of metabolism is closely related to the energy requirement by body tissues which is in turn related to the rate of physical activity. This means that by increasing your daily physical activity will help increase the rate of metabolism. Thirty minutes of intense physical activity for at least three days in a week is good enough.

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.

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.

Keeping your weight in check during the menopausal period has many benefits. These include reducing the risk of contracting some communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Reducing weight helps to lower the levels of cholesterol which in turn reduces the risk of suffering stroke and heart disease. Other diseases whose risk may be reduced include kidney stones, diverticular disease and colon cancer.

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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