Losing Weight After Menopause
Everyone who has a period goes through menopause at some point in time. This can be a stressful time for many people, especially if you're also struggling to lose weight. If you want to get healthier after menopause or while you're struggling with menopause, keep reading.
Foods to Avoid During/After Menopause
When you're going through menopause, you have a lot of symptoms, and some foods can make them worse. Spicey foods, for example, may make hot flashes worse. Similarly, drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol could also worsen hot flashes. Plus, alcohol is a depressant that can also cause anxiety, which you may already be struggling with thanks to menopause.
During and after menopause, you should also avoid foods that are high in cholesterol, sugar, salt, and fat. These can affect your weight and your overall health, increasing the risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Thickening blood
- Diabetes
- Kidney issues
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
Menopause reduces estrogen levels, which can trigger heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. However, menopause usually happens later in life when you may have a higher risk of other complications.
Foods to Add to Your Diet During/After Menopause
There are some foods that may help fight the symptoms of menopause. Drinking lots of water and eating cooling foods can help reduce the severity of hot flashes. Eating lots of fruit, veggies, and lean proteins help keep your body fat low and promotes muscle growth.
The omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish can help improve heart health and brain function. Lots of healthy fruits are also great antioxidants, which help fight aging by attacking free radicals. This can help reduce the risk of many diseases, including cancer.
Best Exercises During/After Menopause
Exercise can help you during menopause by helping you maintain your weight. This can reduce the severity of hot flashes, but it also reduces the risk of future complications related to obesity and/or a sedative lifestyle.
Aerobic exercise helps boost your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. High-impact exercise like running can also strengthen bones and muscles. However, if you struggle with osteoporosis, you may need to limit high-impact exercises and stick to swimming, swimming aerobics, or ellipticals.
Losing weight is often a difficult journey, and during/after menopause, you may have an even harder time. Luckily, there are some foods and exercises that can help keep off excess weight and boost your overall health. If you would like to know more, investigate menopause diet programs today.
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