Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Menopausal Weight Loss Products, Will They Work for You

By Ricardo d Argence

Apart from the bothersome indication of menopause, weight gain in women during this span is very usual. This weight gain is often an accident, and will happen, even in women who had not made any changes in diet or reduce their level of activity.

There are number of menopausal weight loss products that are marketed to women as effective aids in fighting weight gain during menopause,as you might imagine. But are these products really worth it? Let's discuss the mechanisms of weight gain during menopause, and the associated risks of being overweight during menopause before delving further into the various products and their pros and cons.

There are number of reasons for weight gain during menopause. One is slowed and inefficient digestion that is a consequence of getting older. This keeps food in the digestive tract longer, ensuring that you absorb more nutrients, including fat and calories, from your food.

Menopause causes hormonal changes including lower estrogen levels, which can lead to weight gain. This is because estrogen and fat production are linked, fat cells help regulate estrogen production. When estrogen levels go down during menopause, a woman's body might attempt to retain as much fat as it is able in order to deal with this decrease in the amount of estrogen. Hormones and the fat of the body to work together, a complex feedback loop, affecting appetite, metabolism and fat storage.

The risks of weight gain are amplified for menopausal women. Being overweight at any stage of life carries risks, like increased risk of high blood pressure, breast and reproductive cancers, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. Since the hormone estrogen is important for preventing cardiovascular disease, the risk of having a heart attack goes up when levels of this hormone drop, even then the menopausal women experience no weight gain. The risk of developing health issues is greatly increased for women who become overweight after going through menopause.

So, should you contrivance menopausal weight loss deficit produces to save emphasizing avail in menopause? Let's take a look into a few of these products:

Estrin-D: This product contains a number of metabolism-increasing stimulants. These are xanthine (caffeine) derived formulations like yerba matte, caffeine, and guarana, along with some other innocuous herbal ingredients. While the product does indeed rev up metabolism, there are many risks associated with stimulant-based products. Also, the high levels of caffeine and other stimulants in this formula can cause tachycardia, high blood pressure, a feeling of 'edginess', and excessive perspiration. Caffeine is also thought to contribute to hot flashes during menopause. These considerations make Estrin-D a less-than-ideal choice for menopausal weight loss.

Zalestra: Zalestra includes a far safer array of herbal ingredients that are designed to create a more gentle increase in metabolism, while treating some of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. This product does not have the negative health risks of caffeine-containing products.

Estrolean: The product is similar to Zalestra, but with a smal volume thermogenic ingredients. It is the estrogen which helps to control some of the hormonal imbalances that often accompany menopausal weight gain.

Some of these menopause products will help with your symptoms; however, you must also exercise and eat a healthy diet in order to lose weight. Ideally, they may assist somewhat with losing weight, and in the worst case, they might produce harmful and distasteful side effects.

The best approach to weight control during menopause is a healthy, high fiber, moderate fat, whole-foods diet. A healthy diet that emphasizes fruits, veggies, grains, and lean sources of protein, along with adequate amounts of vital nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fats. That is the best way to lose weight during, or after, menopause. - 15437

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