Risks of Weight Gain After Menopause, Breast Cancer

Even though many women feel that it is okay to gain weight during menopause, because it is something that happens almost naturally, it certainly is not something you want to do.

There are a lot of women who face weight loss challenges during this part of their life but it is important to tackle that issue head on. Leaving it alone and allowing yourself to gain the weight without doing anything about it is putting your health at risk more then you know.

Your chances of getting breast cancer increase as you gain weight during menopause. You must realize what kinds of issues could go along with it if you discover that you are gaining pounds at this stage of your lifetime. The risk level is reversible though. Lower your risk of breast cancer by lowering your weight.

Indeed, studies done at the Harvard Medical School of Public Health have shown that women who’ve put on 55 or more pounds since the age of 18 are 45% more apt to get breast cancer in comparison to those who didn’t gain that many pounds. Using postmenopausal hormones can actually increase the risk of cancer.

It’s best not to gain weight in the first place. Sometimes things happen that we don’t expect, so if you have reached the point where you are interested in shedding some weight, it is possible to do it. The sooner you act the better. Your breast cancer risk will drop the faster you lose your extra weight.

Making sure that you are dieting and exercising properly is key though. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in moderation. It is important to make sure that you are still giving yourself enough protein and everything else you need for your body to function properly. With regular diet and exercise you will be able to lose the weight you need.

Dropping about one to two pounds a week is the healthiest way to go about it though. Insisting on faster results could not only damage your system but also almost guarantee that you will regain the weight in the near future. Slow and steady is the way to go when trying to lose weight.

Dieting and keeping in shape are important preventative measures for breast cancer, but you need to take care to not overdo it because you could end up hurting some other part of your body. Understand the facts and do something about becoming a healthier and better looking you.

Risks of Weight Gain After Menopause, Breast Cancer

Some women think that gain weight during menopause is ok. Even if it just occurs naturally, it is not something you want to do.

Many women face the challenge and all of them have to tackle it. If you allow yourself to just pack on the pounds without doing anything at all about it, you are risking your health more than you may know.

During menopause, your breast cancer risk increases as your weight increases. You must be alert to the health risks that could be possible if you pack on the pounds at this time of your life. The risk level is reversible though. You lower your breast cancer risk when you loose weight.

Indeed, studies done at the Harvard Medical School of Public Health have shown that women who’ve put on 55 or more pounds since the age of 18 are 45% more apt to get breast cancer in comparison to those who didn’t gain that many pounds. Using postmenopausal hormones can actually increase the risk of cancer.

The best thing to do is to make sure that the weight is not put on to begin with. Sometimes things in life happens though and if you have found yourself in a position where you need to lose some weight then you can do just that. The sooner you act the better. The quicker you get that extra weight off the less likely you will end up with breast cancer.

Proper diet and exercise is very important. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in moderation. It’s important to maintian a balanced diet to make sure you are still getting enough protein and everything else you need to function properly. Changing your diet and exercise will help you lose the weight.

Dropping a pound or two a week is a healthy rate. Striving for faster results can both damage your system and make it more likely that you will regain weight in the future. Slow and steady is the best way to lose pounds.

Although there’s the fear of breast cancer, you might also hurt the body in a number of ways if you do not take good care of yourself when you exercise and diet. Gather information and get active and you will be on the way to acheiving a better looking and healthier you.

Unhealthy Ways to Lose Weight During Menopause

There are a number of health risks that increase during menopause, and many of these risks are exacerbated by a poor diet.

When females near menopause, their systems start reducing the manufacture of estrogen along with progesterone. While we tend to think of these almost exclusively in terms of their roles as female reproductive hormones, these hormones also play an important role in bone health.

Decreases in estrogen levels accompany a reduction in a woman’s bone density. This decline actually starts well before menopause, especially in women with inadequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D during the crucial young adult years of bone formation. The loss of bone density is greatly accelerated during menopause, making women up to seven times more likely to fracture a bone than men, and putting them at risk of osteoporosis.

Throughout menopause, woman’s ability to burn calories begin to reduce speed, particularly if she is not active. Digestion of food becomes sluggish, causing greater absorption of nutrients from food. The bad news is that the health of a woman during menopause will be more greatly impacted by bad fats, sugars, and processed foods.

The reduction in women’s reproductive hormones along with alterations in digestive and metabolic function may produce increases in weight. In combination with these other changes, weight gain also puts menopausal women at greater risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and related conditions. The helpful news is that consuming a balanced mealplan in menopause may help lower the odds of acquiring conditions of brittle bones and cardiovascular disease.

The secret to a healthy diet which is able to aid in the prevention of brittle bones, putting on weight, and related health issues, is to achieve balance. Start by eating at least three nutritious meals each day. Eating more frequent, smaller meals is even better. Pay attention to consuming reasonable portions and eating nutritious foods rather than simply focusing on calories. Some examples are leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and brightly colored red and yellow vegetables. To ensure adequate intake of important nutrients of a daily multi-vitamin is also a good idea.

Fiber assists in carrying food via the digestive system in order to fight a slow metabolic rate. This facilitates healthy digestive function, and aids in preventing excessive weight increase. Whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables are nutritious foods that are high in fiber. As well as keeping a high-fiber diet, you need to stay away from foods that are fatty and fried. Your fat into should be less than 1/3 of your calories consumed.

Although there are some fats essential for a healthy living. Do include sources of omega 3 fatty acids. Some common food sources of omega 3 are salmon and other cold water fish, seeds, and nuts, especially walnuts. Omega 3 fatty acids will help to lessen some troubling symptoms of menopause as well as lessen inflammation.

For managing common symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and irritability, try reducing or eliminating caffeine and spicy foods from your diet. Avoid excess sugar, especially corn syrup and other highly-processed foods.

Drinking at least eight glasses of water each day can also help fight hot flashes, as can eating foods rich in plant phytoestrogens, such as beans and other legumes, apples, potatoes, and carrots. Soy also contains high levels of phytoestrogens, and there are many tasty flavored drinks, yogurts, and even frozen desserts, that contain soy.

The recommended daily allowance for calcium for women over age 50 is 1200 mg, but strive for this amount even if you’re younger than age 50. Be sure that your intake of calcium is adequate. Vitamin D aids in absorption of calcium, so eating low-fat dairy products that are fortified with vitamin D is a good choice. Consuming enough bone-protecting calcium can help slow down bone loss, decreasing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

The risk of osteoporosis, weight gain, and other health problems can be significantly reduced through good nutrition during menopause. A healthy diet will also provide you with more energy, and can help you reduce or eliminate troublesome symptoms of menopause.