How Ayurveda Can Help With Weight Gain During Menopause
Menopause is a time of change. Your body is also going through some major shifts. One of the most common symptoms of menopause is weight gain, which can be extremely frustrating for many women.
Hormones regulate our physiological processes such as digestion, absorption, circulation and metabolism. During menopause when these hormones become imbalanced due to fluctuations in oestrogen levels which usually lead to irregular periods, leading to hot flushes and night sweats. The condition may also cause weight gain through abnormal fat distribution around the waistline. It is important to note that both menopausal women and those who have gone through early onset of menopause (before age 45) are more susceptible to gaining weight during this time than those who go through natural menopause at around 55 years old or later.
To begin with, it's important to understand how digestion works in the Ayurvedic medical system. The digestive system consists of fire called (agni) which have their own elements of Pitta, Vata and Kapha. When these are balanced and equally distributed you have good digestion which means all nutrients are absorbed properly from your food. According to classical Ayurvedic texts, the quality of Kapha increases during menopause. And it is due to this increase in the Kapha dosha that many women experience weight gain during menopause.
Kapha or the element of earth is the densest and heaviest of the elements.
Fortunately there are some simple remedies that can help you overcome this imbalance and get back into shape before it might be too late.
1. Reduce the overall intake of food.
Hormone shifts lead to a reduction in metabolism, so it is important to counterbalance this change with a reduction in calories, especially through negative fatty foods.
Also eat your biggest meal at midday so your body and mind use those calories during the day and they don’t sit in your system during sleep which creates excess weight gain.
2. Eat Kapha reducing foods.
Kapha is aggravated by heavy, oily foods, so a kapha pacifying diet of light, dry and warm foods are recommended. Increasing fruits and vegetables that have essential nutrients and fiber helps to regulate blood sugar levels throughout the body.
3. Reduce stress levels
High stress levels increase cortisol, which adds to mid-section weight gain. Manage stress levels through Ayurvedic practices like Yoga and Meditation. (visit InspireLiving.co for all the knowledge and practices)
4. Use herbs to help increase the digestion and metabolism
Use 108 Health’s Lighten made of Triphala, which the Ayurvedic texts highlight as the perfect formula for supporting the body during digestion and elimination. Supporting digestion helps to remove the excess Kapha.
108 Health’s Fortify Ashwagandha, one of the most valued herbs in the Ayurvedic system, is highly regarded for its strength and energy building properties.
