Menopause and weight gain go hand in hand for some women. During menopause, your hormone levels decrease, taking your mood and energy levels along for the ride. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is one of the reasons many women gain weight, because exercise and proper nutrition are no longer followed. While your hormones are not responsible for your weight gain, they impact lifestyle changes that can be corrected by regulating your hormones. Do not attempt to use natural herbs or supplements without permission from your doctor, especially if you are on hormone-replacement therapy.
Step 1
Add B vitamins to your supplement routine. B vitamins are essential to managing stress, which can trigger overeating and depression. According to Dr. Marilyn Glenville, B vitamins take the stress off your adrenal glands and help increase energy levels required to lose weight.
Step 2
Ingest a daily vitamin E supplement to help alleviate night sweats and improve mood. Mood swings and night sweats can prevent you from resting, leading to sleepiness and decreased energy. Vitamin E can help restore energy and balance your mood, helping you to avoid binge eating and increase physical activity.
Step 3
Incorporate soy in your diet. Soy is a plant that contains natural phytoestrogens. This can help promote estrogen production in your body, fighting the symptoms that can lead to weight gain and failure to lose belly fat.
Step 4
Take a daily calcium supplement along with vitamin D to keep your bones strong and prevent injury that can stop your exercise plans. Vitamin D is responsible for your body's calcium absorption; however, your vitamin D and calcium levels decline during menopause. This can lead to painful disorders such as osteoporosis that inhibit vigorous exercise needed to lose belly fat.
Step 5
Purchase black cohosh supplements from your local health food store. Black cohosh is believed to effectively treat the symptoms of menopause that can bring about lifestyle changes that contribute to belly fat. Symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings and depression may be alleviated through use of black cohosh, though studies have been inconclusive, as of 2011, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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