Are your menopause symptoms getting out of whack? Have you been noticing symptoms like weight gain, bloating and sagginess, and are these symptoms getting progressively worse as you age? While experiencing such symptoms goes hand in hand with menopause and hormonal decline, there is still no need to suffer because of them. Thankfully, all of these symptoms can be managed with a holistic approach, like Ayurveda.

But before we get into the treatment methods and tips as recommended by our own Ayurvedic practitioners, let’s take a closer look into why weight gain occurs during menopause.

Why Am I Gaining Weight During Menopause?

When your menopause kicks in (usually around the age of 50), there is one thing you can be sure of: your body will change, and there will be symptoms to signify this. While you may already be acquainted with the more common menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, you may not be sure how weight factors into the change you are experiencing. If you have put on weight or even some belly fat and are at a menopausal age, it is quite likely that your hormonal changes are to blame. But how does this happen?

As a woman around the age of 50, your hormones, which began declining in your 40s, are now in their full decline. This results in a slow digestive system that metabolises fat ineffectively and nearly constantly craves nutrients. As nutrients do not get absorbed as promptly or efficiently as they did in your younger years, your adrenal glands will try to compensate by attempting to keep your energy levels up.  However, the adrenals will be working overtime to accomplish this, which usually results in sluggishness and even more problems. They will also make you crave food and feel hungry consistently throughout the day. This is how you may end up overeating, binging on snacks and carbs, and subsequently gaining weight. Before you know it, your system has become clogged with fat and toxins, malnourished, fatigued, and in urgent need of professional help.

This malnourishment may lead to further complications, such as:

• Heart problems
• Lymphatic system clogging (edema)
• Kidney problems
• Adrenal Fatigue
• Diabetes and/or other ailments under the Metabolic Syndrome diseases
• Liver problems
• Dry, cracked skin
• Digestive problems
• Obesity
• Thyroid disease
• Low energy, extreme fatigue
• Depression, anxiety and lack of motivation

While symptoms of weight gain are perfectly normal in menopausal women, there is no need to allow them to develop into a disease like obesity, heart disease or kidney failure. When weight gain during menopause is treated holistically, it can not only prevent such diseases from occurring, but it can also make you feel completely rejuvenated. Wouldn’t you love to have that kind of energy and vitality as you age?

So what can you do about weight gain from an Ayurvedic, holistic standpoint?

Types of Fat and Fat Deposition

Understanding how fat is deposited and distributed may just be the key to fixing your menopause-related weight gain.

As a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner and the owner of the YATAN Holistic Ayurvedic Centre, I have worked with hundreds of women who sought to lose weight during their menopausal years. After having successfully provided solutions to such patients through Ayurvedic Menopause Weight Loss Plans for over two decades, I have concluded to some very interesting observations about fat disposition in relation to what a person eats.

Have you ever heard the expression “You are what you eat”? I would rephrase that to say “You resemble what you eat in excess”.

My experience has led me to believe that meat fat consumed in excess will eventually accumulate in various parts of the body, particularly during the stage of menopause when a woman’s system does not adequately metabolise fat. The deposition of this fat will resemble the fat as it is distributed on the animal the meat came from. For example, a woman who consumes a lot of chicken breasts will, particularly during menopause, have a bloated upper body, much like the distended chest and breast area of the chicken.

The graphic below elaborates on fat deposition according to this model.

I have personally worked with a patient who was aware of this model herself, but from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. Chinese doctors will tell you “When you have a problem within the body, eat that part of the animal”. We agreed that she consume cooked chicken neck for her thyroid disorder, as the hormones released from the chicken’s neck (thyroid area) would boost her own thyroid hormones.

Similar to TCM is Ayurveda, a proven holistic healing science backed up by 5,000 years of successful application. Originating from India, where it is actually considered a sign of wealth and abundance to be chubby and overweight, Ayurveda does not prescribe drugs or synthetic hormones to deal with any kind of problem, let alone weight gain and menopause symptoms. Moreover, you can expect no side-effects and your body will learn how to produce the hormones it requires to metabolise fat and lose weight without relying on external resources.

But how exactly does Ayurveda treat weight gain during menopause? And how can you best help yourself by acknowledging and applying Ayurvedic practices?

Ayurveda’s Menopause Weight Gain Solution

According to Ayurveda, menopause symptoms of weight gain and any symptoms for that matter can be treated according to each person’s unique body system known as Dosha. When your constitution is assessed and the root cause of your symptoms identified, you will be prescribed a customised treatment plan. This will not be a one-fits-all remedy, but rather a very personal plan tailor-made just for you.

According to the Dosha concept:

• Vata bodies are thin, fast-moving and have dry skin. They reflect the elements of Air and Space. A menopausal woman with a Vata imbalance may be anxious, fastidious and obsessively active.
• Pitta bodies are fit and broader than Vata bodies, yet may have oily skin. They reflect the elements of Fire and Water, which is where their ‘fiery’ personality is attributed to. A menopausal woman with a Pitta imbalance may be easily irritable and have frequent emotional outbreaks.
• Kapha bodies are large, hefty, sluggish and overweight. They reflect the elements of Water and Earth. Kapha individuals are generally of a low tone and calm temperament, but a menopausal woman with a Kapha imbalance may be weepy, depressed and have respiratory problems.

As you can see from the above descriptions, weight gain problems would most likely fit into the Kapha category, though the other two must not be excluded, as underlying causes can be attributed to a Vata or Pitta imbalance as well.

Once your Ayurvedic practitioner has assessed your Dosha, he will start working on your organs and system, as one or more may be ineffective or dysfunctional.  These organs and systems typically include the brain, thyroid gland, liver, vascular system and digestive system. The key here is to pinpoint the best treatment to regulate hormone levels and encourage the body to produce its own hormones in order to aid the weight loss process.

Your Ayurvedic Menopause Weight Loss Plan will most likely include one or more of the following:

• A customised Ayurvedic herbal decoction to assist with hormone regulation, digestive enzymes and metabolism, each of which are of vital significance when it comes to losing weight. Ayurvedic herbs included in the decoction may be Haritaki, Bhringaraj, Arjuna, Triphala, Amalki and others.
• A customised diet plan according to your Dosha.
• Yoga therapy
• Panchakarma detox therapy to unclog the lymphatic system and give it a boost.

An Ayurvedic treatment plan is based on holistic principles and the Dosha philosophy that states that every single person is unique and therefore every treatment must be customised. It is thus imperative that you do not self-diagnose or assume what your treatment may be, but simply hold on to the general idea of what Ayurveda can offer. Moreover, never rush to self-treat without first consulting your Ayurvedic practitioner.

Self-Help Tips for Menopause Weight Gain

While it is best you first consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for a full Menopause Weight Loss Plan, there are some self-help tips you can implement from the comfort of your home:

• Avoid meat (particularly pork and beef) according to the Fat Deposition model we explained earlier. For instance, if you accumulate fat mostly around your belly and thighs, then it is best to avoid eating pork.
• Opt for healthier meats instead, like fish and chicken (unless you already eat plenty of chicken and have accumulated upper body fat due to it).
• Add fruits and vegetables to your diet to get a good dose of daily nutrients and antioxidants. Vegetables are best consumed either roasted, raw in a salad with beans, or cooked in a soup. Fruits can be eaten whole, juiced, or topped with yoghurt.

• Go gluten free to spare your gut of the bloat caused by mucoid plaque, a result of gluten sticking to the gastrointestinal lining. A gluten-free diet will help you achieve that flat belly with little effort.
• Add Indian push-ups to your workout, as they will boost your metabolism and help you burn fat quicker than other exercises (our YATAN Yoga Therapy book explains how to do Indian push-ups as well as multiple Yoga asanas and pranayama exercises).
• Practise Yoga asanas such as Sun Salutations, Kati Chakrasana (Standing Spinal Twist Pose), Padhastasana (Hands To Feet Pose), and Pavanmuktasana (Gas Release Pose).
• Drink plenty of water or eat a bowl of watermelon daily to keep your body hydrated and fat constantly moving through and out of your body rather than accumulating inside.

I hope the tips and information in this article are beneficial to you and assist you on your menopause journey to weight loss and hormonal balance.

Is menopause making you gain weight? Contact us now for a FREE consultation or visit the YATAN Holistic Ayurvedic Centre for a personalised treatment plan.