Weight loss for those with hormonal imbalance or menopauseThere are several effective herbs for weight loss if you have a hormonal imbalance.  These are herbs for weight loss in general, but they are known to be helpful for people who a difficulty losing weight due to hormonal imbalance. Continue reading to learn more about them…

“Discovering if you have a systemic imbalance in your body may be the missing piece to your weight loss puzzle. Whether it’s hormonal imbalance, adrenal dysfunction, neurotransmitter, digestive, inflammatory, or detoxification system imbalance, correcting it is key to natural and lasting weight loss — and to your overall health. Because once your body is restored to its natural balance, excess weight will come off.” – Marcelle Pick, ND

Often women with hormone imbalances, even at young ages, deal with symptoms similar to those of women in menopause.  It makes sense, an imbalance of certain hormones is an imbalance, regardless of whether it is caused by menopause or an endocrine imbalance. Weight gain and difficulty losing weight is one such symptom.

starIf you want to lose weight, you should definitely check out our helpful weight loss section.

Herbs for weight loss in women with hormonal imbalance or those in menopause include:

  • dandelion
  • chasteberry
  • black currant
  • black cohosh

(Keep in mind that there are some herbs that cause weight gain – these are any herbs that cause an increase in estrogen. Read how I accidentally discovered that the herb fenugreek causes weight gain).

Dandelion is a well-known and documented diuretic and it is also one of the herbs for weight loss in hormonal imbalance. Women in Europe have used it for generations to treat urinary tract infections. It is also among the many herbs for menopause weight loss because it helps to control water weight gain without flushing important nutrients from the system at the same time. Some people have experienced allergic reactions to dandelion, so some caution should be applied.

Since hormone imbalance is such a central part of menopause, the chasteberry (Vitex) is one of the most important herbs for weight loss as it directly affects hormone production. Chasteberry stimulates the production of progesterone, which can help to balance out the lack of estrogen during menopause. By balancing hormone levels, you can improve appetite and increase energy, all of which may make it easier to stick to a weight loss regimen.

However, I was reading the reviews on a chasteberry product (http://www.iherb.com/Nature-s-Way-Vitex-Fruit-400-mg-100-Capsules/2053) and someone remarked that chasteberry is appropriate for those with low progresterone. If your progesterone levels are high it can actually cause weight gain and other problems, so not so fast on this one.  You can never know for sure what to believe when you are reading a review, however, other people mentioned various problems in terms of hormonal imbalance after taking chasteberry, so it warrants further investigation before just taking it.  Also it purportedly got its name because it has libido lowering effects, so that may not be a welcome effect.

As one of many herbs for menopause treatment, black currant is effective on two separate counts. Not only can it help regulate water weight gain, it also contains Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, which are central to hormone production. By ensuring that you are getting the proper amount of these vital nutrients, you can help to ease side effects of hormone imbalance that lead to weight gain. Black cohosh has been one of the more controversial herbs for weight loss, but it is proven to combat some of the symptoms of menopause that lead to weight gain. Things like depression, mood swings and fatigue may be alleviated by taking black cohosh, and easing these symptoms can lead to increased energy and a lessened tendency to overeat. Of course, herbs to do not provide a cure-all for any problem, including losing weight.

The best method for losing weight at any stage of your life remains eating a balanced diet and at least moderate exercise. But either a hormonal imbalance or menopause can make weight loss extra difficult, so by helping to bring the hormones back into balance, you can fight back against the cause of your inability to lose weight.

And whether you have a hormonal imbalance or not, if you want to lose weight, Chromium, zinc, vitamin C, D3, and the B vitamins are all essential for a healthy metabolism, so you should definitely be supplementing with those.

Like any health supplements or herbs, all the weight loss herbs listed in this article should be taken in moderation -use according to the label instructions. Note any potential side effects they may cause.

starIf you want to lose weight, you should definitely check out our helpful weight loss section.

Also, in the process of researching the herbs recommended in this article, I learned about a Health and wellness coach, Janice Bowles, who purports to be able to assist with weight issues related to hormone imbalances and / or menopause. Her website is WeightLossAt50.com

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