Petite Mother of the Bride Dress Fashions for Mother of the Bride

Menopause, a normal phase of a woman’s life, starts between the ages of 45 to 55. Throughout this phase of your life the female reproductive system ceases functioning, the ovaries cease producing eggs while the body provides less estrogen and progesterone. It is a normal biological course, not a medical condition. However, many women experience a number of physical and emotional disorders including menopause bloating.

Menopause bloating is a widespread symptom that many women experience. In menopause bloating, air fills the abdomen causing a sensation of fullness and distress together with pain. Excessive intestinal gas and fluid retention is brought on by fluctuating hormones, particularly estrogen, which is often linked to the addition of weight gain.

Estrogen influences water retention and during menopause when estrogen levels are up and down, water retention increases followed by bloating. Estrogen also influences the creation of bile, a substance which keeps the intestines lubricated.   As estrogen levels decrease during menopause so does bile.  With the absence of bile, the stools become hard and dry.  They will increase in the small intestine thereby causing constipation and bloating.

Eating certain foods might also create bloating.  This may be foods such as cauliflower and broccoli which tend to produce gas and can add more gas to an already bloated intestine. A diet high in protein may result in a bloated state because your body has trouble being able to digest it. Foods loaded with sugar can cause extra bacteria. High salt intake causes intestinal fluid retention and bloating. Calcium supplements may cause bloating in some people.

gulping air could be subjecting you to bloating. Some individuals gulp more air when stressed or worried. Chewing on gum and smoking can make you to inhale more air. Conversing while eating is an additional common cause of swallowing air.

While menopause bloating is a natural event and is not a serious ailment, if the bloating is persistent you should consult a professional. Request medical help immediately if bloating coincides with a change of bowel habits, lasting diarrhea and constipation, blood in stool, fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. These disorders could be an indication of some serious underlying medical condition.  Some medical conditions that may cause bloating include; bowel obstruction, colon and rectal cancer, diabetes, diverticulitis and liver cirrhosis.  In females it could also be from ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids.

In dealing with menopause bloating it’s advisable to start by making lifestyle alterations. If menopausal bloating is caused by excessive intestinal gas, start by establishing dietary changes. Avoid dairy products, sodium and gas-producing foods such as broccoli and beans.  Chew your food well and dine on several small meals during the day. This should help you to stop swallowing air and improve digestion. If poor digestion is a major problem add enzyme-rich foods such as pineapple and papaya to your diet. A powerful digestive enzyme product is worth trying.

Add dietary foods that minimize gas and battle bloating.   These include bananas, grapes, rice, peanut butter, herbal teas and yogurt.  Add foods that aid in more consistent estrogen levels such as soy, apples, alfalfa, cherries, rice and yams.

If menopausal bloating has resulted from constipation then adding more fiber in the diet should help stop the bloating.  A highly usable, nutrient-dense, vegetarian source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber is a great choice.  Make sure you are consuming lots of water, at least 8 cups daily.

Practicing stress reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation is well worth the effort. Core exercises such as Pilates that define the muscle tone of your abdomen also helps.

This article courtesy of www.healthtopics.ca

Technorati Tags: Dietary Fiber, Digestive Enzyme, Hormones, Menopause Bloating, Progesterone, Water Retention, Weight Gain.Estrogen