Menopause and Exercise
Yes - Exercise Can Help Menopause
A regular programme of exercise at menopause can help deal
with many of the well known symptoms of menopause. It can also
help deal with related health issues including heart disease
and osteoporosis. It will supplement the other parts of a
programme of healthcare at menopause - including diet,
exercise, relaxation and natural remedies including
herbs.
Exercise, Menopause And The Feelgood Factor
The great thing about aerobic exercise is that it raises
your mood and relieves tension, thus helping to reduce
menopausal depression and anxiety if this is present. Another
aid at this time is the herb St John's wort.
This fine herb has the reputation of helping to calm
anxiety at menopause and other times. It is also a great nerve
tonic herb.
Exercise can also make you feel great through the release of
hormones called endorphins. These are hormones which can
definitely make you feel good. Some people report a strong
effect which lasts for several hours. Others notice that
exercising lifts their spirits in general. So, if menopause is
lowering your mood, you should definitely be exercising
regularly.
Exercise, Menopause And Brain Function
Exercise also promotes brain function by improving
circulation of blood to the brain. This means that the body can
be helped in dealing with the poor memory and 'brain fog' which
can occur at menopause. Women have reported success in treating
both of these symptoms through exercise.
As a supplementary measure, gingko is a herb with the
reputation of helping the brain at menopause time. Foggy
thinking and poor memory are both thought to be related to
poor blood circulation to the brain; ginkgo herb is well known for its ability to
promote good circulation to the brain. Herbs and exercise -
especially ginkgo herb - make a great
combination.
Exercise, Menopause And Abdominal Fat
Aerobic exercise also helps reduce abdominal fat, which is
the very place where weight easily goes on during menopause. So
to couteract this tendency, aerobic exercise - which involves
continuous exertion with few or no breaks - will definitely
give you an edge.
Exercise and General Symptoms Of Menopause
It has been found in some studies that oestrogen can
increase following exercise. This will help reduce many
menopausal symptoms, as it is the reduction in oestrogen which
is responsible for many of these syptoms.
Strength Training And MenopauseStrength training is
also very helpful at menopause time. This is because it
stimulates bones to retain the minerals that keep them strong,
and helps to slow down, or avoid the start of, osteoporosis.
Exercise And Heart HealthExercise helps to improve
cholesterol levels. When combined with the physical fitness
which regular exercise can produce, this is a double benefit
for the heart and arterial system.
Regularity Is The Key; the key for exercise
is to be consistent - aim for daily exercise at least on most
days of the week, week after week.
Menopause, Exercise, And The Immune System
It is not just the heart, lungs and muscles which benefit
from exercise. Exercise is vital for whole body health. It is
also essential for the immune system.
It is important to note that the vessels of the immune
system, or lymphatic system, are blind-ended. Lymph has no
equivalent of a heart to pump it around the system; it relies
on being squeezed by our muscles as we move. It can pass
through the vessels in one direction only thanks to the blind
ends of the vessels acting as valves. There is one primary way
to circulate this vital lymph fluid. And that way is -
exercise. This circulation around the immune system is vital
during menopause as well as at other times.
There are also various herbs for the immune system
which can work well in conjunction with exercise. A
three month Immune System Programme can be a good
idea.
What you can do
A great way to ensure you are getting the right sort, and
the right amount of exercise in menopause is to hire a personal
exercise trainer. He or she will help you decide which types of
exercises are best for you. An exercise program should start
slowly and build up to more strenuous activities. Next best,
join your local gym, have a personal session to assess your
health and your needs, and start a programme there.
Take up a sport and play several times a week. Embark on
long, regular walks in the coutry. Investigate yoga - once
learned, you can do this yourself at home conveniently and at
low cost.
Start a programme of regular exercise at menopause time and
see how great you feel for it. And be happy in the knowledge
that you are giving vital support to your blood circulation and
your immune system.
This is important at anytime, but if you are in the
menopause exercise is even more vital.
Resources
Herbs:
Menopause Herbs 90-day Menopause
Programme
Agnus Castus
Black Cohosh
Dong Quai Ginkgo
Femarone 40+
Motherwort
Red Clover
Red Sage
Siberian Ginseng
St John's Wort
Wild Yam 40+
Articles: Agnus Castus
Dong quai
Ginkgo
Menopause in general
St John's Wort
Hot Flashes in Menopause - 4 Key Natural
Treatments
4 Natural Remedies for Menopause
Hot Flashes - What Are They?
Menopause Symptoms - 17 Key Indications
Menopause
and Exercise
Menopause
and Stress
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