Can Probiotics Help With Menopause Weight Loss
Finding it slightly more challenging to maintain your usual weight? Youre certainly not alone.
Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women are more likely to have increased total fat levels and decreased lean mass. Obesity affects over six in 10 postmenopausal women and is associated with metabolic dysfunction, an increased risk of insulin resistance as well as type 2 diabetes.
In addition to watching our diets and establishing a regular exercise routine, it has more recently been suggested that the microbiome could play a role in menopause weight management.
In fact, researchers have claimed that the relationship between the gut microbiota and a lack of oestrogen is likely responsible for weight gain and lipid deposition during menopause.
The precise nature of this relationship is not yet fully understood, but many studies have pointed towards the beneficial effects of the Lactobacillus family of bacteria on menopause weight gain.
- Women who consumed yoghurt containing the probiotics Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus amylovorus reported reduced body fat of 34% over six weeks.
- Another probiotic of the same family, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, helped women to lose 50% more weight than those taking a placebo pill.
- In a randomised double-blind study, the probiotic strain Lactobacillus gasseri showed 8.5% impact on weight loss in some people although the focus of the study was not exclusively menopausal women. This probiotic is found in fermented foods.
What Is The Gut
Gut Health and Hormones are they related? Recent studies are making it more and more clear that the state of your gut, healthy or unhealthy, has a definite impact on your hormone levels and imbalances.
The strength of your immune system is largely determined by the healthy state of your gut. The immune system doesnt just ward off colds and flu its the gatekeeper for overall health. The state of gut health affects almost every physiological process in the human body. An unhealthy gut causes hormonal disruptions and chronic inflammation which can precede serious diseases such as diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and even Alzheimers.
Gut Microbes Regulate Estrogen
Scientific research has demonstrated that gut microbes regulate many aspects of human physiology, including intestinal permeability, the absorption of nutrients from food, and immunity. However, recent studies suggest that gut microbes play another crucial role in the human body by regulating circulating estrogen levels.
The estrobolome is the collection of microbes capable of metabolizing estrogens. The estrobolome modulates the enterohepatic circulation of estrogens and affects circulating and excreted estrogen levels. Microbes in the estrobolome produce beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme that deconjugates estrogens into their active forms. Beta-glucuronidase activity produces active, unbound estrogen that is capable of binding to estrogen receptors and influencing estrogen-dependent physiological processes.
Could balancing the microbiome be a new way to treat estrogen-related diseases?
When the gut microbiome is healthy, the estrobolome produces just the right amount of beta-glucuronidase to maintain estrogen homeostasis. However, when gut dysbiosis is present, beta-glucuronidase activity may be altered. This produces either a deficiency or an excess of free estrogen, thus promoting the development of estrogen-related pathologies.
Also Check: Are Probiotics Good For Acid Reflux
Probiotics Encourage Microbial Diversity
Like I stated above, our gut needs a variety of bacteria to carry out certain functions. Some types of bacteria may metabolize estrogen, while other bacteria help secrete serotonin, or help absorb certain types of nutrients.
When you increase the diversity of your microbiome, you are balancing that ratio of harmful vs beneficial bacteria. You need that balance to allow estrogen to be regulated correctly.
If it’s not balanced, estrogen levels will slowly elevate and will circulate through the body, causing menstrual problems.
Hormones Probiotics And The Human Microbiome
Adapted from Probiotic Potential: Using Friendly Bacteria to Promote Healthy Digestion, Strengthen Immunity, and More
A Connections publication of Womens International Pharmacy
The microbiome organ is a collection of microbes or single-celled microorganismscalled microflorathat live on and in the body. The human body contains 100 trillion cells, and 90% of them are not even our ownnearly all of these are bacteria the rest are yeasts and parasites. These microbes are incredibly diverse in size, shape, color and growth rates, and may include as many as 1,000 different species.
Among our bodys microbes you will find:
- The good Probiotics like Lactobacillus, a strain of bacteria commonly found in yogurts with active cultures.
- The bad Bacteria that usually result in serious illness, such as Salmonella.
- The risky Several bacterial species that are beneficial when they are in the right place and quantity, but may lead to health issues if their numbers are unbalanced or if they are located in the wrong part of the body. For example, species of Klebsiella make vitamins B12 and K when theyre in the small intestine, but may cause pneumonia when theyre inside the lungs.
The microbiome begins developing at birth and changes throughout our lifetime. Environment plays a larger role in determining microbiome makeup and health than genetics, which explains why members of the same household may have similar conditions even without being genetically related.
Don’t Miss: What Does Probiotics Do For Kids
Probiotics Recommended To Gastrointestinal Issues Hormone Imbalances
In the modern workforce, long hours and inconsistent meal times can result in a slew of gastrointestinal issues, which then causes other problems, from weight gain to a decline in mental well-being.
Many aspects of the modern lifestyle, from the discovery of antibiotics to the use of pesticides and GMOs on our food, to the high stress environments we live in, affect the microbiome and have really put new stress on our gut barrier, Vincent Pedre, medical director of Pedre Integrative Health and author of Happy Gut Vincent, told Vogue .
The consumption of probiotics is of the many answers to gastrointestinal issues and the unwanted inconveniences that follow.
Probiotics are good bacteria that promote a healthy digestive system. They help combat harmful bacteria, aid in absorbing nutrients and proper digestion, promote a strong gut in lining, reduce infections and inflammation by enhancing the bodys immune system and optimize mood, functional-medicine expert Frank Lipman told Vogue.
Subsequently, the rising consumption of probiotic products such as yogurt, Lactobacillus, kefir and kombucha signal that more people are struggling to overcome gastrointestinal issues.
Probiotics are also beneficial for womens health. Garden of Life said the key to good digestion, immunity, balance of hormones, metabolism, detoxification and emotional stability was healthy gut bacteria.
Read also: Six nutrition-rich foods for fuel prior to exercising
The Best Probiotic For Gut Health And Digestion
Today, more women experience digestive troubles than ever before. A balanced microbiome can help fight symptoms like bloating after meals, low stomach acid, abdominal pain, and many others. So many modern health conditions originate in the gut.
A healthy gut is key to maintaining overall health and wellness, so its important to make sure youre taking a probiotic that will support gut health. Some of the best strains for this include:
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Bifidobacterium breve
S. boulardii has been shown to be particularly helpful if youre experiencing diarrhea associated with antibiotic use. In one study, researchers found taking S. boulardii alongside antibiotics can reduce the chances of getting diarrhea .
Taking a probiotic may also help with proper nutrient absorption, which is critical to rebuilding and maintaining a healthy gut. Probiotic products promote the growth of good bacteria in your digestive tract as well as supporting immune health within your intestinal tract.
Combat bloating, increase digestion, and balance your gut with daily Belly Fix.
Don’t Miss: Does Bone Broth Have Probiotics
They Affect How Your Food Is Digested
Since your gut bacteria line your intestines, they come into contact with the food you eat. This may affect what nutrients you absorb and how energy is stored in your body.
One study examined the gut bacteria in 77 pairs of twins, one of whom was obese and one of whom was not.
The study found that those who were obese had different gut bacteria than their non-obese twins. In particular, obesity was associated with lower gut bacteria diversity, meaning there were fewer types of bacteria in the gut .
Other studies have shown that if the gut bacteria from obese people are put into mice, the mice gain weight. This suggests that gut bacteria could affect weight (
15 ).
A recent study found that the ratio of two types of bacteria in your intestines may determine how much weight you lose when given a particular diet.
These two bacteria are Prevotella, which digests fiber and carbohydrates, and Bacteroidetes, which people who eat more animal protein and fat have more of .
In this study, 62 people were given a high-fiber, whole grain diet for 26 weeks. Those who had more Prevotella in their intestines lost 5.1 pounds more body fat than those with more Bacteroidetes in their intestines .
Your gut bacteria also digest certain antioxidants found in plants known as flavonoids, which may help prevent weight gain .
Finally, your gut bacteria can influence how dietary fats are absorbed in the intestines, which may affect how fat is stored in the body .
Probiotics In Menopause Studies Show Promising Results
MenoLabs News | Fri, Nov 01, 2019
Women in menopause often have a lot of symptoms, some less and some more severe than others. Think mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, thinning hair, low sex drive, bone loss, brain fog, skin problems, and so on. Some women choose to ignore their symptoms, while others go to the doctor who advises them to start Hormone Radiation Therapy . But, hormonal treatments are not always safe, which is why we want to talk about how studies show favorable results for using probiotics in menopause.
Menopause is the end of the womans fertile period. As your body stops creating fertile eggs, many changes happen to it. For some women, this period is mild without much going on, while for others, it can bring several problems. Your bodys hormonal balance also changes namely, we see a decline in estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone.
Estrogen plays many roles in the body, helping repair tissues and having a protective effect. It declines as you age, but something needs to fill in for it so your body can be healthy. Probiotics can help if you have symptoms of menopause-related to low estrogen levels in the body. But what exactly are they and how do they work?
Recommended Reading: Probiotic And Prebiotic Foods List
Top Diet Tips To Balance Hormones Naturally
Food as medicine is the foundation of balancing hormones naturally. Hence, consuming a nutrient dense diet which is a perfect combination of carbohydrates, proteins and good fats becomes essential. So, let’s look at 5 food categories that you can find in your kitchen which will help you regulate hormone imbalances.
Probiotic Side Effects Heres What You Should Know
More and more people are talking about the health benefits of a well-functioning gut microbiome and its influence over the entire body. If you nourish, protect, and heal your gut, your body responds in kind.
Poor digestive health has been linked in no small way to issues like poor immune health and HPA axis suppression, while a healthy gut has been linked to strengthened immune and adrenal health, and even sustainable weight loss.
This is where probiotics and daily probiotic supplements come in handy. Probiotics, in essence, are the good bacteria that your gut needs to thrive supplementing with probiotics helps ensures that the bad bacteria that line your gut are outnumbered, keeping you healthy and strong.
In fact, there are trillions of bacteria in your gut right nowboth good and bad. The goal is to keep the bad ones to a minimum so they dont outweigh the friendly bacteria and wreak havoc on your body.
Probiotics are the crux of our whole-body immunity and therefore essential to feed and protect. Probiotics have been linked to every system in the body, confirming them as the center of health, explains Christine Dionese, integrative, epigenetic health and food therapy specialist. Conventional providers are finally catching up to what integrative practitioners have known for decades.
Just as you take other beneficial supplements, a daily probiotic regimen should be at the top of your wellness to-do list.
Don’t Miss: Young Living Life 9 Probiotic
Dr Randolphs Recommendations For Good Bowel Health
In addition to these supplements, you can promote good bowel health and also rid your body of excess estrogen by eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower – they contain a phytonutrient called indole-3-carbinol that helps reduce your estrogen load. Also recommended are citrus fruits with d-Limonene, and insoluble fiber, which acts as an estrogen binder. You can find more details and other examples of estrogen-reducing “belly blasting” foods in Dr. Randolphs book, From Belly Fat to Belly Flat.
Invest in your hormone health and take the steps now that will help you feel younger and more energetic for years to come. We wish you well!
References:
They Produce Chemicals That Help You Feel Hungry Or Full
Your body produces a number of different hormones that affect your appetite, including leptin, ghrelin, peptide YY .
Some studies have shown that different bacteria in the gut can affect how much of these hormones are produced and whether you feel hungry or full .
Short-chain fatty acids are chemicals that are produced when certain species of gut bacteria break down fiber. One of these is known as propionate.
One study in 60 overweight adults found that taking propionate for 24 weeks significantly increased levels of the hormones PYY and GLP-1, both of which influence hunger.
People who took propionate also had reduced food intake and reduced weight gain .
Other studies have shown that prebiotics supplements, which contain compounds that are fermented by gut bacteria, can have a similar effect on appetite .
People who ate 16 grams of prebiotics per day for two weeks had higher levels of hydrogen in their breath. This indicates gut bacterial fermentation, less hunger and higher levels of the hormones GLP-1 and PYY, which make you feel full .
Summary Your gut bacteria can produce chemicals that can help make you feel full. By affecting your appetite, your gut bacteria may play a role in your weight.
Read Also: Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Masque Ingredients
Easy Methods To Use Probiotics For Ladiess Well Being
With so many well being advantages, probiotic dietary supplements generally is a common a part of your normal well being upkeep program. Whether or not you select powders, gummies, or capsules, there are numerous potential probiotics and completely different species available on the market.
The very best probiotics for ladies are those that may result in a balanced intestine.
Balancing your intestine is usually so simple as together with one probiotic components from every class:
Class 1: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Blends , together with species comparable to Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
, together with species comparable to Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Class 2: Saccharomyces boulardii
Class 3: Soil-Primarily based Blends, normally Bacillus species
Utilizing one sort is nice, however utilizing all three collectively usually gives the utmost profit. Sorts 1 and a pair of ought to be refrigerated, whereas Kind 3 is normally shelf-stable.
Many individuals dont appear to attain stability of their microbiota with only one probiotic components. Some fortunate folks do, however for a lot of, one probiotic receivedt suffice. Ive seen the perfect outcomes with my sufferers following a protocol that features all three probiotic classes. For many sufferers whove tried probiotics prior to now, this method makes all of the distinction.
Selecting the Finest Probiotics for Ladies
Freed from main allergens
Tips For Balancing Estrogen Levels And Promote Digestion
-
Test, don’t guess: A stool test can reveal your beta-glucuronidase levels. If these are high, we know that’s an area we need to work on to help lower your estrogen.
-
Consume a variety of foods: while probiotics can help improve a healthy microbial diversity, getting a large portion from whole organic foods is highly encouraged first and foremost!
-
Get pooping, women!- fiber, hydration, movement, and magnesium are going to be your new best friend. Start including these right now, and let me know how you’re pooping in a week!
-
Manage stress: Stress increases cortisol levels and can even promote lower progesterone levels. When your ratio of progesterone to estrogen is off, it can lead to estrogen dominance and menstruation issues.
-
Add in cruciferous vegetables to your meals: broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts all contain compounds that ease the detoxification of estrogen.
If you are experiencing menstrual issues, take a look at your gut health. Your gut can tell you significant information about why you may be experiencing symptoms. Since your gut health highly influences estrogen levels, it’s vital to restore your gut to get your period normal again.
Can Probiotics Affect Your Period? Sure! But there are plenty of other factors we should look into to get your body back into balance as well.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Probiotic At Walmart
What Does Probiotics Do For The Female Body
Her studies demonstrate that probiotic products can maintain the vaginal microbiome for better treatment of vaginal yeast infections, ureteral infections, and vaginal vaginosis. has also suggested that supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus fermentum probiotics can provide substantial vaginal improvement as well.
Balanced Hormones Rest On Strong Digestion
Around the age of 35, a woman usually begins her transition into menopause. While she may not notice this shift until she reaches her fortieth year, there may be small clues indicating the rise and fall of certain key hormones. Up to 75 percent of menopausal women in the U.S. experience hot flashes and night sweats lasting as long as seven years for many women, according to 2015 research published JAMA Internal Medicine.6 And anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of women approaching menopause turn to non-hormonal therapy to treat these hormonal symptoms, often because of the dangers associated with hormone replacement during menopause.7 Effectively addressing these hormonal changes during menopause is critical. Because we are living longer, a woman could spend 40 percent of her life in a postmenopausal state.8
Early hormonal indicators of menopause include:
- A change in skin quality around the face
- Thinning hair
- Weight gain around the middle
In Chinese medicine, there is a focus on what are known as The Five Elements: Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire. These five elements are used to explain how the body progresses from one state into another. The Earth element, or our digestive force, is the foundation of The Five Element system. According to Dr. Jing, in order to have a healthy reproductive system and well-balanced hormones, it is essential to first take care of digestive function.
To improve digestive function, we must strengthen the Earth element.
Read Also: Dr Formulated Probiotics Women’s Daily Care Side Effects
