Menopause and Cellulite

Is there a connection between menopause and cellulite? Learn more about the relationship between cellulite and your hormones.

Menopause and cellulite are two words most women don't want to hear! Menopause is an inevitable part of the aging woman’s life. It is the end of a woman’s fertility period marked by several physical changes. Changes include the infamous hot flashes, sweating, and hormone imbalance. There is also an undeniable relationship between menopause and cellulite appearance, unfortunately.

Menopause reaches a woman somewhere between her late 40’s and early 50’s, and by then she has already begun to show signs of aging. The sharp decline in estrogen and other hormones sort of accelerates the aging. For example, estrogen is one of the many compounds in the body that helps to keep the skin young, firm, and taut. With enough of the hormone, the skin, hair, and nails begins to thin and become more dry and brittle. Of course thinner skin means a greater cottage cheese appearance on thighs, stomach, or buttocks.

Weight gain also becomes an issue during menopause. Metabolism, which decreases as you age anyway, will be slowed down even further by menopause. And since weight gain is marked by the accumulation of body fat, this is another way in which menopause and cellulite are regrettably connected.

Yet another side effect of menopause is that with the decreased presence of several hormones, the arteries begin to harden. Hardening arteries, or atherosclerosis, affects blood circulation, which has negative results on cellulite, but also leads to a much more serious problem: an increased risk for heart disease and suffering from a heart attack or stroke. There are several other side effects of menopause which include osteoporosis, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and insomnia.

Treatment for menopause (and likely the cellulite that it aggravates) is through a mixture of exercise, diet, and hormone replacement therapy.

Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, aims to reverse or alleviate the symptoms of menopause through replenishing the hormones lost. Although it is a popular route of treatment, as it helps to relieve hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and insomnia. It also reduces the risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer. But HRT is not without its risks, and it has been linked to breast cancer and stroke.

This is where exercise can come to the rescue, as regular physical activity for everyone has been linked to the reduction of a variety of cancers and other diseases. Staying physically active will also reduce osteoporosis and the appearance of cellulite. And since some forms of HRT have also been linked to weight gain and fluid retention, a good workout regimen will help to alleviate any weight gain and its side effects.

The best workout regimen combines cardiovascular exercise with resistance training. Cardio workouts burn fat quickly and keep the heart pumping hard, prolonging the health of the heart and the arteries. Such workouts include running, aerobics, and cycling. There is also benefit in resistance (or strength) training, as it makes both bones and muscles stronger. Resistance training also reduces the chance of injury may happen in cardio exercises or everyday activities. The purpose is not to become a bodybuilder with massive and unsightly muscles, but to keep them toned. Muscles also utilize fat so they help to increase overall body metabolism. Strength train no more than 3 times a week (nonconsecutive days) and make sure you leave no muscle without exertion.

In addition, make sure that you also commit to a balanced diet. Eating healthy counts even more during menopause because the body naturally absorbs less nutrients as you age. One of the most important things to watch is your fat consumption. Unsaturated fats can reduce your bad cholesterol and increase your good cholesterol counts, while saturated fats can contribute to the hardening and blockage of arteries. The wrong type of fat also makes cellulite worse. Additionally, foods such as salmon, oats, leafy greens, and pomegranates help the heart and arteries stay healthy. Also make sure your diet includes protein (which builds everything from muscles to skin-firming collagen), vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. For more information on menopause and cellulite, check out this article!

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