Research has found that there is a complex relationship between hormones and weight. One vital link exists between insulin, metabolism and body fat. For years, many women followed the conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, with lots of processed foods (pasta, breads, most snacks, beer and wine, etc). Over time, this type of diet can create insulin resistance. Insulin resistance causes your body to convert every calorie it can into fat – even if you’re dieting. The result is that while you are gaining weight, your cells are actually starving!

A second basic link exists between stress and body fat. Stress hormones, like cortisol, block weight loss causing the so called “famine effect.” Despite adequate food intake, the body interprets prolonged stress as a famine and again the body stores calories as fat. Stress comes in many forms including emotional, physical, or even diet-related. Most of us are under tremendous amounts of stress. Prolonged periods of stress can lead to chronic inflammation and a metabolic disorder called “adrenal fatigue.”

Working together, all these factors create a major hormonal imbalance, which can ultimately result in weight gain. For women in perimenopause, weight gain results from widely fluctuating estrogen levels. For menopausal women, diminished levels of estrogen cause weight gain. As estrogen production of your ovaries decreases, your body uses secondary sources – including body fat, skin and other organs. As your body struggles to maintain its hormonal balance, body fat becomes more valuable. As your body balances estrogen loss while maintaining bone mass, it needs additional fat cells. So, if you’re stressed and on a low-fat diet, your body will struggle with the balancing act and refuse to let go of extra body fat.

What can you do to prevent or reverse weight gain? There’s no magic formula for avoiding weight gain as you get older. Maintaining a healthy weight relies on watching what you eat and making certain you keep moving! Learn how to make simple lifestyle changed that can result in huge benefits in fighting weight gain and achieve better health.

http://www.squidoo.com/menopauseandweightloss

http://www.iamdrmick.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mickey_Harpaz

Over the centuries, tea has served many purposes – the crux of social gatherings, a midday respite, the centerpiece of a cultural ceremony, and much more. Today, tea – and the experience of having tea – is, in many ways, just as popular as it ever was. And when you add to this that there is now evidence that some teas provide certain health benefits, then the beauty of tea is increased overall.

Most specifically, experts now agree that green tea for weight loss can be an effective dietary tool. Green tea has always exhibited signs of dietary greatness; the Chinese have touted its benefits for centuries. But today, with global access to virtually any product, the rest of the world has discovered the benefits of green tea for weight loss.

First and foremost, green tea is an antioxidant; it cleanses the body of impurities and restores balance to system function. In addition, people who use green tea for weight loss know that green tea sipped after a meal can significantly aid digestion, as green tea also helps control blood sugar.

Additionally, the properties of green tea make it an efficient fat burner. Adding green tea for weight loss into an overall balanced diet and exercise program will significantly increase your chances to burn fat and drop pounds.

From those who develop and market weight loss products; green tea for weight loss has not eluded them. Far and wide you will find weight loss products that include within them green tea for weight loss.

Before you start any weight loss program, be sure to consult a medical professional who can best guide you in healthy efforts. Chances are that any doctor will support the addition of green tea for weight loss as it’s a natural and healthy product.

Green tea for weight loss can be another tool in your arsenal for good health. Most importantly, carve out a healthy lifestyle – one that includes natural, whole foods and daily physical activity.

Green Tea Plus contains a proprietary blend of thermogenic nutrients which, along with proper diet and exercise, will temporarily boost your metabolism and increase your energy throughout the day.

What is thermogenesis? Thermogenesis is the natural process of creating heat…like when you exercise you create heat, and heat converts fat to energy. This formula, along with exercise, will temporarily turn up you body’s thermostat to burn calories.