11 Mar Water retention and the menopause
We can all experience the uncomfortable and rather unattractive effects of water retention at some point in our lives. Water retention during the menopause can be a particular problem, resulting in puffy feet or ankles and abdominal bloating for many of us.
Some people experience water retention more frequently than others as a result of lifestyle, diet or a genetic predisposition. Unfortunately, women are more prone to suffer from fluid retention and bloating as a result of normal changes in hormones, particularly during the menstrual cycle and around the time of your menopause.
The menopause is a huge change in your hormones, so it is not surprising that it brings with it a smorgasbord of often inconvenient symptoms. One of the most commonly reported and bothersome of these is water retention, particularly around the tummy and ankles – something for which herbal water retention tablets can be helpful.
You may first notice that you’re suffering from water retention when your favourite jeans feel a little too snug, you can’t take your rings off easily or your strappy sandals start pinching.
Doctors often prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to relieve some of the symptoms of the menopause. However, given some of the risks that are thought to be associated with this type of treatment, more and more women are choosing to find ways to manage their symptoms naturally, without prescription medicine.
Water retention in the menopause
The hormone fluctuations that occur during the menopause are often associated with weight gain and a slowing down of the digestive system. These all contribute to abdominal bloating.
A reduction in progesterone is responsible for the slowing of the digestive process and the fall in levels of oestrogen in the body causes more fat to be distributed in the abdominal region in particular. Factor in some water retention on top of all this, and you have a recipe for an uncomfortably enlarged tummy!
It is normal to experience some bloating before and during the menopause, However, if symptoms persist, or you experience pain or persistent discomfort, you should always see a doctor to rule out any potential health problems.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying active are the best ways to better enable your body and mind to cope with some of the potentially uncomfortable symptoms of the menopause.
Here are our top tips for helping to stay well throughout the menopause:
Eat a well-balanced, high-fibre diet
A healthy diet is essential to good health and wellbeing, no matter what your age or stage in life. Fatty foods and dairy products are difficult to digest, so if you are menopausal, it is particularly important to limit the quantity you eat in any one sitting to minimise the impact they have on your digestion. Plenty of fruit, vegetables and foods high in fibre will optimise the functioning of your digestive system.
Drink plenty of water
Dehydration can cause and will worsen water retention during menopause. Make sure you drink plenty of water to support the body’s processes including digestion and the flushing out of waste fluid through urine. Drinking plenty of fluid will also help cool you down if you suffer from ‘hot flushes’.
Exercise regularly
Regular, moderate exercise releases endorphins which have a positive effect on your mood, helping you to feel better during your menopause. Of course, exercise is very important for physical health too, helping the body to function at its optimum level.
Take care when travelling
Long periods of sitting can cause swelling in the abdomen, ankles and legs and is a particular problem on flights where changes in pressure can add to the problem. Make sure you take regular breaks when driving long distances and if you are flying long-haul, use the space available to stretch your legs.
Herbal water retention tablets for menopause
Try taking a traditional herbal remedy for water retention to ease bloating associated with fluid retention.
HRI Water Balance carries the Traditional Herbal Registration logo which tells you that it has been rigorously assessed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK’s regulatory body for medicines.
HRI Water Balance contains a blend of the traditional herbal medicines Dandelion root and leaf and extracts of Buchu and Uva Ursi which have been for centuries to help to manage water retention. You can read more about HRI Water Balance here.
Be kind to yourself and try to keep active and positive during your menopause.
Your body will thank you for it!
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