Is there a menopause diet pill? If so, how does it work?

It’s human nature, right? We see a change that we don’t like, and we panic. We look for a quick fix, something that can solve our problem . . . yesterday! Women experiencing menopause know what I’m talking about. There are so many changes to your body and to your moods that you no longer feel in control of you. It’s like you’re a puppet with strings, being controlled by some outside force.

Worse yet, people who don’t understand the changes happening to them tend to do whatever they can, however they can to fight those changes…even if it involves products they may not have taken otherwise. They take risks that they know they shouldn’t take, figuring that the possible side effects can’t be any worse than the symptoms they’re currently experiencing.

So let me begin by issuing a warning to all experiencing menopause—diet pills like diuretics are dangerous. If a pill is causing you to lose weight rapidly, you are risking your health. Rapid weight loss is always dangerous—it’s a shock to the system. But rapid weight loss due to a pill is risking your life, and any results you may get are not sustainable.

Let’s first look at some of the dangers of diuretics:

I’m assuming the weight you want to lose is not water. Remember, diuretics shed water from the body. As soon as that fluid is replaced through drinking, the weight comes back. The person takes more diuretics, more fluid is shed (sometimes dangerous amounts), and besides water loss, the person finds they’re experiencing low levels of potassium in the body as well, leading to mental confusion and muscle weakness—and remember, the heart is a muscle. This kind of weight loss is just not healthy, so if this is your idea of the perfect menopause diet pill, think again.

What about laxatives?

Laxatives can indeed result in weight loss for women experiencing menopause, but again, it’s the wrong kind of weight loss. Diarrhea may prevent proper food absorption, and you may experience dehydration due to…water loss. Again, much of the weight loss is due to water—water that eventually must be replaced, leading to a yo-yo weight gain effect.

How about appetite suppressants?

Controlling the appetite must be a way for menopausal women to fight weight gain, right? Wrong. Adrenaline derivatives in these products can lead to nasty side effects, including heart palpitations, insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety. Just what you need more of during menopause, right? Amphetamine derivatives may make these products highly addictive, and if you do manage to “break your habit” expect the weight to return rapidly. People who use these drugs are often hooked on them, just like a drug addict. Don’t even think of starting a “diet pill” like this.

A better option

Let’s instead replace the idea of a diet pill with a supplement. Are there safe supplements you can take to help you during menopause? Yes. Can they help you safely? Yes. Could you experience weight loss as a result? Sensible weight loss, yes.

What is phytoestrogen and why is it important during menopause?

To increase the quality of life during menopause, regular exercise, a proper diet, and nutritional aids such as vitamin E and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) are crucial. Calcium may also help prevent the breakdown of bones, teeth, and nails…but just as important for the woman experiencing menopause is phytoestrogen.

Phytoestrogen are biologically active chemical compounds similar to human estrogen—something the body craves during menopause. These compounds normally come from grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables—all part of a healthy diet. Phytoestrogens are particularly important to menopausal women because they are believed to be a stabilizing factor throughout hormonal cycles. In addition, they also help to maintain bone mass as we reach our mature years.

Where can I get phytoestrogen in the quantities that I need it for menopause?

The most effective phytoestrogens are those found in soybeans. Genistein and Daidzein are found in soybeans and they act as mild estrogens in the body. This can help to moderate the effects of a decline in estrogen production, something the body may experience during menopause. They can also help improve bone density, cholesterol, and LDL levels. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that there is only so much soybean that a human being can eat. Not only that, but the quantity you would have to ingest to get the benefits would take time, money, and dead taste buds to endure. Supplementation may be the answer.

What should I look for in a supplement?

For those experiencing menopause, you don’t want to shock your system all at once with a collection of foreign materials your body isn’t used to. There’s already enough going on inside the body of a menopausal woman without adding in any other strange chemicals.

What’s important in a supplement then, is that its phytoestrogen comes from natural sources—things your body is already used to. Obviously, one of the best sources for extracts of it is soy.

But for menopause, you need more than that. You want ingredients combined with it that act as catalysts—that help the body make use of the phytoestrogen. Combinations of herbs like licorice root extract, chasteberry, black cohosh, and dong quai will help create healthy bone structure and cardiovascular health while providing support during the menopausal years.

What are some of the benefits of supplementing sensibly for your menopause symptoms? With sensible supplementation, expect a reduction in symptoms like hot flashes and profuse perspiration. Mood wise, menopausal women using phytoestrogen may notice a reduction in nervousness, depression, and irritability. Mood swings that may have accompanied menopause may be dramatically reduced. In addition, sleep patterns may improve, and headaches, vertigo, and heart palpitations could disappear.

In addition to all of these benefits, though, improved cardiovascular health means there is a greater chance of having an active lifestyle. And you know what that means—an active lifestyle leads to weight management, and maybe even healthy weight loss—yes, even during menopause!