Women in their 40s and 50s can lose weight by stocking up on three types of food that 'help to reduce menopausal symptoms'
Women going through menopause can torch stubborn fat by prioritising certain foods
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Weight gain is a common symptom of menopause, which means that women between the ages of 45 and 55 often find they are not as slim as they want to be.
However, with the right diet, exercise and lifestyle habits, they can slim down safely and effectively.
Pharmacist Abbas Kanani from Chemist Click spoke exclusively to GB News about the best weight-loss-friendly habits women going through this change should make.
According to the pharmacist, eating a nutritious diet is "as important" as exercising.
Opt for wholegrains as opposed to refined grains
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The expert recommended eating a "healthy and balanced diet packed full of wholegrain foods, fruits and vegetables", as these "help to reduce menopausal symptoms including weight gain".
Cholesterol charity Heart UK explained that wholegrains contain three parts, the bran, endosperm, and germ, which are packed with fibre, vitamins, and phytonutrients.
The experts at Heart UK explained: "All grains start off as wholegrains. Refined grains have had the bran and germ removed during processing so they contain less nutrients."
Some wholewheat options include wholemeal bread, wraps and pittas, wholegrain breakfast cereal, wholewheat pasta, wholewheat couscous, and brown and wild rice.
These are more nutrient-rich and effective for weight loss than their refined counterparts, such as white bread, white pasta, white rice, and packaged biscuits, cakes and pastries.
When it comes to vegetables, there is a colossal amount to choose from. From apples to avocados, mangos to mushrooms, and strawberries to sweet potatoes, there's something for everyone.
As well as making diet changes, the pharmacist also stressed the importance of exercise. He advised: "Increase physical activity - particularly exercises that can help target the tummy area.
"A regular fitness routine can help with an increase in abdominal fat when tends to occur as oestrogen levels decrease and fat is redistributed.
"It can also help to increase muscle mass because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat tissue, and therefore boosts metabolism and supports weight loss."
While it's not possible to reduce fat in one specific area, according to the British Heart Foundation, aerobic exercise is the best for losing belly fat and body fat overall.
Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate. This could be walking, dancing, running, swimming - even housework.
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The pharmacist told women in their 40s and 50s to incorporate more fruits and veg into their diets
PA IMAGESThe pharmacist also recommended getting a good night's sleep. He said: "Insufficient sleep can interfere with hormone balance, as well as increase appetite and contribute to weight gain so ensuring you are getting enough good quality sleep is important for weight loss."
Middle-aged men may also find they are putting on unwanted weight in their 40s and 50s.
A nutritionist told them to ditch a common mealtime habit that "can easily lead to weight gain".
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