Saturday, February 28, 2009

Risks of Weight Gain After Menopause, Breast Cancer

By Ricardo d Argence

Some women think that gain weight during menopause is ok. Even if it just occurs naturally, it is not something you want to do.

Many women face the challenge and all of them have to tackle it. If you allow yourself to just pack on the pounds without doing anything at all about it, you are risking your health more than you may know.

Your chances of getting breast cancer increase as you gain weight during menopause. You must realize what kinds of issues could go along with it if you discover that you are gaining pounds at this stage of your lifetime. The risk level is reversible though. Lower your risk of breast cancer by lowering your weight.

Indeed, studies done at the Harvard Medical School of Public Health have shown that women who've put on 55 or more pounds since the age of 18 are 45% more apt to get breast cancer in comparison to those who didn't gain that many pounds. Using postmenopausal hormones can actually increase the risk of cancer.

It's best not to gain weight in the first place. Sometimes things happen that we don't expect, so if you have reached the point where you are interested in shedding some weight, it is possible to do it. The sooner you act the better. Your breast cancer risk will drop the faster you lose your extra weight.

Proper diet and exercise is very important. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in moderation. It's important to maintian a balanced diet to make sure you are still getting enough protein and everything else you need to function properly. Changing your diet and exercise will help you lose the weight.

Dropping about one to two pounds a week is the healthiest way to go about it though. Insisting on faster results could not only damage your system but also almost guarantee that you will regain the weight in the near future. Slow and steady is the way to go when trying to lose weight.

Even though there is the fear of breast cancer you could damage your body in other ways by not taking care of yourself when dieting and exercising. Know the facts and get yourself in action and you will be on the path to a healthier and better looking you. - 15438

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