What is the cause of menopausal bloating?

Menopausal bloating may be related to factors such as hormonal fluctuations, gastrointestinal dysfunction, slowed metabolism, imbalanced dietary structure, and mental stress. Menopausal women can alleviate symptoms through adjusting their diet, regular exercise, psychological regulation, medication intervention, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment.

1. Hormonal fluctuations

Decreased estrogen levels can affect fat distribution and gastrointestinal motility, leading to abdominal fat accumulation and bloating. It is recommended to increase the consumption of plant-based estrogenic foods such as soy products and flaxseed. If necessary, hormone replacement therapy drugs such as estradiol valerate tablets and conjugated estrogen tablets should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

2. Gastrointestinal dysfunction

Autonomic dysfunction may cause abnormal gastrointestinal motility, manifested as symptoms such as bloating and constipation. Moderate supplementation of probiotics can improve gut microbiota and avoid consuming gas producing foods such as beans and onions. When symptoms are obvious, follow the doctor's advice to use gastrointestinal motility promoting drugs such as domperidone and mosapride.

3. Metabolic slowdown

A decrease in basal metabolic rate leads to a reduction in calorie expenditure, which can easily lead to abdominal obesity. It is recommended to adopt a small and frequent diet, control daily total calorie intake, increase aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, swimming, etc., and maintain moderate intensity exercise for more than 150 minutes per week.

4. Imbalance in dietary structure

A high-fat and high salt diet can exacerbate edema and fat accumulation. Dietary fiber intake should be increased, with no less than 500 grams of vegetables per day, preferably broccoli and spinach. Whole grains such as oats and brown rice should be chosen as staple foods, and refined sugar and saturated fat intake should be limited.

5. Mental stress

Anxiety may affect digestive function through the brain gut axis. Stress can be relieved through mindfulness meditation, Ba Duan Jin, and other methods to ensure 7-8 hours of sleep. If necessary, consulting with medications such as psychological valley vitamin supplements and calming brain fluids can assist in improving neural regulation function. Menopausal women should establish a healthy lifestyle, drink 1500-2000 milliliters of water per day, avoid prolonged sitting, and get up and move around every 1-2 hours. Regularly conduct body composition testing to control waist circumference below 80 centimeters. If abdominal distension is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and other warning symptoms, timely medical attention should be sought to rule out organic diseases. Maintain a positive attitude and shift attention through group activities. If necessary, seek professional nutritionists to develop personalized dietary plans.