Many women experience changes in body composition and body weight during menopause. It’s estimated that women can gain an average of 5 pounds throughout the menopause transitional period. This article explores various weight loss approaches during menopause, including lifestyle changes, supplements, and specific products like MenoSlim Tea and TeaTox.
Understanding menopause and weight gain
Hormonal shifts, lifestyle changes, and midlife stresses can create an environment that is perfect for weight gain during perimenopause. Here are the factors that can contribute:
- Hormonal Changes: A decline in estrogen during perimenopause doesn’t just trigger symptoms like hot flashes or mood swings-estrogen also plays a role in maintaining a steady weight. It’s important for a healthy metabolism because estrogen helps regulate how much you eat and the calories your body burns, which keeps weight (relatively) consistent. When estrogen declines, however, how the body uses calories changes, potentially leading you to eat more, which in turn causes your blood sugar to rise and make more fat. As a result, you may end up consuming more calories than your body is burning. Hence, the weight gain.
- Natural Aging: Women lose 3-5% of muscle mass in each decade starting at age 30. That’s a huge problem for weight management since muscle is metabolically active, meaning it burns calories even at rest. Losing muscle not only slows metabolism, it also makes you feel weaker, so you may cut back on everyday activities and calorie-burning exercise.
- Less Physical Activity: Another common change that can happen with age: Moving less. At this stage, you may notice that you're settling into a more sedentary lifestyle, sitting to commute, at your desk to work, and on the couch to (finally!) relax at night. Absolutely no judgment here-life is hectic and many tasks can keep you pinned in front of a computer or sitting in your car. But if you continue to eat the same as you did when you were more active, weight gain is pretty much guaranteed.
- Diet Shifts: You may see a shift in eating habits during perimenopause, some of which are related to hormonal changes and some that aren't. Stress can naturally creep up during midlife (there's a lot on your plate!), and so can accompanying stress eating. Sometimes dining alongside insatiable growing teens in the household, combined with a metabolism that is changing can collide to mean you're fueling up more than your body needs, leading you to accumulate more fat.
- Lack of Sleep: Unfortunately, during perimenopause, insomnia and night sweats can affect your sleep. Stress plays a role here too-mounting life stresses can weigh on our emotional and psychological wellbeing, keeping you up at night as your mind loops through anxious thoughts. Both stress and lack of sleep can have an impact on your hunger and satiety hormones, making you more likely to choose less healthy food options that are typically higher in calories. And when you're already worn out and exhausted, finding time to exercise can feel like even more of a challenge.
VoomVaya's MenoSlim Tea and TeaTox: An Overview
TeaTox booster and MenoSlim Tea, both created by supplement and cosmetics company VoomVaya, aim to help with weight loss. These menopause weight loss teas are made from natural ingredients and claim to balance low estrogen levels to address the root cause of menopause weight loss.
MenoSlim and TeaTox are two products created and sold by VoomVaya, a company that specializes in a range of supplements and cosmetics formulated specifically for those going through menopause. TeaTox is a 14-day booster that claims to kickstart your weight loss. After that, the company recommends drinking MenoSlim Tea every day to help you maintain your weight.
MenoSlim Tea is VoomVaya’s menopause weight loss tea. This product claims to:
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- help detox and flush out toxins
- help accelerate natural fat burning
- help reduce bloating
- relieve hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings
MenoSlim is marketed to help balance hormones and boost your body’s metabolism. The tea comes in three flavors:
- lemon and lime
- acai berry
- apple cinnamon
The TeaTox booster is made with several herbs. The company claims that the booster resets your metabolism, resets your hormones, and restores your “WOW!”
MenoSlim tea is designed for those going through menopause. VoomVaya asserts that weight gain is common during menopause and is correlated with low estrogen levels. One of the major keys to effective menopausal weight loss is to balance the low estrogen levels, but most common weight loss solutions don’t do this. That’s how MenoSlim Tea claims to be different.
Ingredients and Claims
MenoSlim claims to work by including ingredients that balance low estrogen levels and burn fat. However, there’s no evidence that MenoSlim is effective for either.
MenoSlim claims that, by using clinically studied ingredients that help balance low estrogen levels (a factor that may contribute to menopausal weight gain), they’re able to target the underlying issue. According to the company, these ingredients are designed to support the body’s target weight long term.
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VoomVaya claims that a 14-day TeaTox will “kickstart” weight loss. The brand instructs users to brew one TeaTox tea bag in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes, and drink it every morning for the next 14 days. Again, there’s no evidence that this product is effective or safe for promoting weight loss during menopause.
After that, the company claims that you should drink one cup of MenoSlim Tea each day for as long as you want to remain at your target weight. According to the directions, you should brew one tea bag for 5 to 7 minutes and drink at any time of day. The company also mentions that MenoSlim must be combined with good lifestyle choices, such as exercise and a balanced diet. However, it should be noted that the most effective way to lose weight is to either create a calorie deficit by burning more calories through physical activity or by consuming fewer calories overall. Drinking tea is generally not an effective or safe way to lose weight at any age.
While MenoSlim is designed to be taken long term, VoomVaya recommends no more than one 14-day TeaTox every 3 months. VoomVaya doesn’t specify why this is.
TeaTox
TeaTox is made with the following ingredients:
- senna leaf, which is supposed to flush out your body
- dandelion leaf, which is supposed to reduce bloating and promote the breakdown of fat and cholesterol
- cardamom, which is supposed to help burn more fat
- matcha, which is supposed to help the body burn more fat during the day
- pu’er (a black tea), which is supposed to help increase metabolism and reduce body weight
- ginkgo leaf, which is supposed to improve brain fog
- eleuthero root, which is supposed to rebalance hormone levels
- black cohosh, which is supposed to reduce hot flashes and mood swings
- hibiscus flavor for taste
MenoSlim Tea
To balance low estrogen levels, MenoSlim Tea is composed of two groups of ingredients. Group A is the fat burning ingredients:
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- cardamom
- dandelion leaf
- matcha
- rooibos, which is supposed to support the body’s natural fat metabolism
In group B, MenoSlim includes estrogen support ingredients:
- black cohosh
- ginkgo leaf
- licorice root, which is supposed to help reduce hot flashes and give a more balanced hormone supply
Expert opinions on ingredients
According to Robin Foroutan, MS, RDN, some of these ingredients aren’t too far off. “Dandelion tea can actually be really helpful for those who retain fluid, and so from that perspective, it is supportive of detoxification since it helps with kidney and lymphatic functions,” Foroutan says.
Foroutan explains, however, that she recommends dandelion as a single batch herb or tincture. She also recommends purchasing it fresh and boiling it to make a stronger tea.
“As for black cohosh and ginkgo leaf, the concentration you’d get in a blended tea is not likely to be strong enough to get a benefit, so it’s not likely to help with menopausal symptoms,” she says. “These herbs can be very helpful in many cases, but not all parts of the plant function the same.” This is especially true for MenoSlim, as the amount of black cohosh found to be effective for certain menopausal symptoms (160 mg/day) is nowhere near the amount found in MenoSlim.
Foroutan says the dosing and strength of the herbs also matter, so it’s always best to work with a health professional who has in-depth knowledge about herbs and how to use them safely and effectively.
Potential side effects and precautions
According to the brand’s product page, the “vast majority of women do not report many issues” while drinking TeaTox or MenoSlim. However, many of the ingredients found in the product can cause side effects. For example, senna leaf, one of the many ingredients found in TeaTox, can cause side effects, like abdominal cramps and electrolyte imbalance. Long term use of senna leaf can lead to a cathartic colon, causing diarrhea, cramps, and weight loss.
VoomVaya states that the most common side effects include:
- mild stomachaches
- headaches
- nausea
- mild diarrhea
The company recommends brewing your tea bag for 1 to 2 minutes instead of 5 to 7 minutes and gradually increasing as your body adjusts. It should be noted that these recommendations aren’t coming from medical experts, so you should consult your doctor prior to starting either product.
VoomVaya recommends speaking with your doctor prior to starting either tea if you:
- have estrogen dominance
- have a family history of cancer
- have been treated for breast cancer or any other hormone dependent cancer
- take any prescription medications
- have a medical condition
Since these products are created for those experiencing menopause, they should not be consumed by:
- those who aren’t vagina owners
- children
- those who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Efficacy and safety concerns
Chances are, MenoSlim and TeaTox won’t really work. You might see an initial weight loss, but the ingredients used in MenoSlim probably aren’t strong enough to help with menopausal symptoms.
There’s no evidence that slimming teas, like MenoSlim and TeaTox, promote safe, sustainable weight loss long term. The only way to promote healthy weight loss is through diet and lifestyle changes that create a calorie deficit. What’s more, MenoSlim is not approved by the FDA. The FDA warns consumers that many slimming teas contain laxatives or diuretics. These ingredients can potentially lead to health complications.
There’s no evidence that TeaTox and MenoSlim are effective or safe.
Alternative approaches to menopause weight loss
Instead of MenoSlim or TeaTox, which most likely won’t help with weight loss, you can try drinking green tea or herbal tea.
Green tea
Green tea contains a high antioxidant content including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a substance that can boost your metabolism. EGCG can also increase levels of hormones that tell fat cells to break down fat, releasing more energy and making it available as energy.
Green tea may also:
- boost your metabolic rate
- increase fat burning, especially during exercise
- can help you lose fat
Herbal teas
Similarly, research suggests that herbal teas, such as rooibos tea, ginger tea, or rosehip tea, may help with weight reduction and fat loss. However, more research is needed - particularly human studies.
Lifestyle changes
While green and herbal teas may assist with weight loss, drinking a specific tea isn’t necessarily going to cause you to lose weight. The most effective way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit and exercise regularly. Other methods that can help promote weight loss include relieving stress and getting restful, quality sleep.
Pretty Pea Meno Weight: Customer reviews and benefits
Pretty Pea Meno Weight menopause weight loss supplement is supporting women. Targeting the unique shifts that occur around perimenopause and menopause, this supplement has been embraced by women for its ability to support weight loss, hormone balance and by helping bring back that feeling of overall well-being you might be missing- you know the one.
Sarah shares that Meno Weight has transformed her during what can be a difficult stage for many women. She reports that it has kept her menopause weight down, reduced bloating, and improved her energy levels, mood, sleep, and skin. Carol wants to shout from the roof tops just how life changing Meno Weight has been on her journey. She feels like a different woman, with her weight coming down, constant hunger pangs gone, and improved sleep.
Miss J. reports losing 6 pounds in a week after taking the product as recommended. Josie has been taking Meno Weight for 4 months and says that they really work for her too. Nothing was having and real impact on my weight. I came across these and thought they were a little pricey but I’ll give them ago and I was so shocked that after the first week I had lost 2 pound and stopped craving food constantly. Now 4 months on I’m back to 9 stone and my bloaty stomach is gone. I’m no longer snacking all day/night because I’m not hungry after I’ve eaten my meals. Needless to say that this is the only supplement I need to take now and I will continue on them. Sha come across Pretty Pea after trying loads of other supplements that never seemed to worked for her. I saw the previous reviews and I said I am gonna give it a try. I started in mid March, and I lost a stone in 3 months without any effort. I want to add that I am 48, premenopausal probably , and since I have these tablets I am good as new! Before I was gaining weight if I was breathing air! Thank you!
Paola doesn’t normally leave reviews, but in her own words felt this extraordinary supplement deserves a great review. I just ordered my second box as I fell much less bloated since I’ve integrated these tablets to my diet. I’m in my early Perimenopause but I have stopped feeling those night hot flashes thanks to this product.
Menofit: A probiotic approach to menopause symptoms
Menopause is a natural stage of life that affects females around the age of 45-55 years. The average age at which a person experiences menopause is 51 years. Menofit is a probiotic product for menopausal people to take. Menolabs is the company that manufactures Menofit. Menolabs claims that taking the probiotic can help reduce menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, weight gain, low metabolism, mood shifts, night sweats, and difficulty concentrating. The manufacturers also claim that the probiotic can improve gut, bone, and joint health.
Ingredients
This product is a blend of 28 all-natural ingredients, which include probiotics, herbs, vitamins, and minerals. Menofit is vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and soy-free.
Proprietary probiotic blend
This is a doctor-formulated blend of probiotic and herbal supplements. The probiotic strains that the company uses include:
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420
- Lactobacillus reuteri
- Lactobacillus gasseri
- Lactobacillus plantarum
Prebiotic blend
Menofit claims that this formulation supports the benefits of the probiotic blend. Ingredients include:
- organic Jerusalem artichoke
- tocotrienols complex
- calcium carbonate
- organic acacia gum
- resveratrol
- sunflower lecithin
Support supplements
Menofit claims that these herbs and ingredients are helpful for treating certain menopause symptoms. Ingredients include:
- red clover
- bitter melon fruit extract
- barberry extract
- R-alpha-lipoic acid
- chaste berry extract
- dong quai root extract
- Magnolia bark extract
- algae-derived astaxanthin complex
Nutritional support formulation
This formulation includes various vitamins and minerals, including:
- vitamin C
- vitamin D3
- vitamin K2
- vitamin B6 and B12
- riboflavin
- methylated folate
- zinc
- benfotiamine
Efficacy and safety of menofit
There is no research available online to indicate the effectiveness of Menofit for menopause. However, the company claims that it has clinically tested Menofit. The study that it claims to have conducted took place over 60 days and included a control group. The company states that the research showed that Menofit reduced menopause symptoms - including hot flashes, mood shifts, and headaches - in most participants. However, the study does not appear in a scientific journal and received funding from Menolabs, which makes it difficult to verify these claims or the quality of the research.
The company claims that Menofit has no side effects. However, herbal supplements have the potential to react with certain medications and cause side effects. For example, dong quai may interact with anticoagulants and cytochrome P450 substrates. Some customer reviews mention that people experienced side effects, and the Menolabs study found that participants experienced bloating.
Menolabs does not have any reviews on its Trustpilot page or a Better Business Bureau page. On Amazon, the company has an average customer rating of 4.1 out of a possible 5 stars. Positive reviews mention Menofit reducing symptoms.
Considerations before using menofit
Menofit is designed for people going through menopause. They can be perimenopausal or menopausal. It contains all-natural ingredients, so the product would suit anybody who is interested in natural treatments. A person should contact a doctor if their menopause symptoms are bothering them or if they experience severe symptoms. The herbs used in the supplement also have the potential to interact with some commonly used medications. A person should speak with a doctor before purchasing this supplement. Other evidence-based treatments for menopause symptoms are available that may be more effective and safe. Menofit does not have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. However, the company claims to follow all FDA regulations and laws on safety.
General strategies for managing menopause weight
Diet and nutrition
During midlife, you’ll need to make adjustments to your diet to support your body’s changing hormones. While there is no one “magic bullet” for weight loss, certain nutrients are important to make sure you’re getting enough of what your body needs. Here are some of the best menopause supplements to consider:
- Calcium & Vitamin D: Not just good for strong bones, calcium may affect fat cell production, metabolism, and absorption, and the nutrient may slightly bump up your body’s calorie-burning engines. Your best bet is to combine vitamin D with calcium. D is one of the best vitamins for menopause because it helps your body absorb calcium, and you can find this nutrient combo in yogurt, dairy and plant-based milk, and canned sardines and salmon.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of heart-healthy fat found in foods like fish and seafood, flax, chia and walnuts, and some fortified foods. Although research isn’t consistent, there’s evidence that omega-3s may help improve body composition due, in part, to their anti-inflammatory benefits, especially when paired with a reduced-calorie diet. Omega-3s may also provide diabetes support for healthy blood sugar and lipid levels.
- Fiber: Research shows that making the single change of eating more fiber helps you lose weight, according to The Journal of Nutrition. Fiber is filling and it feeds good bacteria in your digestive tract to support gut health, which is also linked to a healthy weight.
- Protein: Protein helps your body maintain lean mass (muscle, bone) and is necessary for building muscle, too. In addition, there’s emerging evidence that increasing protein even a little bit may prevent weight and belly fat in midlife. A protein-packed diet will help preserve as much muscle as possible as the scale ticks down, which, in turn, will keep your metabolism humming to help you maintain your new lower body weight.
- Magnesium: Magnesium helps promote the production of melatonin (a hormone needed for sleep), relaxes the body in preparation for sleep, and may even lessen anxiety to quiet the racing thoughts and worries that can keep you up at night. That’s why people who get adequate magnesium also tend to get the sleep they need. Lack of sleep is a common culprit behind weight gain because it can make you slog through the day (so you’re less active) and affect your appetite so you reach for more calorie-dense foods.
- Probiotics: Probiotics provide beneficial bacteria for a healthy gut microbiome, and have been shown to help ease some symptoms of depression and anxiety. Mood problems during midlife can make it more difficult to maintain the healthy habits that help you lose weight, from making balanced diet choices to sticking to an exercise regimen. Another plus for probiotics: It can help ease GI distress triggered by declining estrogen and progesterone. If you have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like bloating, probiotic supplements-specifically strains Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus-may help alleviate those belly-bothering symptoms.
- Creatine: Taking creatine daily can support muscle growth and strength plus exercise performance, and it may also promote better mood and brain power.
- Berberine: Berberine has been shown in several studies to help lower blood sugar levels and improve cholesterol levels-two health markers exacerbated in menopause. A few recent studies also show that this influence on our metabolism translates into weight loss, too.
Exercise
The best forms of exercise for shedding meno belly fat are those that energize the body and work muscles at a more moderate level.
- Walking: As simple as it gets, going for a brisk 20-30 minute walk on most days of the week is a cardio workout that relieves stress, gently works your muscles and lifts your aerobic output, helping you burn calories and belly fat.
- Yoga: Practicing yoga helps to calm your mind and reduce cortisol, helping to prevent this major stress hormone from “feeding” more belly fat.
- Swimming and water aerobics: If your knees and other joints tend to hurt during exercise, try swimming and water aerobics. The buoyancy of water takes pressure off your joints, giving you the ability to exercise without pain.
- Strength training: Engage in exercises that focus on the major muscle groups - your arms, legs and core. Try a strength-training exercise like Pilates or hit the gym for a more traditional workout with weights.