This ‘Overlooked’ Hormone Is Likely Blocking You From Losing Weight And Looking Younger During Menopause: Here’s How To (Easily) Fix It

“Menopausal weight gain is among the top three concerns women bring to me,” said Dr. Grace Ruth-Williams, MD in Gynecology, before sharing how she manages to reverse that.

“And it’s no surprise.

Hormonal changes in our bodies lead to weight changes that are unavoidable.”

This explains why 2 in 3 women aged 40-59 and almost 3 in 4 women aged 60 and older are overweight. ¹

Even the most conservative estimates show that women typically gain around 1.5 pounds per year from their late 40s to their early 60s. ²

That adds up to about 30 pounds over this period. Alarmingly, many women gain weight even faster, sometimes adding 20 or more pounds in just a few years.

It’s not just about the numbers on the scale.

After menopause, lower estrogen levels cause fat to be stored around the waist instead of the hips and thighs. 

For postmenopausal women, belly fat can make up 15 to 20% of their total body weight, compared to just 5 to 8% in premenopausal women. ³

Not only weight: menopause makes you look older than you actually are

Hormonal changes during menopause are directly linked to how others perceive your age.

A study from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany investigated this by estimating the ages of 100 women aged 35 to 55 and testing their hormone levels.

They found that lower female hormone levels can make the skin thinner, drier, and more prone to wrinkles, as well as cause hair thinning and loss.

“When their hormone level was high, we consistently underestimated their age. 

When it was low, we consistently overestimated.

And the difference could be as much as 8 years in either direction, so we would see women who were 40 but looked 48 and vice versa,” said Ludwig Wildt, the professor of obstetrics and gynecology who headed the research. ⁴

“You are not to blame.”

“I understand why it’s frustrating. 

As our active life expectancy increases, it’s no wonder that women want to look younger, wear their favorite clothes, feel confident on the beach, and simply enjoy their reflection in the mirror at 50, 60, 70, and beyond.

The first thing I always address with my patients isn’t even about a treatment. 

It’s about taking the guilt off their shoulders.

You didn’t gain weight because you were doing something wrong. 

And if you’re struggling to lose it or look younger, it’s also not because you don’t try hard enough,” said Dr. Grace Ruth-Williams.

But it’s not just about looks and confidence. 

Excess weight, particularly around the midsection, increases the risk of numerous health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, and even cancer. ^{5 6}

If common approaches to menopausal weight gain fall short, what are we missing?

Women typically try various methods to lose menopausal weight and look younger.

Some focus on calorie counting, dieting, and restrictions.

Others hit the gym or engage in various fitness activities.

Finally, there are some who, as they think, target the root by starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The harsh truth is that often, none of these approaches really help.

“For years, menopausal weight gain was primarily attributed to declining estrogen levels. 

If estrogen were the main issue, HRT would be highly effective for weight loss since it directly targets estrogen levels. 

Some studies suggest that if this were true, 43% of women wouldn’t become overweight during menopause. ⁷

But that’s not the case. So what is, then?

This was the riddle we couldn’t solve for a long time,” explained the gynecologist.

This ‘overlooked’ hormone may be the key to your menopause weight loss and rejuvenation

That changed recently when scientists discovered a previously overlooked hormone connection.

Turns out that as estrogen levels decline during menopause, cortisol levels tend to rise. 

Estrogen helps regulate cortisol, so when estrogen decreases, cortisol production increases. ⁸

Cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” is released in response to stress, helping the body manage it. 

However, higher cortisol levels can worsen menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, weight gain, fatigue, and insomnia. ⁸

Additionally, elevated cortisol can contribute to hair loss and skin aging, causing wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots, making women appear older than they are. ⁹

“This explains why estrogen-regulating treatments often fall short in addressing meno-belly or fully alleviating other menopause symptoms. 

We might have been looking in the wrong direction all this time,” concluded Dr. Ruth-Williams.

Reducing cortisol levels may be challenging unless you know the right way to do it

Dr. Ruth-Williams realized that the increase in cortisol might be the real reason blocking postmenopausal weight loss, so she began exploring ways to reduce it.

She consulted with endocrinologist colleagues and reviewed the most relevant studies.

It was clear that this information could help so many women look younger and lose their meno-belly.

At first glance, all the recommendations for lowering cortisol seemed quite basic:

• Reduce stress
• Follow a balanced and healthy diet
• Exercise or maintain physical activity in some other way
• Get 8 hours of good-quality sleep

While these guidelines are great, they’re hard to fully integrate into our modern lifestyles. 

It becomes even more challenging during menopause, as fatigue, stress, poor sleep, and cravings are common during this time.

This compound is likely all you need to reduce cortisol levels

“I knew there should be a more efficient solution than just telling my patients to eat and sleep well, like they didn’t know it already.

But when I researched possible compounds and vitamins that can help reduce cortisol, honestly, I didn’t expect to find such significant results,” said Dr. Ruth-Williams.

She was referring to a study done in Canada, which showed that spermidine can reduce cortisol levels by a shocking 58% in just 30 days! ¹⁰

Spermidine is a natural compound found in our bodies and fermented foods. 

It’s also known as an ‘anti-aging’ agent. 

It induces autophagy, a process that helps recycle and repair damaged cellular components, improving metabolic function, rejuvenating your body, and reducing fat. ¹¹

However, to fully unlock the benefits of spermidine, our bodies also need zinc, as it helps regulate spermidine metabolism. ¹²

Additionally, zinc is known for its ability to stabilize and lower cortisol levels.

“What it means is that this duo — spermidine + zinc — is way more effective for menopausal weight loss than HRT or other common approaches,” she said.

Dr. Ruth-Williams had to ask other expert endocrinologists for the recommendation, and it works really well for her patients

However, finding a good supplement with the right dosage of both compounds wasn’t easy.

Dr. Ruth-Williams had to consult with a couple of expert endocrinologists for guidance.

That was a year ago, and now she already has patients reporting successful weight loss and celebrating their weight goals!

“By now, Nova is my go-to supplement if someone asks for a safe and effective way to lose menopausal weight,” said the gynecologist. 

Other endocrinologists explain why Nova is so effective:

First, it has the right dosage of all the active ingredients, which enhances their individual benefits. ¹²

Second, its formula also includes thiamine, which helps maintain a healthy metabolic system and aids in weight loss. ¹³

Finally, the components are known to ‘reverse’ biological aging by improving skin, hair, and nail health.

“That’s exactly what my patients experience, and I couldn’t be happier helping them in that way.

Additionally, they report boosted energy levels, reduced cravings, and better sleep quality. 

And, of course, they feel more confident and younger, enjoying every moment of their lives,” concluded Dr. Ruth-Williams.