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Galveston Diet for Menopausal Weight Loss

Galveston Diet for Menopausal Weight Loss

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Feb 28 2023 6:08 PM
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Highlights:
  • There is no magic method to eat for your hormones, but certain foods may help keep your hormones balanced and your body running smoothly
  • Galveston diet is one way to achieve this hormonal balance and avoid weight gain after menopause
  • Anti-inflammatory meals, lean proteins, and fiber-rich plant foods are prioritized above processed foods and sweets in this diet
Many women experience uncomfortable weight gain after menopause due to hormonal changes, aging, and lifestyle concerns. Dr. Mary Claire Haver, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist, discovered this for herself and many of her patients who couldn't get the scale to budge despite the conventional recommendation to "eat less and move more." (Here are 10 dietary modifications to adopt beyond the age of 50.) As a result, Haver created the Galveston Diet to assist middle-aged women in burning fat and preventing menopausal weight gain.

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What is Galveston's Diet?

The Galveston Diet is a self-paced weight loss regimen that uses anti-inflammatory foods and intermittent fasting to reverse menopausal weight gain. According to Haver, focusing on anti-inflammatory meals rather than calorie restriction helps hormones work in our favor for fat loss. The diet focuses on whole foods while avoiding processed meals, added sweets, and artificial chemicals. The self-paced course is available in three levels, with prices ranging from $59 to $199. The fee entitles you to the curriculum, meal planning, recipes, and useful resources. There are hormone, fasting, and inflammatory training, as well as seven weeks of diet plans and shopping recommendations.

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What Foods are Allowed in the Galveston Diet?

The Galveston Diet emphasizes anti-inflammatory foods such as lean protein, fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, healthy fats, and full-fat dairy. (The Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad, pictured above, would make an excellent dinner.) Processed foods with added sugar, artificial ingredients, colors, flavors, and high fructose corn syrup, as well as processed meats containing nitrates/nitrites, fried foods, inflammatory oils like canola or vegetable oil, and refined flours and grains, are all discouraged because they have been shown to cause inflammation in the body.
With this diet, however, when you eat is just as crucial as what you consume. Intermittent fasting is a requirement of the Galveston Diet. Haver claims that intermittent fasting causes weight reduction due to calorie restriction, but she also claims that any calorie restriction causes weight loss. This is supported by research, which shows that intermittent fasting does not result in more weight loss than calorie restriction alone.

Haver, on the other hand, highlights the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory benefits of intermittent fasting as reasons for integrating it into the Galveston Diet. The 16:8 approach is advocated, which involves fasting for 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window. While the 5:2 technique (eating 500 calories two days per week and maintaining calorie needs on the other days) may produce similar outcomes, she claims the 16:8 strategy is easier for most individuals to implement.

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Is it Safe to Follow the Galveston Diet?

Although there is no current study on the Galveston Diet, its emphasis on nutritious whole foods and avoiding processed foods and sweets is the foundation of any balanced diet. According to research, there is a correlation between inflammation and obesity, therefore eating more nutritious, anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and vegetables, omega-3-rich fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and less inflammatory processed foods and sweets is helpful for overall health and weight.

Furthermore, intermittent fasting has the potential to be an effective weight loss therapy; however, more strong, more long-term study is required to fully understand its safety and efficacy. Furthermore, intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone, including people with diabetes, those using certain medications, or those with a history of eating disorders. And, as previously stated, there is no evidence that intermittent fasting leads to any more weight loss than a calorie deficit overall.

Advantages of Galveston Diet

For starters, you don't have to watch calories or macronutrients, making this diet more maintainable than others. The program includes macronutrient recommendations, but instead of emphasizing eating less, the Galveston Diet emphasizes adding anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, such as colorful, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, lean protein, fatty fish, whole grains, nuts and seeds. It also promotes healthy behaviors such as food planning and preparation, as well as teaches you how to balance your hormones for fat loss.

Drawbacks of Galveston Diet

So far, no research has been conducted on the Galveston Diet to determine how many people succeed in losing weight and keeping it off on this diet. Yet, there is evidence to encourage the consumption of anti-inflammatory foods. Another disadvantage, as previously stated, is that intermittent fasting may not be appropriate for everyone. Some people may find it difficult to limit their eating to eight hours. Finally, to have full access to the diet, you must purchase the program, which may be a barrier for some.

So far, no research has been conducted on the Galveston Diet to determine how many people succeed in losing weight and keeping it off on this diet. Yet, there is evidence to encourage the consumption of anti-inflammatory foods. Another disadvantage, as previously stated, is that intermittent fasting may not be appropriate for everyone. Some people may find it difficult to limit their eating to eight hours. Finally, to have full access to the diet, you must purchase the program, which may be a barrier for some.

Source-Medindia


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