So what do you do? Take a look first at what CAUSES it: 👉 BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL - as we age, our insulin receptors aren’t as sensitive as before; this causes more glucose circulation in the body. The body deposits glucose in the form of fat in the belly as the “safe” place and to protect vital organs. 👉 INFLAMMATION - with age, we tend to get more inflamed - this causes insulin receptors to be less responsive and can cause higher blood sugar levels 👉 LOWER METABOLISM - with age, basal metabolic rate (BMR) drops. BMR is the rate at which your body burns calories at rest. 👉 LOWER ESTROGEN - Estrogen plays a role in regulating fat distribution and metabolism. As estrogen decreases, the body tends to store fat in the abdominal area. 👉 LOWER THYROID - Thyroid function slows down going into peri- and menopause. Check your thyroid numbers including Hashimoto’s antibodies. 👉 MICROBIOME CHANGES - with age the diversity of microbes is reduced. We now know of the connection between the gut microbiome and weight gain. SOLUTIONS: ✅ Reduce Inflammation: Anti-inflammatory diet, supplements that reduce inflammation: Fish oil, Curcumin, Magnesium. We carry these. ✅ Resensitize Insulin Receptors: Add supplements containing chromium; botanicals such as cinnamon, berberine, fenugreek, gymnema or cinnamon. Try our GlucoMax. ✅ Reduce Sugar and Processed Carbs: Start with a savory breakfast rich in protein and fiber (not carbs!), keep sugar intake below 20 grams per day (=5 teaspoons). ✅ Increase Sleep: So you wake up rested with no alarm clock - this will increase BMR. ✅ Improve Microbiome: Add prebiotics and probiotics. Bifidobacterium animalis (in our Flat Belly) clinically shows improvements in weight management, reduction of excess appetite and body fat mass. ✅ Increase Estrogen: Through botanicals such as black cohosh, hops - check out our Estro Boost. ✅ Stabilize Blood Sugar and Hunger: Add high-quality protein and inositol. Protein slows the absorption of glucose to prevent spikes and crashes, while inositol improves insulin sensitivity and reduces sugar-driven cravings. Her Protein delivers 23g of clean protein and 2g of inositol to help as well. It’s at wellena.com.