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Home » How to lose weight safely » 13 Small Diet Changes to Look (and Feel!) Great in Your 40s – Reader’s Digest

Feed your muscle Jacob Lund/ShutterstockIf you're in your 40s and have noticed your weight creeping up even though your diet and exercise routine haven't changed, you can blame your muscles (or lack thereofhere are five daily habits for preserving your muscle). "Beginning in your thirties, you will lose about one percent of your muscle mass each year, and in the following decade, you will lose muscle at a higher rate," says Caroline Apovian, MD, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at the Boston Medical Center. Muscle is metabolically active, meaning it's burning calories on your behalf, even if you're just binge watching House of Cards. "All lost muscle will be replaced by fatand your metabolism will slow down correspondinglyunless your habits actively counteract this process," says Dr. Apovian. "Eat a diet rich in lean protein sources and incorporate at least two strength training sessions into your weekly routine." Shoot for about 30 grams of protein per meal. Feed your gut Ildi Papp/ShutterstockBy now, we've all heard the importance probiotics play in having healthy gut, but a recent study suggests another good reason for premenopausal women is that a diverse population of gut bacteria may be more efficient at managing estrogenpotentially lowering the risk for breast cancer. "I always suggest that women in their 40s include more prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods in their diet, like kefir, sauerkraut and tempeh," says Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD. Most of us aren't likely to eat those foods every day, which is why Rizzo recommends a probiotic supplement. But with so many probiotics flooding the shelves which do we choose? Our gut is home to over 100 trillion live bacteria containing a plethora of strains, and each person has their unique collection. "That's why it's recommended that you take a probiotic that has the most cultures and strains possible," says Rizzo. "That will help you cover your bases. It's perfectly fine to take a probiotic supplement and eat probiotic rich foods."

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13 Small Diet Changes to Look (and Feel!) Great in Your 40s - Reader's Digest

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Home » How to lose weight safely » 13 Small Diet Changes to Look (and Feel!) Great in Your 40s – Reader’s Digest