The stereotype of the middle-aged woman is often pictured carrying a spare tire. Middle-age spread is considered by many to be inevitable.

But Dr. Christiane Northrup disagrees. The bad digestion issues, the IBS symptoms and creeping weight don't have to happen.

Dr. Northrup advises against throwing medications at your symptoms. This only masks the symptoms and does not treat the underlying problem.

Instead she provides a list of suggestions that can help quell the war in your mid-section, digestively speaking.

She also refers to another war that may be going on and speaks of "healing your third emotional center issues". She suggests some questions you might ask yourself.

"Figure out what your gut is trying to tell you. Digestion, absorption and assimilation of our food are dependent upon our state of consciousness. Your gut health and your emotions are so closely linked, it is fair to say that the gut acts as a sort of primitive brain. Butterflies or nausea are often your inner wisdom speaking to you."

http://www.drnorthrup.com/womenshealth/healthcenter/topic_details.php?topic_id=91