Your hormones control every aspect of your life. From weight loss to appetite, cravings to metabolism. This means that any hormonal imbalance can sabotage your efforts. Here are some of the most common hormonal imbalances, and how you can treat them.
1. High Insulin:
Insulin is a hormone that your pancreas secretes into your bloodstream after you have eaten. It enables the glucose from your food to enter your cells, where it is burned for energy. If insulin is not doing its job properly, less glucose will be burnt for energy and more of it will be converted into fat.
Diet Solution: Eat protein with every meal and eat every 3-4 hours. Include plant based protein and organic meat if you are not vegetarian.
Exercise: Even if you suffer from insulin resistance, your body will allow insulin into the cells when you are exercising so glucose can be used for energy.
2. High Cortisol:
Elevated levels of the stress hormone can be detrimental to your health as well as to your body composition. Some signs of elevated levels of cortisol are: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or exhaustion, or if you have a digestive issue such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Diet Solution: Eat at the right times. It is important that you don't skip meals and eat every 3-4 hours to keep your hormones balanced.
Sleep: Sleep deprivation makes us wake up with higher amounts of the stress hormone cortisol, which fuels appetite and increases our cravings, particularly for sugary and carb-heavy treats, even when you are full!.
3. Low DHEA:
DHEA is hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone and also helps to counteract the negative effects of cortisol. It is often considered the "anti-aging" hormone and it influences our ability to lose fat and gain muscle.
You can balance your hormones by following a proper meal plan, exercising and lowering your stress levels. However, we recommend that you see a health practitioner if you have more questions or need help with supplements to balance your hormones.
References:
Reset Your Hormones to Beat Belly Fat, Dr. Oz by Natasha Turner
How to Fix Your Hormones and Lose Weight, Dr. Mark Hyman
Photo: Be Well Buzz
