Hormonal Balance Affects How You Feel

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It's not a secret that hormones hold the key to your mental, emotional, and physical wellness. In fact, hormonal imbalances may lead to serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes or a loss of sexual desire. But it doesn't stop there.

Endocrine glands release hormones directly into your bloodstream and minor changes in levels can have significant effects. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are special glands that serve as a bridge between the nervous and endocrine systems releasing chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and act on specific target cells or tissues.

Hormonal imbalance occurs when there's an excess or deficiency in the production or release hormones. In addition, long term imbalances can also result in receptor cells being able to respond to chemical messengers. Hormones play a crucial role in human existence, and maintaining the balance of hormones is vital for good health.

Hormones Can Impact Weight Maintenance

Hormonal imbalances in thyroid, reproductive, and stress hormones that may impact weight maintenance are discussed below. All can influence appetite, metabolism, and body fat distribution, including:

Estrogen: When estrogen levels are balanced, fat helps with reproductive functions. During perimenopause and beyond, women become more estrogen-dominant, leading to insulin resistance and fat accumulation around the butt, thighs and belly.

Progesterone: Progesterone in women is often compared to testosterone in men. Low progesterone can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and headaches, while low testosterone in men can cause a decrease in libido, hair loss, and even fatigue.

Testosterone: Maintaining optimal testosterone levels can contribute to a higher quality of life, including less belly fat, more muscle, active libido, better mental cognition, and increased physical energy as well as good bone health and thicker hair.

Insulin: It is possible for diabetics to manage weight while on insulin by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that people with Type 2 diabetes gained an average of nine pounds in the first three years of insulin use.

Cortisol: Chronic stress has been linked to obesity. To reduce cortisol belly fat, it's important to manage stress, get enough sleep, and maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. Limiting caffeine intake and high-intensity exercise can lower cortisol levels. Healthy habits support healthy living.

Thyroid Hormone: Imbalances in thyroid hormones can lead to serious health conditions like Grave's disease or Hashimoto's disease, which affect weight management and natural energy levels. An underactive thyroid can slow down metabolism, leading to weight gain.

Sugar is closely linked to estrogen, a hormone that has many important functions in the body. Too much intake can lead to increased estrogen levels, which is not beneficial. It also leads to changes in adipocytes, which are the fat-storing cells. Adipocytes release more leptin when exposed to catecholamines, that are increased by physical activity.

You may want to consider taking a daily fiber supplement. Aim for 25 grams of fiber per day in addition to making positive lifestyle choices, such as improving your diet, increasing physical activity, managing stress effectively, getting enough sleep, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. All can help to lose weight and prevent hormonal weight gain.