Are Your Hormones Out of Whack?

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While poor diet and lack of exercise are commonly blamed for weight gain, hormonal imbalances can also be a culprit. To tackle hormonal weight gain, it's important for you to understand how to balance your hormone production and release.

An imbalance in certain hormones can lead to weight gain in the form of fat storage. For example, excessive cortisol and low thyroid hormone can contribute to weight gain and chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.

Your endocrine system regulates the amount of each hormone released into your bloodstream. It has a feedback complex that helps maintain the balance of hormones. If there's too much or too little of a certain hormone, the system signals the proper gland to fix the issue. In women, imbalances can cause irregular periods, low sex drive, unexplained weight gain, and mood swings. There are also more serious conditions like diabetes, thyroid disease, and PCOS.

Hormonal Factors Linked to Difficulty Losing Weight

Hormonal imbalance in women often occurs at predictable points, such as menstruation, puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Hormone tests can help determine if difficulty losing weight is attributed to hormonal factors, like those below:

Testosterone: Testosterone is a sex hormone that affects various aspects of healthy living. Having a better understanding of its role can significantly improve a man or woman’s well-being and quality of life through achieving hormonal balance.

Progesterone: Low levels of progesterone can cause heavy and irregular menstrual periods as well as fertility problems for women who are trying to get pregnant. It's a powerful hormone that also deserves attention for those who are trying manage their weight.

Estrogen: It's important to find that sweet spot when it comes to estrogen hormone balance. Too much estrogen increases a woman’s risk of certain cancers and is associated with common symptoms like weight gain and a reduced sex drive.

Insulin: Pre-diabetes and insulin resistance often precede the development of Type 2 diabetes. These conditions result in higher glucose levels in the bloodstream due to decreased sensitivity to insulin. Lifestyle changes early on can help restore insulin balance.

Cortisol: Cortisol plays a vital role in keeping you healthy and energized. It helps regulate your metabolism, blood pressure, and even your ability to form memories. However, when cortisol sticks around for too long, it can cause serious health problems.

Thyroid Hormone: If lab results suggest you are suffering with low levels of thyroid hormone, you may need medication to help restore hormonal balance. However, it's important to note that thyroid medication alone will not cause instant weight loss. It takes time for your body to the medication to take effect and restore balance.

Elevated estrogen can throw a broad range of hormones out of balance, worsening symptoms of hormonal weight gain. While there's no evidence that specific foods can directly boost leptin, the hormone that regulates appetite, having a poor diet or carrying excess weight can make leptin less effective

If you're experiencing vague symptoms, it could be a sign that your hormones are out of whack. Certain imbalances can have a big impact on your overall well-being and goals for healthy living. At MRC, we understand the importance of balanced hormones and work closely with you to identify and correct deficiencies.