Hormone Balance Affects More Than Weight Loss

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As women and men age, their hormone levels change, leading to low mood, poor sleep and other health issues. This can result in weight gain, especially around the abdomen, that is commonly known as a hormonal belly. Plus, hormones play a major role in hunger signals and energy usage.

For both women and men, high levels of stress and increased cortisol can lead to hormonal weight gain. However, hormone balance alone is not always the sole cause of weight problems. Your endocrine system regulates the amount of key chemical messengers released into your bloodstream.

Your body 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. Hormones are eliminated from the body through enzymatic degradation. This typically occurs in your liver with removal from the bloodstream by your kidneys or uptake into the target tissue cells.

Hormonal Imbalances Can Hinder Wellness

Imbalances come from certain hormone dysfunction, medical conditions, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and endocrine glands. Some of the most common culprits are discussed below:

Estrogen: Having too little estrogen hormone production and release can cause problems. In women, it can lead to weakened bones, menstrual issues, fertility problems, mood disorders, hot flashes and sleep problems.

Progesterone: In addition to reproductive functions, progesterone acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and helps your brain receive leptin hormone, which is crucial in regulating appetite and lowering your risk of overeating.

Testosterone: Maintaining testosterone production is vital for a man’s health. Low testosterone in men can lead to a low libido, reduced sperm count, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, and breast tissue swelling.

Insulin: Insulin regulates the absorption of glucose into target cells in your body. Weight gain is a common concern for individuals taking insulin. The good news is that it is possible to manage your weight while using insulin.

Cortisol: Cortisol is your body's natural alert system but having too much cortisol for extended periods can cause hypertension, anxiety, sleep loss, and autoimmune problems. Too little is linked to weakness and fatigue.

Thyroid Hormone: Improving your diet, increasing physical activity, getting enough sleep, managing stress effectively, and making healthy lifestyle choices are all key in maintaining a healthy thyroid function and weight.

Your choice of nutrients plays a role in hormone regulation and healthy weight control. Ensuring an adequate intake of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants will support hormone production and release. Limiting processed foods with added sugars and fats is smart choice for restoring hormone balance.

Increasing your fiber intake can help stimulate the release of ghrelin, a hormone that helps control hunger. So, make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your diet. If needed, you can also take a fiber supplement to boost ghrelin (hunger hormone) production.

Contact MRC Northwest Indiana to learn more about a Metabolic Research Center HORMONE TEST KIT and how we use a personalized approach to help you get on track for healthy living.