Hormones Play a Major Role in How Your Feel

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When hormones go awry, it can lead to weight gain and various other health problems. Reversing hormonal weight gain is possible by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, stress management, or even replacement strategies.

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 but hormones alone are not always the sole cause.

The hormone-receptor system controls specific processes in your cells, tissues, and organs. They control the development of your brain and nervous system, the growth and function of your reproductive system, your metabolism and blood sugar levels. While hormones reach the entire body, only the cells with compatible receptors can respond to them. Once hormones have served their purpose on target organs or tissues, they are destroyed by the liver.

Hormone Release Is Often Unpredictable

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: Since testosterone is responsible for various aspects of the human body, including your sex drive, fat distribution, muscle strength, bone mass, and red blood cell production, both men and women should take notice of imbalances.

Progesterone: During pregnancy, a drop in progesterone hormone production and release can even lead to premature labor or miscarriage. On the other hand, women who have too much progesterone are believed to have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Estrogen: Having too little estrogen hormone production and release can also cause problems. In women, it can lead to weakened bones, menstrual issues, fertility problems, and mood disorders. Women often experience hot flashes, sleep problems, and a decreased sex drive.

Insulin: Insulin regulates various metabolic processes in your body. Along with its counterpart glucagon, the two hormones are responsible for controlling your blood sugar concentration. Both hormones are released from the pancreas and primarily impact functions in the liver.

Cortisol: Chronic stress, which causes continuous cortisol production and release, has been associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and other health issues. Regulating stress and taking breaks when needed can help combat high cortisol levels.

Thyroid Hormone: One common symptom of an underactive thyroid is weight gain. This occurs because an underactive thyroid slows down your metabolism, causing your body to burn fewer calories. Over time, this can lead to significant weight gain, often accompanied by water retention and bloating.

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.

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. In addition, limiting processed foods, added sugars, and unhealthy fats is smart choice for restoring hormone balance.