Whether you want to shed some pounds or a lot of weight, getting those numbers down makes the battle feel endless. No matter how hard you try, exercise or avoid eating the foods you love, the results seem to be minimal.
In fact, studies claim that it can be really hard to lose some weight. According to a study issued in the Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, obesity is 10% more common than it was in the 1970s. Even though people consumed the same food and practiced the same exercising routines.
So, what could be the reason behind this problem?
Researchers believe that the environment plays a crucial role in our health, especially the foods and the chemicals they contain. Therefore, all the products that we consume on a daily basis can make us gain even more weight.
Furthermore, managing weight is even harder with all the complex energies that go out and in, says the author of the study, Jennifer Kuk, a professor of health science at York University in Toronto.
However, if you have taken all these precautions and purchased the healthiest food you can find, but for some reason, you still can’t lose weight, it means that your hormones are not working properly. If you have hormonal dysfunction, it might cause even more weight gain.
Hormones the Cause for Belly Fat
Belly fat can cause many problems like diabetes, heart disease or aging. Therefore, you need a proper motivation, diet, exercise, and of course, sleep. Here are some of the hormonal imbalances that can cause belly fat:
- Low Growth Hormone
- High Cortisol
- Low Testosterone
- High Insulin levels
- Low DHEA
- High Estrogen
Regulating the Growth Hormone
This hormone has a crucial impact on our actions, appearance, and feelings. Our body releases it when we sleep and exercise. Furthermore, it is important for improving bone density, tissue repair, obtaining a healthy body composition and strengthening the muscles.
However, its function declines with age, so we have to take supplements. Here are some foods you can consume if you want to improve your growth hormone.
- fava beans
- coconut oil
- pineapple
- grass-fed beef
- goji berries
- Greek yogurt
- cacao/raw chocolate
- eggs
- algae
- watermelon
- nuts
- parmesan
- raisins
- lemons
- water
Managing the Cortisol
When you start to feel stressful, your body emits the hormone cortisol. It is not harmful in small doses, but if you have chronic stress, it might increase the level of cortisol and cause obesity, along with other problems like difficulties falling asleep and various mood changes.
Therefore you can try these foods if you want to control your cortisol:
- citrus
- foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids
- spinach
- barley and beans
- foods that contain zinc
- cacao and dark chocolate
Increasing the Levels of Testosterone
This is a hormone in males. It is important for the libido, the reproduction system, and overall muscle health. But, with age, they tend to decrease their function. In the end, it might lead to obesity, weight gain and stress.
However, men today experience this problem at a much earlier age. This is very frightening. Moreover, you can recognize low levels of testosterone if you have decreased stamina, drive, strength, motivation and a loss of muscle tissue.
In addition, people need to get a proper treatment and consume foods that can boost their testosterone. Here is a list of some of the foods that can be useful for increasing the testosterone level:
- eggs
- garlic
- oysters
- broccoli
- bananas
- brazil nuts
- foods that contain a lot of vitamin D
- certain mushrooms
Managing Insulin Levels
Insulin is important for processing the sugar in the bloodstream and transporting it to cells to use it as a fuel or store it as fat. Therefore, if you have too high levels of insulin, you will get more belly fat and risk developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
The most common cause of this problem is too much sugar and carbohydrates, along with poor nutrition and insufficient exercise. This is how this hormone can affect your condition, especially around the abdomen.
If you want to control your insulin levels, try eating more:
- foods rich in fibers
- dark green vegetables
- whole grain food
Controlling DHEA Levels
This hormone is a natural part of our bodies. It is a part of the adrenal glands, and it can affect all the systems and influence our overall health. In addition, it can help us shed some pounds or gain muscles.
Furthermore, it can help a person feel more energetic, motivated and youthful, white it has a positive impact on the libido. No wonder why some people call it the ‘’fountain of youth’’. It’s a great name for the meaning and function of this important hormone.
Here are some of the most important processes that the DHEA can have an influence on:
- Increases HDL (good cholesterol) levels
- Helps With Erectile Dysfunction
- Blocks or Reduces the Activity of Carcinogens
- Helps Maintaining Cardiovascular Health
- Strengthens Immune System
- Promotes Sleep and Boosts Mood
- Improves Memory
- Helps Reduce Fear & Stress
- Provides More Energy
- Aids Weight Loss
- Glowing Skin
DHEA and Cortisol have opposing effects. Therefore, when the body releases cortisol, the DHEA levels decrease and release during depression and stress. In addition, DHEA and depression are connected.
Since depression can affect your weight, getting rid of it can help you lose weight. Here are some foods that might help deal with this situation:
- foods that contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids
- DHEA supplements
Managing Estrogen Levels
Estrogen is a very dominant hormone. But, if it occurs more than any other hormone, it can cause obesity, accumulation of fat in the midsection, irregular menstrual cycles, fibrocystic breasts and ovaries, headaches or in severe cases, breast cancer.
Furthermore, if you have abdominal fat, it can increase the levels of estrogen. So, a woman with high levels of estrogen will have PMS and difficulty losing weight. Some people believe that it is easy to regulate your estrogen levels only with a diet.
That is why you should try the following foods:
- plant foods
- nuts and flax seeds
- soy products (soybean, tempeh, tofu, soy milk)
- legumes
- oil seeds
- wheat
- berries
- yams
- pomegranate
- alfalfa
If you found this article helpful, make sure to share it with friends and family.
Sources: FitLife TV | Prevention | Dr. Sara Gottfried MD
