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Are your hormones making you fat?

We all know that a healthy diet and regular exercise are a vital part of keeping fit and trim, but what if you find it difficult to lose weight, regardless of how well you eat and how much exercise you do?

There is more to weight loss than the often applied “energy in = energy out” equation; a low calorie diet alone is not enough, we need to make sure that our body uses the food that we eat for energy, and doesn’t put it into fat storage.

Some of the key factors that may be causing your body to store energy rather than use it are:

1. Insulin resistance

When we eat the body releases the hormone insulin to assist in the uptake of glucose into cells to be used for energy.  If we eat a diet high in refined carbohydrates and other simple sugars we have a high level of glucose for the body to deal with.  The body responds by releasing more and more insulin.  Excess levels of insulin make the body think that it is starving, this inhibits the body’s ability to burn fat, stimulates the growth of new fat cells, increases appetite and reduces the desire to expend energy (exercise).

2. Excess cortisol

The adrenal glands produce the hormone cortisol in response to stress.  Prolonged, chronic stress causes excess levels of cortisol; long term excess cortisol increases blood sugar levels, insulin levels, alters how fat is distributed in the body causing fat to deposit around the middle of the body. 

3. Low thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones that regulate the metabolism of the body.  Low levels of thyroid hormones can result in a lowered basal metabolic rate, which means the body doesn’t use energy as efficiently as it should.  Also, people with low thyroid often suffer from fatigue, making it a struggle for them to exercise regularly. 

4. Leptin resistance

Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that tells the brain when to stop eating, thereby adequate levels are essential for the regulation of our appetite.  Excess levels of insulin can block leptin signals to the brain, this means our appetite is not regulated and we continue to eat.  Over time this leads to leptin resistance and the continued inability to regulate appetite.

5. Neurotransmitter imbalance

People with low levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin may suffer from depression and carbohydrate cravings.  Serotonin reduces our appetite and is involved in both fat and carbohydrate metabolism.  Stress, insulin resistance and nutrient deficiency can lead to low serotonin levels.

 

As you can see there are many factors to take into consideration if you are struggling to lose weight, requiring careful diagnosis and specific treatment to correct.

Contact me now to find out how I can help you identify and correct the reasons behind your inability to lose weight.


Submitted At: 6 December 2009 12:08pm | Last Modified At: 6 December 2009 1:44pm
Article Views: 2385

Previously a naturopathic clinic under the name Blooming Natural health I continue to focus on fertility and women's health now using yoga as a primary medium, backed up with naturopathy, herbal medicine and nutrition. You can now find me at www.nzyogamama.com or www.facebook.com/nzyogamama

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