Your Low Testosterone Levels Are Slowing Down Your Metabolism
You are confronted with an astounding number of toxins each day, including pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified foods, and about six different synthetic hormones in meat. Toxins are lurking in face creams, prescription drugs, processed foods, your lipstick, the linings of tuna fish cans, the fire-retardant materials in couches, and even the air you breathe. The list goes on.
Many types of these toxins, such as pesticides, plastics, and industrial chemicals, behave like estrogen when absorbed in the body. Experts believe that our increasing exposure to toxins helps explain why so many girls are entering puberty earlier and why many boys exhibit feminine characteristics such as developing breasts. Xeno-estrogens, as these particular toxins are called, have been associated with an elevated risk of estrogen-driven diseases like breast and ovarian cancers and endometriosis.
HOW TO LOSE BELLY FAT
All this fake estrogen overwhelms your body’s testosteronewhich is vital for hormone balanceand contributes to estrogen overload. Testosterone contributes to muscle growth, which in turn supports metabolism. And, as we already know, estrogen overload raises insulin insensitivity. The combination adds pounds to your frame: A study from Sweden published in the journal Chemosphere showed that exposure to a particular type of pesticide called organochloride was linked to a weight gain of 9½ pounds over 50 years.
How To Prepare The Hormone Reset Diet & Tips
The plan claims to lead to a staggering weight loss of up to 15 pounds in 21 days by improving the balance of seven different hormones to burn belly fat and decrease appetite.
The 21-day program is similar to an elimination diet as it excludes specific foods thought to cause hormonal imbalances. Dr. Gottfied claims that most women have at least one, if not three or more, significant hormonal imbalances. The diet plan claims to fix these imbalances by eliminating meat, alcohol, fruit, grains, and dairy.
It should be noted that there is no scientific evidence to back up the claims made by Gottfried regarding the Hormone Reset diet. Some of the recommendations for what to eat or avoid are based on a quiz taken in the book.
Hormones That Affect Body Shape And Weight Loss
Hormones are the most powerful chemical messengers in the body and can make or break your weight loss.
When we think of the word hormone, we tend to think of issues such as menopause, puberty, thyroid disease orbeing grumpy and craving sugar at that time of the month. Butdid you know the food you eat and the exercise you do has a huge impact on your hormonal health and weight? For weight loss, calories are not the entire picture. Hormonal balance is key to helping you burn belly fat and look and feel your very best at any age.
What are hormones?
Hormones are the most powerful chemical messengers in the body, and when it comes to weight loss and feeling well, can make it or break it. In addition to blood sugar control and insulin balance, hormones control metabolism and therefore are intricately connected to the amount of fat you gain or lose. In other words, burning fat and achieving successful weight loss is in fact partly a hormonal event.
The three little hormones I want you to know about are:
1) Insulin Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas whose main role is to regulate glucose levels and promote fat storage especially around the belly. Foods that promote the secretion of insulin include white refined flours and sugars.
2) Glucagon Glucagon and insulin are enemies and have opposing effects. In other words, when one is up, the other one is down. Glucagon is a fat burning hormone and is secreted by the consumption of protein.
Don’t Miss: Can You Take Melatonin With Eliquis
How To Balance Ghrelin Levels
If you have a sneaking suspicion your ghrelin levels are in need of some TLC, here are a couple of ways to balance them:
- Eat adequate amounts of protein. Protein helps you feel full and should be consumed with every meal. Studies show how eating protein promotes healthy ghrelin levels.
- Avoid sugar as much as possible. As you can see by now, consuming too much sugar disrupts hormonal balance, making weight loss seem an impossible feat. Be sure to read labels. If an item contains high-fructose corn syrup, dont buy it. A 2013 study published in Nutritional Diabetes shows how high-fructose corn syrup is one of the primary culprits of imbalance when it comes to hormones and weight gain.
Fat Storage Hormone #: Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen is the female hormone that gives women breasts and hips, and it keeps joints lubricated. Men have it to but at far lower levels. But both men and women are at risk of estrogen overload, which is having toomuch estrogen in the bodyeven in menopause.
Heres one action you can take today to lower your estrogen levels and help you lose weight: Eat a pound of vegetables per day.The fiber from the vegetables will help excrete estrogen so it doesnt keep circulating in your body like bad karma. Aim for 35-45 grams of fiber per day for women, and 40-50 grams per day for men, but slowly increase in 5-gram increments each day to get to the goal without gas or bloating.
Also Check: How To Balance Hormones After Getting Off Birth Control
Intro: Training Your Mind
30% of getting the body you want is strategy, 70% of getting the body you want is your psychology. Through my years of dieting and working out, I have had to master the art of self-motivation.. In this section I share some of my secrets that will help you kick old habits, limiting beliefs, and procrastination. Lets clear your mind and get you ready to see this through until you reach your goal!
Targeting Specific Fat Areas
Sometimes people have fat deposits that are more problematic than others. Stubborn areas might seem to always remain chubby because of biological misfortunes. There are certain types of supplements and food that you can use to target individual fat areas. And here is what Dr. Turner recommends:
The Belly
We all have ab muscles, its the fat on the stomach that keeps them from showing. Studies have suggested that too much cortisol could be a major factor behind the accumulation of stomach fat. Holy basil is an Indian herb that helps maintain healthy cortisol levels and is commonly taken in capsule form. Foods for reducing cortisol include spinach, citrus, nuts, beans and barley.
Further reading: read my previous article about 10 warning signs you have high cortisol level and how to lower it. Also find here exercises to get a flat tummy that you can easily do at home.
The Back
Fat on the back and upper trunk is less common than stomach fat but equally as challenging to take on. Its also a likely indication that you have high insulin levels. Foods containing conjugated linoleic acid such as milk, yogurt, cheese and beef will help. You should also lean toward whole-grain options and green vegetables.
The Butt
Some people like big butts, but everyone has a limit. If you have excess body fat on your bottom, it could be due to high levels of estrogen. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are high in estrogen-blocking phytochemicals.
Don’t Miss: What Hormones To Test For Menopause
Balancing Hormones For Weight Loss
Insulin, leptin, cortisol, and insulin are all hormones involved in metabolic rates and appetite control. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, your lifestyle choices, including your food habits, exercise routines, sleep patterns, and stress levels, can heavily influence these hormones.
Here are the top hormones that affect your weight loss journey and the different ways to balance each one.
Cons Of The Hormone Reset Diet
There are more disadvantages and risks than benefits to the Hormone Reset Diet, despite the creator’s medical credentials.
If you have an actual hormonal condition that requires treatment from a medical professional, this diet likely will not help you. As well, your condition could worsen if you arent receiving treatment. Speak to your doctor before trying the Hormone Reset Diet, especially if you have or suspect you may have hormonal health issues.
Read Also: What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy For Men
Ghrelin: Aka The Craving Hormone
Ghrelin works in tandem with leptin. When your stomach is empty, it is ghrelin that is responsible for telling you that you are hungry and that you need to eat something. These days, something is broken in the ghrelin mechanism too, increasing your hunger with your rarely feeling satiated.
Ghrelin is secreted primarily in the lining of the stomach. Your stomach makes ghrelin when its empty. Just like leptin, ghrelin goes into the blood, crosses the blood-brain barrier and ends up at your hypothalamus where it tells you youre hungry. Basically, ghrelin is high before you eat and low after you eat.
How to tame this craving hormone?
Water is an essential part of life and well, it can help you tame down this hunger hormone. Make sure you keep yourself well hydrated and next time you feel hungry, have a glass of water first and you may be surprised to find your hunger pains abating.
Control Leptin To Stop Overeating
The bodys appetite is regulated by a couple of hormones, one of which is leptin. It regulates the energy balance in your body and, by extension, your appetite over the long term.6 Sometimes, your body may develop resistance to leptin, ignoring the signals this hormone is sending out. The result? You wont be able to tell when youre actually full and should stop eating. Left unchecked, youll see the weight pile on as you eat more than you need to. If you have a diet thats high in sugar and processed food, or if you drink too much alcohol, or sleep too little, it can cause leptin levels to spike. For faster weight loss, its essential to manage your leptin levels.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Estrogen For Mtf
Level Of Effort: Medium To High
First, you’ll quit caffeine, alcohol, sugar, dairy, gluten, and most oils for 2 weeks.
Also, Turner recommends using pH strips and ketone strips to test your bodyâs pH balance getting a series of blood, urine, or saliva tests to check hormone levels and taking supplements including multivitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium–magnesium–vitamin D3.
Limitations: If youâre used to eating prepared meals and snacks, The Hormone Diet might be a big adjustment, since it focuses on whole foods that you cook yourself. If you love coffee or soda, you may find it hard to give up these beverages in favor of green tea and other drinks on Turner’s list.
Cooking and shopping: The plan calls for eating organic foods as much as possible. The recipes and 1-week sample menu are fairly basic, so if youâre not comfortable cooking the foods in the diet plan, your options may be limited.
Packaged foods or meals: Not required, though Turner recommends certain brands of supplements.
In-person meetings: No.
Exercise: Turner recommends getting roughly 30 minutes of exercise 6 days a week in a mix of strength training, cardio, interval training, and yoga.
How Do I Reset My 3 Hormones To Lose Weight
– Eat enough protein at every meal. … – Engage in regular exercise. … – Maintain a moderate weight. … – Take care of your gut health. … – Lower your sugar intake. … – Try stress reduction techniques. … – Consume healthy fats. … – Get consistent, high quality sleep.
How To Reset Your Hormones- Heal Your Metabolism To Lose Up To 15Lbs In 21 Days- Book Review
Don’t Miss: What Type Of Doctor Do You See For Hormone Imbalance
Processed And Refined Food
Gluten and sugar are the worst of all possible pairings, and they enhance vulnerability to autoimmune illnesses by increasing inflammation and stressing the adrenal glands.
Cookies, crackers, and bread are all unhealthy, and they gain weight, which causes a severe hormonal imbalance, and affects testosterone levels. Processed foods also mess up hormones.
Sausages, ready-to-eat meals, and instant foods are high in sodium and preservatives, causing an electrolyte imbalance in the body and disrupting hormonal health.
Free Bonus #: The Booty Builder
Get the Butt of Your Dreams.This is one of our most requested programs. If you are like most ladies Ive helped, no matter what youve tried, you cant seem to get that look you are after and your body wont cooperate. Here is EXACTLY how to get a butt that looks amazing in tight jeans and in a bikini. To produce results fast, you MUST follow a systematic workout focussed on all 4 areas of the butt. Each workout in this program I hand picked and in a specific order so you get an amazing butt fast!
Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Rid Of Hormonal Acne
Helps Regulate Blood Sugar And Diabetes
Losing weight improves insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, says Preeti Pusalkar, a certified clinical nutritionist with Hudson Medical Center, a primary care provider in New York City.
Excess body fat leads to an increase in adipose tissue, which causes inflammation and interferes with the function of insulin the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Weight loss reduces adipose tissue, which allows the body to manage blood sugar more effectively. Plus, you dont have to lose that much weight to see results. Research has found that just a 5% reduction in body weight improved blood sugar levels in adults.
Your High Estrogen Levels Are Expanding Your Fat Cells
Although estrogen is responsible for making women uniquely women, it’s also the hormone that can be the most troublesome in the fat department. At normal levels, estrogen actually helps keep you lean by goosing the production of insulin, a hormone that manages blood sugar. When estrogen gets thrown off, though, it turns you into a weight-gain machine.
Here’s how: When you eat, your blood sugar rises. Like a bodyguard, insulin lowers it by escorting glucose into three different places in your body. When insulin is in good working formnot too high and not too lowit sends a small amount of glucose to your liver, a large amount to your muscles to use as fuel, and little to none for fat storage.
If you’re healthy and in good shape, your pancreas produces exactly the right amount of insulin to have your blood sugar softly rise and fall within a narrow range . But when your estrogen levels climb, the cells that produce insulin become strained, and you can become insulin resistant.
Gain *unlimited* access to Prevention
Gain *unlimited* access to Prevention
That’s when insulin starts to usher less glucose to the liver and muscles, raising the levels of sugar in your bloodstream and ultimately storing the glucose as fat. Your fat tissue can expand by as much as four times to accommodate the storage of glucose.
Don’t Miss: Does Low Estrogen Birth Control Cause Weight Gain
Reset Your Hormones To Lose Stubborn Pounds
Why resetting your hormones will help you lose weight
Dieting, stress and anxiety are just a few of the contributing factors to hormones gone bad, but Dr. Sara Gottfried, a gynecologist and author of The Hormone Reset Diet, says you can reset your hormones to improve your overall health and lose stubborn pounds
Hormones can affect our mood, our weight and even our sex drive. But like most things in life its not always easy to keep them balanced. Dieting, stress and anxiety are just a few of the contributing factors to hormones gone bad, but Dr. Sara Gottfried, a gynecologist and author of The Hormone Reset Diet, says you can reset your hormones to improve your overall health and lose stubborn pounds.
The number one way you know is that youre gaining weight because 99 percent of weight gain is hormonal, and a lot of people dont connect the dots. They dont realize that their problems with energy, with feeling fatigued maybe even depressed or moody is related to their hormones, Gottfried told FoxNews.com.
Instead of turning to prescribed hormone replacement therapy, Gottfrieds 21-day reset diet claims to naturally correct your hormonal imbalances with the help of a fork.
I think its much better to do the foundational work to change the way you eat, move, think and supplement before you resort to prescription medication, she said.
In order to forgo sugar for 21 days, Gottfried also said to be aware of sneaky hidden sugars.
Hormones You Need To Reset To Lose Fat Faster
Are you careful about what you eat but still cant seem to lose the extra weight? Is your battle with the bulge a never-ending story? If youre like so many others who seem to be reasonably active and not especially bad about what they eat, a hormonal imbalance may be to blame. Thankfully, the fixes, while requiring expertise and proper diagnosis, are not as hard to implement as you might imagine. Here are the 6 hormones you need to reset to lose fat faster.
Also Check: What Hormone Increases Hair Growth
Key Takeaways About Hormonal Weight Gain
Follow This Eating Pattern
Eating plenty of colorful vegetables and fruit along with heart-healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts as well as fish and vegetarian proteins appears to be one of the healthiest ways to promote weight loss and prevent chronic diseases. It may also make your cells more sensitive to insulin, reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
In particular, oily fish contains long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that may help reduce insulin resistance, a risk-factor for Type 2 diabetes.
Having healthy fats in your meals and snacks triggers the release of hormones that help you feel more satiated, which can support weight loss.
Recommended Reading: Best Foods For Hormonal Imbalance