What Is A Hormonal Imbalance
A hormonal imbalance happens when you have too much or too little of one or more hormones. Its a broad term that can represent many different hormone-related conditions.
Hormones are powerful signals. For many hormones, having even slightly too much or too little of them can cause major changes to your body and lead to certain conditions that require treatment.
Some hormonal imbalances can be temporary while others are chronic . In addition, some hormonal imbalances require treatment so you can stay physically healthy, while others may not impact your health but can negatively affect your quality of life.
What Causes Hormonal Imbalances
Throughout your life and even throughout the day your hormone levels naturally rise and fall.
Certain periods of life cause more dramatic changes and fluctuations in hormones, including:
However, there are several other reasons why your hormone levels may be irregular at unexpected times. Some of the most common causes of fluctuating or imbalanced hormone levels include:
- Certain medications.
These hormonal imbalances are more likely to be temporary or fixable with a change in medication or properly managing stress.
Chronic hormone-related conditions can have several different possible causes. In general, the main conditions or situations that cause medically significant hormone imbalances include:
Tumors, adenomas and growths
Any kind of growth on a gland or organ that produces hormones, such as a tumor, adenoma or nodule, could affect its ability to do so.
Tumors
Rare endocrine tumors form in glands or in cells that produce hormones and can cause hormone imbalances. Some of the rare endocrine tumors include:
Adenomas
An adenoma is a benign tumor. Many adenomas are nonfunctioning, meaning they dont produce hormones. But some can produce excess hormones. These are called functioning adenomas. Adenomas that affect your endocrine system and cause hormone imbalances include:
Other growths
Damage or injury to an endocrine gland
Autoimmune conditions
What Are Hormone Diets And Can They Really Help You Lose Weight Quickly
As a registered dietitian, I have found that my clients are increasingly asking about books and programs that claim you can adjust your hormones with a diet to lose weight quickly and easily.
Search for hormone diet and there are more than 30 recent books on the topic. The authors allege that the reason people over 35 struggle to lose weight doesnt have to do with eating too much or not exercising enough. They say its your hormones working against you.
According to these books, you can trick your metabolism and feed your thyroid. They claim that all you need to do is eat the right foods and take the right supplements, and youll unlock the secret to lasting weight loss.
But is there any evidence these diets work?
In researching hormone diets, I found some that are sold at weight-loss centers, created by wellness experts who have no recognized credentials. They claim to promote rapid weight loss by affecting hormones such as insulin, which moves sugar from your blood into your cells cortisol, the stress hormone sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen and thyroid hormones.
So, do hormone diets lead to quick and easy weight loss?
I dont know of any diet that will change hormone levels in a way that these hormone changes will be instrumental in promoting weight loss, Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, a professor of medicine at Tulane Universitys medical school, wrote in an email.
Recommended Reading: How To Feminize Yourself Without Hormones
Once You Start Eating It’s Hard To Stop
If ghrelin makes you hungry, then leptin is all about feeling full. Leptin is produced in your fat cells, and its mission is also energy preservation. When you have sufficient fat, you generate lots of leptin. So, you’re easily satisfied, and everyone’s happy. But when fat starts to dwindle, leptin follows, making it hard to know when to put down the fork.
What You Can Do: Stop Overeating The Foods That Cause Insulin Resistance
How do we ensure our insulin levels remain balanced? First, we need to stop eating too much. Its a known fact that overeating leads to insulin resistance, especially when we eat too much food thats no good for our bodies and minds. When we eat too much sugar, too much fast food, and too many processed carbohydrates, insulin goes haywire. These elevated insulin levels lead to weight gain and low-grade inflammation. A 2010 study published in the journal Diabetes found that even eating too much of these foods in the short term leads to insulin resistance and weight gain.
You may also want to restrict carbohydrates in your diet. According to a study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, a low-carb diet prevents metabolic syndrome and the insulin resistance that causes it. Other findings show drinking green tea, consuming omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish, and eating adequate amounts of protein all help balance insulin levels.
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Cortisol From Your Body
How To Lose Hormonal Weight Gain
Since hormonal weight gain is due to changes in hormone levels, the best strategy to deal with it is by balancing hormones. If you suffer from constantly high-stress levels leading to too much cortisol, you can try simple stress-reduction techniques like meditation or listening to music. However, these strategies can only reduce stress in the short term thus, the essential aspect of stress management is eliminating it from your work and life.
Hormone therapy can also be an option if you have estrogen-related weight gain. According to research, menopause hormone therapy at the lowest effective dose and shortest duration may be effective. In many cases, the advantages of menopausal hormone therapy outweigh the risks, particularly when it comes to alleviating symptoms caused by estrogen deficiency, such as hormonal weight gain. If you have estrogen dominance, you can also boost your physical activity because exercise has been proven to reduce estrogen levels in another study.
To treat hormonal weight gain caused by hypothyroidism or PCOS, the best thing you can do is learn everything you can about these disorders and their symptoms, then consult a doctor as soon as you have any concerns about your health.
In conclusion, hormonal weight gain might result from multiple causes. Besides having a good lifestyle with a healthy diet and high physical activity levels, understanding your hormones might help you on your weight-loss journey.
HUMAN 2.0 begins here!
UP NEXT:
Small Changes For Considerable Outcomes Best Hormone
When it comes to weight loss, making small changes can lead to significant outcomes. Attempt integrating some of these changes into your day-to-day routine:
Consume more plants! Including more fruits, vegetables, and entire grains into your diet can improve your energy levels, assist you keep a healthy weight, and minimize your danger of persistent diseases.
Stay hydrated! Consuming enough water is essential for your body to work properly. Aim for 8-10 glasses day-to-day and bring a water bottle anywhere you go.
Eat breakfast: Skipping breakfast can make you most likely to eat way too much later in the day. Ensure to start your day with a healthy breakfast to help jumpstart your metabolic process.
Workout routinely: Exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve metabolism. Go for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity workout most days of the week.
Eat more protein: Protein takes longer to digest than other nutrients, so it can assist to keep you feeling fuller for longer. Incorporate lean protein sources into your diet plan, such as grilled chicken or fish, tofu, beans, and eggs.
Minimize tension: Chronic tension can result in weight gain, so its important to find methods to manage tension successfully. Think about meditation, costs, or yoga time in nature to help in reducing tension levels.
Also Check: What Hormones Are In Birth Control Pills
Supplements To Balance Hormones
Hormone balance is one of the most common reasons patients pay me an initial visit, and a common question is whether I recommend supplements to balance hormones. In recent years, focus on womens health has gone from just a yearly PAP smear and breast exam to discussion around optimal health and wellness. Women feel empowered to talk to their health care providers about topics that were previously perceived as normal- things like painful periods and PMS symptoms which includes cravings, mood changes, acne, and changes during perimenopause. Seeking treatment for hormone balance means that women are finally able to start the journey to optimal health and complete wellness.
I thought I would take some time to discuss some of my favorite herbs, nutrients, and nutrition options for hormone balance.
However, choosing supplements for hormone balance isnt always cut and dry. Depending on why your hormones are imbalanced can mean that is it time for a different treatment plan.
Choose Fats Wisely And Eat Meals With Healthy Fats To Counter Weight Gain
Fat adds flavor, makes our food taste better, and is part of a healthy diet. So the good news is that it isnt necessary or recommended to completely eliminate it from your diet altogether. You just need to learn how to be more choosy, says Palumbo. Think more walnuts, fewer Whoppers.
The healthiest fats are the ones that derive from plant sources like olives and nuts, but keep in mind that healthy fats like those found in avocados have the same number of calories as the fat found in a hot fudge sundae. An ounce of nuts has 170 calories, so you have to be very careful, says Palumbo. The same goes with extra-virgin olive oil. The American way is to go overboard, so you have to be extremely cautious when you use it and measure the amounts of fats and oils that you consume.
And restaurant meals are not your friends in the fat department, either. Restaurants are not in business to make us healthy. They add a lot of flavor carriers, which are known as fats, Palumbo says. Salad dressings are one of the biggest sources of added fat in our diet, so order your salad with the dressing on the side.
You May Like: Do I Need To Fast For Hormone Blood Test
Hrt Can Make Weight Loss Over 40 A Reality For Women
It can happen rather insidiously. Your youthful figure gives way to a pooch here and a bulge there. The metabolism that has once allowed you to enjoy your favorite foods without regret seems to have forsaken you. Suddenly you no longer look or feel like yourself.
Many women over 40 are seeking to lose weight some for the first time in their lives. As perimenopause takes hold, the body and shape with which you are familiar are replaced by a foreign silhouette, one that is heavily influenced by shifting hormones and a slowing metabolism.
Muscle mass declines and stubborn belly fat appears, and the effects can be more than aesthetic. Some studies have even shown that having a higher body mass index can exacerbate some symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats.
Plus, weight gain can put you at risk of a whole range of diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, that can create life-threatening health problems and seriously affect your quality of life.
You are not doomed to live with those extra pounds. Today, there is more support available than ever before to help you look and feel your best as you age. And, with the right strategies, you can make weight loss over 40 a reality for you.
Ways Progesterone Helps With Weight Loss
- Posted on: Sep 17 2020
- View all 8 responses
Maintaining your ideal body weight can be a frustrating and difficult task. You may have heard or suspected that your hormones have something to do with your inability to lose weight and that may absolutely correct, especially if you a woman after childbirth or have taken birth control pills for several years. For women, hormone balance involves two hormones: progesterone and estrogen. When both of these are in the body at adequate levels, the body will run optimally, however, its when estrogen becomes too high , a woman will find herself in a state of estrogen dominance, which can wreak havoc on several bodily functions. One of which is the bodys ability to maintain its ideal weight.
Recommended Reading: How To Lower Estrogen Men
Good Exercise Choices After Menopause
What types of exercise can best help you lose and maintain weight after menopause?
- Strength training, or a weight-resistance exercise program, helps build muscle mass and improve metabolism. Strength training also helps you maintain bone mass. Because you lose muscle mass as you age, add strength training to your workouts, if you haven’t before. Aim for two or three times a week. Examples of strength training include weight machines, dumbbells, exercise bands, yoga, and gardening.
- Low-impact aerobics are good for your heart and lungs. Walking, for example, is one of the best choices, because you can do it anywhere, anytime. Other examples of aerobic exercises include swimming, cycling, aerobics, tennis, and dance. Exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes most, if not all, days of the week.
- Whenever you can, add activity to your day. Wash the car, play hide and seek with your kids or grandchildren, get in a game of ping pong, etc.
Do: Take Care Of Healthy Thyroid Function
If youre having trouble losing weight, youll want to take extra care of your thyroid function, as your thyroid controls metabolism, energy, and is your bodys master hormone. If you suspect thyroid function is low, you can read more here, and ask your doctor about testing your TSH, free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies.
In the meantime, youll want to get plenty of greens, avoid gluten, and manage stress.
Also Check: Low Estrogen And Joint Pain
What Happens To Your Hormones After You Lose Weight
If youre overweight, everything is harder. Its harder to stay active. Its harder to find clothes that fit. Its harder to eat a healthy diet. Its harder to lose weight. Also on the list, its harder to stay disease free, especially as you age.
Why so many difficulties? One reason is that those extra pounds throw your hormones out of balance. And your hormones control just about everything, including how often you feel hungry, as well as your risk for certain types of cancers.
Kimberly Bolling, MD, has seen for herself how her patients transform almost every aspect of their lives through healthy weight loss and weight loss management. Here she details how weight loss helps to restore your hormones.
What To Know About Low Estrogen Levels
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Low estrogen levels can be normal with aging. However, in some cases it can be caused by chronic illnesses, excessive exercise and more.
Estrogen is a hormone produced in the ovaries that controls sexual development in females. It plays a major role in the female reproductive system. It is also present in small amounts in males. A woman’s estrogen levels peak in her mid- to late-20s then decline by 50% by the time she is 50. Estrogen declines more rapidly after menopause.
This article covers the causes and symptoms of low estrogen, along with how low estrogen is diagnosed and treated.
Also Check: Metabolic Renewal Hormone Type 7
Understanding Hormonal Weight Gain
Hormonal weight gain is the increase in body weight, mainly body fat, in some parts of the body. Unlike typical weight gain, which occurs when the amount of energy gained by the body exceeds the amount of energy burned during metabolism and physical activity, hormonal weight gain occurs when there are imbalances of hormones or certain hormonal disorders.
What Occurs During Menopause
Menopause is the cessation of ovarian function, explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. In women who have a uterus and have periods, it is defined as a year of no periods, she says, noting that blood tests are needed to confirm menopause in women who have had hysterectomies.
Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, with the average starting age being 51 in the U.S., adds Kellyann Petrucci, N.D., a functional medicine doctor and certified nutrition consultant in New York City.
Don’t Miss: Over The Counter Testosterone Replacement
What Conditions Are Caused By Hormonal Imbalances
Dozens of medical conditions are caused by hormone issues. For most hormones, having too much or too little of them causes symptoms and issues with your health. While many of these imbalances require treatment, some can be temporary and may go away on their own. Some of the most common hormone-related conditions include:
How Does Estrogen Impact Weight Gain
Produced within the ovaries, estrogen is responsible for optimal functioning of all female reproductive organs. Estrogen promotes the storage of fat for healthy reproductive years. When estrogen is balanced, the right amount of fat helps carry out female reproductive functions. However, when theres too little or too much estrogen, weight gain often results.
Overweight women typically have high amounts of estrogen, as do women in the first half of pregnancy. Then theres perimenopause and menopause, which are characterized by a notable decrease in estrogen. Its during this time that some women opt for hormone replacement therapy to replace declining estrogen levels.
Don’t Miss: Hashimoto’s And Cortisol Levels
Causes Of Hormonal Weight Gain And How To Prevent It
Have you been losing and gaining the same 10-20 pounds for the past couple of years? Its now halfway into 2020 and if your New Years Resolution was lose weight and you havent quite reached your goal yet, dont feel too discouraged.
Weight gain and weight loss are influenced by a lot of factors, some of which you may not know about and are out of your control.Keep reading to learn more about the reasons for hormonal weight gain and the steps you can take to prevent it.