How Hormones Affect Weight

They say the human body is a temple. In this case, hormones are his gray cardinal, which affects not only the mood, but also the size of clothes. Genetics, diet and 30 minutes of planks do not guarantee slimness, because there is a hidden factor that controls weight - hormones .

Cortisol

Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone , is called the nefarious enemy of athletes, because it destroys muscle tissue and leads to an increase in the fat layer. When stressed, the body uses up large reserves of energy and, as a protective reaction, needs to quickly replenish it with food. Constantly high levels of cortisol lead to chronic stress and deterioration of metabolism.

Keep stress under control with meditation or release it with dynamic techniques like boxing. Add citrus fruits to your diet - vitamin C will reduce cortisol by 30%, and you better forget about coffee: caffeine raises the level of the hormone in the blood.

Adrenalin

Although adrenaline is a relative of cortisol, it has the opposite effect on metabolic processes. This hormone is mobilized to compensate for stress and strong emotions in the body, as well as with severe lack of sleep. A jump in adrenaline suppresses the feeling of hunger, splits fats and releases energy, but the appearance of excess weight threatens a significant decrease in the hormone and, as a result, deterioration of metabolism.

Sometimes arrange a small emotional surge for yourself, for this it is not necessary to jump with a parachute: try windsurfing, martial arts, swimming with dolphins or snowboarding - a jump of adrenaline is guaranteed.

Leptin

The same insidious hormone that tells the brain that it's time to snack on chocolate. Leptin is responsible for appetite and satiety: when eating, it signals that the body is full, and when leptin decreases, our appetite increases dramatically. Not only food, but also sleep affects the amount of the hormone - hence the fact that people who sleep less than 7 hours a night are more prone to obesity.

Maintaining normal leptin levels is not that difficult, just follow a healthy sleep pattern and eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Estrogen

Steroid female hormones increase weight in a geometric progression - weight gain directly depends on their deficiency. Estrogen affects the menstrual cycle and the distribution of fat deposits. That is why with the onset of menopause, when its level drops, women tend to improve. Often, a lack of sex hormones provokes a love of sweets. The body looks for estrogens in fat deposits and begins to store them in the waist area. At the same time, a woman's testosterone level, which is responsible for muscles, decreases - they become less, and fat increases.

It is not possible to treat an imbalance of sex hormones without consulting a doctor . But you can change your diet by giving up beer, coffee, legumes, and sugar and adding superfoods and fiber (fresh fruits and vegetables) to your diet.

Insulin

We owe our passion for sweets, donuts and other delicacies, as well as extra centimeters in the waist, to insulin - it is responsible for the synthesis of glucose in the body. Remember this when ordering another portion of cappuccino with caramel syrup.

Do not allow sharp jumps in insulin. Eat more proteins than carbohydrates, and do not skip training - physical activity normalizes blood sugar most effectively.

Ghrelin

The hunger hormone ghrelin often upsets strict dieters. A jump in the hormone can be caused by lack of sleep, and the result will be a beastly appetite, which leads to overeating.

Forget about sugary sodas and other drinks with fructose. Bet on fish, buckwheat, bran, fermented milk products, do not wait until you are very hungry: eat small portions every 3-4 hours.