Many women experience fluctuating hormone levels. This is due to the changes our body prepares for in relation to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and or menopause. For some women each of these biological changes can result in short to long term weight gain. Especially around the mid-section. Hormones play a significant role in the body and any form of hormone disruption could be the difference between the body storing and saying goodbye to belly fat.
This may be the reason why women struggle to lose weight despite their continuous efforts.
The main 4
Our hormones send signals to different cells in our body. If a hormone is imbalanced it can slow down the metabolism. This means the body is not burning energy effectively which over a period can cause weight gain.
Insulin, Gherlin, Leptin and Cortisol are the main 4 hormones responsible for how we store and use energy or how full we feel after we eat.
The role they play
Insulin is the hormone that’s released when we consume carbohydrates. It helps take glucose (sugar) out of the bloodstream and brings it into cells to be used for energy. If insulin is really out of sync, fat storage can spiral out of control.
Ghrelin and Leptin, control how hungry or satisfied we feel before, after and between eating. Eating chemically altered or even repeat yo-yo dieting can all interfere with appetite regulation.
Cortisol “the stress hormone”, too much of this hormone can contribute to fat accumulation around the midsection, increase appetite in some people, interfere with sleep quality and have other negative effects. Our stress hormone can also increase through our desperate efforts of trying to lose weight by over exercising and cutting calories.
Wacky hormones
Food carvings, intestinal issues, feeling tired, feeling, bloated and unexplained anxiety are all tell tell signs that the hormones have shifted.
Some of these symptoms are ignored by women as they are accepted as being part of modern life. Instead of being treated as a sign something may be wrong. To bring our hormones back on track, as well as looking at what we eat. The timing and frequency of meals can be beneficial.
Eating an hour within rising will help to keep the cortisol hormone under control. Aiming to eat every 3-4 hours after breakfast will help with the regulation of both the Gherlin and Leptin hormone.
And where possible aim to eat the same time every day to keep the hormones balanced.
What you eat
It recommended to start your day with a high protein breakfast as protein stabilises the hormones and helps you to feel fuller for longer.
You can add other fat burning foods, drinks or spices into your breakfast such as hemp seeds, matcha green tea or cinnamon.
Hemp seeds are great for weight loss and brain function. They contain almost 12 grams of protein in just three tablespoons which helps boost muscle growth and Omega 3, which helps burn fat in the body.
Cinnamon is a spice and is known to act as an appetite suppressant to reduce cravings for sweet foods. Cinnamon also limits fat accumulation, or better, reduces the fat especially in the abdomen.
Matcha Green Tea is good for boosting your metabolism and helping with weight loss, science shows in one study that drinking the tea for 12 weeks reduces body fat.
