If you are still gaining fat despite all your diets and measures, then it’s time to check if your body has low levels of thyroid hormones. Low levels of thyroid hormones can slow down your metabolism. You should also check if your insulin levels are higher than normal.
Here are 5 cases of hormonal imbalances that are the main reasons why you cannot defeat the battle with your body fat.
1. Lower Insulin Resistance To Use Up Glucose
Insulin is one of the main factors that regulate how your body uses glucose from food for energy or fat storage. If you are insulin-resistant, glucose starts collecting in your blood, and your body produces more and more insulin, which results in diabetes.
How to lower insulin resistance:
- Get on a strict low-carb diet to keep the glucose levels normal.
- Include avocado, lean proteins, berries, peppers, pomegranates and high-fiber grains to make your body more sensitive to insulin.
- Try to exercise more.
2. Lower Cortisol Levels To Stop Stress Eating
Cortisol is a stress hormone that regulates your reaction when you’re exposed to stressful situations, but if you are exposed to stress too often or too much, you will end up with cortisol overflow in your body and this will result in craving sugary, fatty products.
How to lower cortisol levels:
- Sleep for at least 7 hours at night.
- Include cottage cheese, turkey, kiwi and cherries for better sleep and avoid electronic devices for at least 2 hours before you go to sleep.
- Exercise to adjust your body to the higher levels of cortisol and to release more endorphin. Try yoga and meditation.
3. Balance Estrogen Levels To Not Store Fat
Estrogen is the female sex hormone that is also important for body weight regulation, it also regulates your insulin levels. You can have too much estrogen due to a high intake from dietary sources like meats, or you can have too low estrogen due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or obesity.
How to balance your estrogen levels:
- If you have too little estrogen, include more fruits, fresh vegetables (except cruciferous ones), fish and whole grains, and cut down on caffeine.
- If you have too much estrogen, include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or cabbage, steam or sauté them lightly.
4. Get Enough Testosterone To Burn Fats Better
Testosterone is the male sex hormone which is very important for balancing the metabolism. Not having enough of testosterone can result into higher fat mass and lower muscle mass, which slows down your metabolic rate of ability to burn fat and carb.
How to increase testosterone levels:
- Cut down on foods with phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) like soy that lower testosterone.
- Cut down on bread, alcohol, and sugary drinks.
- Avoid drinking water from bisphenol A (BPA) -laden plastic bottles.
5. Make The Thyroid Active To Improve Metabolism
Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) determine the rate of metabolism for all cells in your body, so hypothyroidism can slower down your body, including the metabolic system and will bring you weight gain. This hormonal balance will make you feel tired and have constant fatigue, making exercising and other activities difficult for you.
How to treat hypothyroidism:
- Cut down on caffeine, soy, iodine and refined carbs, try to eat more proteins and avoid gluten, and cook goitrogenic vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, or cauliflower.
- Get enough sunlight.
- Practice activities that relieve stress like yoga, because thyroid problems have a close association with stress.
