Growth Hormone Health Feed

Thinning hair, noticeable bald spots, large clumps of hair in the hairbrush or shower drain are indications of hair loss. This loss of hair is an effect of hormonal imbalance.

Have You Seen these Signs of Hair Loss?

• A widening part of the scalp
• A ponytail becomes noticeably thinner
• Large clumps of hair in the hairbrush or shower drain and on your pillow after a night’s sleep

Why does it happen?

1. Play of Hormones: Hormonal imbalance is seen in women during menopause, perimenopause, pregnancy, and in endocrine disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Progesterone and estrogen are two important female hormones. Progesterone keeps a check on estrogen levels. When progesterone levels are too low, it leads to a state of hyperestrogenism which triggers excessive hair shedding and hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a potent form of testosterone that normally leads to hair loss. Women, who produce high levels of male hormones (androgens), have increased testosterone levels which can convert to DHT, leading to hair loss.
2. Stress: When a woman experiences any stressful condition, her adrenal glands increase the release of cortisol (stress hormone). This leads to secretion of adrenaline which leads to increased levels of testosterone and DHT.
3. Under or over performing thyroid: An overactive thyroid and lack of sufficient parathyroid hormone can also result in thinning of hair. Accompanying symptoms are fatigue, unexplained weight gain, aching joints, constipation, dry skin, feeling cold all the time, and poor sleep.
4. Pregnancy and childbirth: Pregnancy and childbirth change a woman’s hormonal balance and can result in hair loss. Therefore, it is normal for postpartum mothers to experience thinning of the hair and even bald patches. Such hair loss is temporary and heals itself within several months.
5. Menopause: Menopause also leads to hair loss. During menopause, a woman’s estrogen levels fall and are no longer in balance with DHT levels. This low estrogen level and high DHT lead to hair loss.
6. Nutrient deficiencies: Low levels of certain nutrients within the body, for example, vitamins A, E, and iron may result in hair loss.

How Can You Help Yourself? 

1. Consume omega 3-fatty acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are kinds of essential fatty acids (EFAs). They increase hair growth. Sources are walnuts, flax seeds, cold-water fish, such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel.
2. Get plenty of sleep: Lack of sleep causes increased stress levels, higher production of cortisol, and ultimately hair loss. Good amount of sleep will lead to harmonious functioning of the body.
3. Take dietary and hair supplements to prevent hair loss: Certain supplements can help minimize the production of DHT, prevent DHT from binding to hair follicles, or stimulate inactive follicles to encourage hair growth.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert endocrinologist & get answers to your questions!

Does Hormonal Imbalance Hint the Risk of Diabetes?

Hormones are chemical substances that regulate a vast range of important functions in the body. They are secreted by various glands and organs and can affect important body functions like growth, immunity, blood pressure and glucose levels among several others. Several disorders can arise due to an imbalance of your hormones, particularly Diabetes.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, which is mostly chronic or long lasting in nature. It interferes with the body’s ability to use glucose and chiefly pertains to the hormone called insulin, although other hormones can also be related.

Any imbalance for the following hormones that can lead to diabetes:

1. Insulin

Insulin is a hormone, which is secreted by the pancreas. Diabetes can occur when this hormone is not secreted in adequate amounts or in when it is used inefficiently. During digestion, food gets broken down to glucose, which provides energy to the body. Insulin facilitates the function of moving the glucose from the bloodstream to the cells. In case of diabetes, the glucose remains in the bloodstream due to insulin issues.

2. Cortisol

The adrenal gland is responsible for producing the hormone cortisol, which regulates blood pressure, stress and glucose production. The production of cortisol is controlled by another hormone called ACTH, which is secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. Excess quantities of glucose in the body disrupt the function of insulin and trigger the liver to produce glucose, thereby leading to diabetes.

3. Growth hormone

The pituitary gland is responsible for producing certain hormones including the growth hormone. Growth and development of the muscles, bones and other organs of the body fall within the functions of the growth hormone. Overproduction of this hormone can lead to a disease called acromegaly in adults. Excess secretion leads to increase in the glucose levels in the blood, which can subsequently cause diabetes.

'Consult'.

Being overweight sometimes has nothing to do with calories in your diet or exercise. For a number of us, mostly women of 35 and above the problem is due to out-of-whack hormones. It’s true that a few hormones in our body enable weight gain as they encourage the storage of fat, like insulin, the body’s sugar metabolizing hormone. There are also weight affecting hormone disorders like thyroid and insulin imbalances, both of which affect your shape, often drastically.

Here are a few other lesser known hormones that can play havoc with your physiology and weight:

1. Leptin: Leptin is a hormone that signals fullness. It travels from your fat cells to your brain, telling it that you’re full. But this hormone starts swelling your appetite instead due to the consumption of a type of sugar called fructose, found in fruit and processed foods alike. Anything above eating five servings of fruit daily and your liver can’t handle all the excess fructose which is then converted into fats and released as triglycerides into your blood stream. This fat gets accumulated as belly fat mostly and it also increases levels of leptin, your body’s satiety hormone. This means you are unable to feel full and you keep eating and getting fat.
2. Cortisol: This stress hormone makes you put on some extra pounds too. When its levels rise, blood sugar is converted into fats for long-term storage in your body. Stress triggers cortisol and so does coffee.
3. Estrogen: Estrogen is a blessing and a bane for women. It makes women feminine and it also makes them fat. Normal estrogen levels actually maintain an ideal body weight as this hormone reduces the production of insulin, a fat storing hormone. Out-of-sync estrogen levels can cause exponential weight gain by directing a bulk of the glucose to be stored as fat, instead of sending it to the liver and muscles to be converted into energy. Your fat tissue can thus expand by as much as four times to accommodate this storage of glucose due to high estrogen levels.
4. Testosterone: Toxins are entering your body even as you read this article from the air, the food you may be eating, your face cream, drugs, etc. These chemicals mimic natural hormones like estrogen. Higher levels of these ‘xeno’ estrogens can overwhelm the body’s testosterone causing an estrogen overload. Testosterone is an anabolic hormone, it contributes to muscle growth, which in turn supports metabolism, whereas estrogen overload increases insulin insensitivity. This imbalance, thus, adds on the pounds.

So, every time there is a drastic change in your frame size, understand that it could be a sign of an underlying hormonal imbalance, so do something to balance your hormones rather than change your diet once again to cut down even more calories. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hormones do everything in your body. They determine almost everything — from growth, mood, and behavior to digestion and fertility. Your hormones are responsible for ensuring that you function properly and stay healthy. 

For some people, whatever exercise and diet they follow, they struggle to lose weight. Do you wonder why? The answer is hormones. There are many hormones that control your metabolism and hunger and decide whether to store or burn body fat. The fact is that they actually have the capability to make you gain or lose fat. However, the good news is, hormonal imbalances can be regulated with simple lifestyle changes and exercises.

Ways To Achieve Hormonal Balances:

The endocrine system is a complex system that we will probably never completely understand, but there are some basic things you can do to boost your body’s ability to create and balance hormones. Some of the techniques to maintain optimum hormonal regulation include the following:

1. Eat healthy fats: Our bodies need a variety of healthy fats to keep hormones balanced. Without fats as the building blocks, hormone production stalls and the body begins to malfunction. When our diet is lacking fatty acids, the body fails to absorb certain key vitamins and minerals for hormone production as well.
2. Eat enough protein at every meal: Consuming an adequate amount of protein is extremely important. Dietary protein provides essential amino acids that your body can’t make on its own and they must be consumed every day in order to maintain muscle, bone, and skin health. In addition, protein influences the release of hormones that control appetite and food intake.
3. Eat a balanced diet: Diet is one of the best ways to influence a healthy balance in your lifestyle. Be sure to include a variety of whole grains, leafy greens, and an unlimited amount of veggies, fresh fruits, proteins, legumes, nuts, and seeds in your daily diet. These foods provide vitamins, minerals, necessary fatty acids, and protein, which are all needed for a healthy endocrine system.
4. Exercise regularly: According to fitness experts, the right level of cortisol is necessary to increase your body’s metabolism of glucose. Therefore, to balance the hormones and get better results, a regular exercise is a must.
5. Learn to manage stress: Stress can create a havoc on your hormones. Today, stress is usually triggered by people’s busy, often overwhelming lifestyle. Try to devote at least 10 to 15 minutes per day to stress-reducing activities to maintain your hormones at a correct level.
6. Skip the junk: Sugar, alcohol, and even excess caffeine are all bad for the endocrine system. They weaken the blood, liver, and the adrenal glands and as a result, can lead to disrupted hormone function. The body needs real fresh food, which it automatically knows how to process whereas junk food products only confuse it and your body hormones at the same time.
7. Prioritize sleep: Without adequate sleep, hormones will surely not be in balance. While you are sleeping, your body is extremely active removing toxins, recharging the mind, and creating hormones. Skipping your sleep schedule even for one night can have a tremendous impact on hormones.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!