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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2023
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Weight and Metabolism - How Your Hormones Play A Role?

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Dr. Ravindra ChhajedDiabetologist • 28 Years Exp.MBBS, FCPS - Medicine, DNB - General Medicine (I)
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Weight management concerns itself with the type of foods that you eat and the daily exercises that you perform. However, you may find it interesting to learn that the hormones have a far greater role to play where your weight and the kinds of foods that you enjoy are concerned. In the following article, you can find more information on the same. Insulin is a hormone that is related to your weight. If the blood-sugar levels are heightened, then insulin is released from the pancreas. Then, the hormone causes a fall in the blood-sugar levels by facilitating the absorption of the sugars by the tissues. If you consume a carbohydrate-rich diet, your body releases more insulin. Now, if you do not utilize the sugars that are stored in the tissues, your body starts to amass what actually, should be converted into energy. Hence, you can conclude that insulin is antilipolytic in nature, which means that it disrupts the fat breakdown process. As a result, you should consider reducing your intake of carbohydrates for losing weight. Additionally, thyroid hormones affect your metabolism. An underactive thyroid gland releases lesser quantities of the thyroid-related hormones.

Consequently, your metabolism rate falls and you feel fatigued as well. A lack of thyroid hormones can make you feel sluggish, slow down the digestion rate, and give birth to bowel-related problems such as constipation. A reduction in the metabolism rate causes weight gain and a rise in the cholesterol levels. Therefore, you should take measures to treat thyroid-linked issues and increase the consumption of thyroid-healthy foods for an efficient metabolism rate.

Moreover, if you are stressed or have high blood insulin levels, the adrenal glands release the cortisol hormone. This hormone is responsible for the breakdown of muscle-related tissues into sugar via the liver. Also, the chemical causes a rush of glucose in the body. As a consequence, the body releases higher insulin amounts; consequently, you become resistant to insulin. Meanwhile, cortisol also causes fat storage by making the body think that they will be needed. The abdominal fat cells have more cortisol receptors and can result in greater fat storage in the portion.

You can also suffer from obesity if there are less of leptin hormones in the body. This is because the leptin hormone, which is released by the fat cells, informs the body when full and signals it to not eat anymore. In the event of a fall in the leptin levels, you will not know when to stop eating. Furthermore, you can become resistant to the hormone if you forcefully feed yourself after your appetite is satiated.

Likewise, the serotonin hormone also transmits messages to the brain when you are full. The hormone is a neurotransmitter that contains amino acids and is found in protein sources. As a result of low serotonin levels, you can suffer from lethargy, weight gain, depression and your tendency to gorge on carbohydrate-rich foods may heighten. Also, your brain gets the message to eat more because of starvation and you tend to eat more and put on weight.

You should also bear in mind that an imbalance between the estrogen and progesterone levels can give rise to an imbalance in the hormonal levels. Consequently, your body stores more fat and you gain more weight.

Therefore, the consumption of foods that bring about a healthy balance between these 2 hormones is recommended. Wheat-based and soy-based foods are beneficial to incorporate into the diet for the desired results.
In the above-mentioned text, you can see how hormones can affect your weight and metabolism. Only by adding healthier food options in your diet, you can have a healthy balance between the hormonal levels and improve your overall health.

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