How to Outsmart Hormones That Can Make Us Gain Excess Weight

In addition to a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet, hormones might play a certain role in gaining weight. If you’ve been on one of the popular protein diets (meaning you eat only meat and have forgotten what carbs look like) for over a month now but your weight hasn’t changed, estrogen is probably to blame. In order to balance an excess of estrogen in your body, it’s recommended to minimize the consumption of products rich in protein.

Bright Side has a complete file on hormones that might become one of the obstacles on your way to the body of your dreams.

1. Use Rosemary essential oil to get rid of excess estrogen.

Excessive levels of estrogen make you gain weight, even if you stick to a healthy diet. This weight is mainly stored on the breasts and buttocks and your menstrual cycle becomes irregular. You may become overly emotional too, so you may eat more than normal.

Substances similar to estrogen are also used in some plastics and household chemicals. To clear your body of the excess estrogen, and reduce its negative impact on the body, special oils like Rosemary essential oil can help to restore the hormonal balance and improve your memory.

2. Eat foods rich in serotonin.

A serious lack of serotonin can often result in depression and a bad mood. Additionally, people with low serotonin levels often change their eating habits. If you feel like eating a whole chocolate cake all by yourself or you dream of chowing down on French fries at night, this is your body signaling to you that you have a deficiency in the happiness hormone.

The natural sources of serotonin include eggs, nuts, and pineapples. Light physical exercise and spending more time outside can also increase the levels of serotonin in your body.

3. Exercise to control the level of ghrelin.

Ghrelin is a hormone that determines if you’re hungry or not. It’s very stubborn — even after a year on a low-calorie diet, your level of ghrelin can still be high (your body will try to store the fat tissue just in case). Ghrelin can help you lose weight easily but it also makes it really difficult to keep any on. However, it’s easy to outsmart it. Exercise can help you keep your control of ghrelin.

But be careful — don’t get carried away with lowering the level of ghrelin, it’s an important hormone. It’s crucial for studying and developing intellectual abilities.

4. Don’t fast for too long to keep neuropeptide Y in balance.

If the level of neuropeptide Y is high in your blood, you’ll end up having a ravenous appetite. An excess neuropeptide Y causes the fat tissue to be stored in the abdomen.

Include a sufficient amount of proteins and fiber in your diet, and don’t fast for too long.

5. Visit your doctor if you suspect that your prolactin level is high.

A high level of prolactin can also lead to rapid weight gain. Women may notice hair growth all over their body, a small mustache will likely start to grow, and their menstrual cycle will change. The excess prolactin leads to the growth of mammary glands in men. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s necessary to talk to a doctor because high levels of prolactin may indicate a hypophysis tumor (prolactinoma).

Obviously, just like any hormonal imbalance, a high level of prolactin should be treated by doctors.

6. Take longer breaks between meals to increase the levels of glucagon.

Glucagon lowers your appetite and promotes fat digestion. To increase levels of glucagon, it’s essential to normalize your eating habits.

If you take long breaks between meals (without starving), the hormone will digest fat by itself. Eating more protein can be helpful as well: it increases the level of glucagon in your blood.

7. Add some healthy stress to your life to fight an adrenaline deficiency.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) boosts metabolic processes and burns fat. Epinephrine is all about the brightest emotions that you feel in certain (sometimes extreme) situations. If you haven’t felt that rush in your life for a long time now, maybe it’s time for a change — or time to lose weight as well.

You should remember that adrenaline won’t change anything in your body unless you change your eating habits.

8. Eat foods with phytoestrogen to get rid of excessive testosterone.

Testosterone is considered to be a male hormone, but it plays an important role in the female body as well.

You can lower levels of testosterone naturally. You’ll just need the help of phytoestrogen which you can find in soy, coffee, and whole-grain products.

9. Walk more and eat pistachios to fight the absence of adiponectin.

Excess weight often means that you’re lacking in adiponectin, especially if your fat is mainly stored in the midsection. If you were diagnosed with type II diabetes, it’s likely that the level of adiponectin in your body is too low. Experts believe that, at some point, it will be necessary to fight excess weight and other metabolic problems with adiponectin injections. They’ll help you lose weight without interfering with your appetite.

Don’t neglect physical exercise. The best exercise that helps boost adiponectin is running. It’s recommended to run at least 90 minutes every day. There’s also an amazing product that regulates the level of the hormone in your blood: pistachio nuts. If you replace carbs in your diet with monounsaturated fats (like avocados, olives, and olive oil), the fat will disappear even faster.

10. Keep your thyroid gland healthy in order to stay in good shape.

Thyroid hormones regulate our metabolism. An inactive or over-active thyroid gland can make your basic metabolic rate too low or too high. As a result, problems with the thyroid gland and the imbalance of its hormones can lead to weight gain. If you suspect that your thyroid gland may not be working properly, you’d better schedule a visit to your doctor.

However, there are some natural ways to support your thyroid gland. Brazil nuts and leafy greens, for example, are rich in microelements and minerals that can be helpful for your thyroid gland. But be careful: there are certain products you should and shouldn’t eat depending on the exact condition of your thyroid gland.

All the information presented in this article is for informative purposes only. All pieces of advice should be considered supplementary. If you think you have any problems with hormones, consult with your doctor. Only a professional can give you the right diagnosis.

Do you know of any products that can help you take control over your hormones? Share your knowledge with us in the comments.