Do you find it difficult to lose weight, even though you exercise regularly and follow a strict diet? It could be that your weight loss hormones haven't been switched on.
You see, there are many processes in your body that help you burn fat. Those processes require certain hormones to happen. Your metabolism, for example, relies on a healthy supply of T3 and T4 hormones from your thyroid. Without these hormones, your body can't properly break down food.
And then there are hormones like insulin, glucagon and cortisol that make calorie loss possible. When those hormones aren't functioning optimally, you can exercise all you want without seeing anything but minimal results. In a way, they are the key weight loss hormones.
But what makes your hormones ineffective, or even inactive, in the first place?
Well, to put it mildly, the modern environment contains many hormone-damaging toxins.
Plastic bottles leak xenohormones like BPA into your body, disrupting the natural production of several hormones. Commercial body care products dump chemicals like parabens and triclosan into your fat cells, where they make weight loss quite difficult.
Leptin is a hormone that communicates with your brain as you eat. When the amount of calories you consume matches the amount you're burning, leptin kicks in and makes you feel full.
But studies have shown that fatty, processed foods actually cause inflammation in your brain that makes it less effective at picking up leptin. Healthy, organic protein, on the other hand, makes your brain sufficiently sensitive to leptin.
Good sources of protein include:
Remember our good old friend leptin? Well, leptin is produced while you sleep. So if you get less than 6 hours of rest per night, chances are that levels of the hormone will be low in your body.
Your body does this so you can eat more to make up for your lack of energy. In the long term, that can have disastrous effects.
Breathing exercises can boost the efficiency of weight loss hormones in your body, particularly those produced by the adrenal glands. These hormones – cortisol and aldosterone – play a major role in keeping your metabolism going strong.
In one study, researchers had participants breathe through each nostril 27 times, 4 times daily. By the end of the month-long study, the participants had an increase in resting metabolic rate of 37%.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body pull excess sugar from your bloodstream. When you make insulin work extra hard, you wind up with what's known as insulin sensitivity – diabetes.
The best way to avoid this – and keep insulin effective – is to cut back on foods containing high amounts of processed sugar. Especially soda!
Ditching plastic bottles and commercial beauty products are just two ways you can get your weight loss hormones back in action. Let's take a look at 7 more steps!
#1 – Get Lots of Protein
Leptin is a hormone that communicates with your brain as you eat. When the amount of calories you consume matches the amount you're burning, leptin kicks in and makes you feel full.
But studies have shown that fatty, processed foods actually cause inflammation in your brain that makes it less effective at picking up leptin. Healthy, organic protein, on the other hand, makes your brain sufficiently sensitive to leptin.
Good sources of protein include:
- Milk (organic and hormone free)
- Fish (make sure it's organic and not farmed)
- Nuts like almonds and pistachios or nut milk
- Beans and legumes
#2 – Don't Skip Meals
You might think that skipping meals is a great way to shed the pounds. Nope. Researchers have found that eating meals regularly (especially breakfast) essentially 'wakes up' your weight loss hormones, increasing your metabolism's efficiency by as much as 10%.#3 – Get Proper Sleep
Remember our good old friend leptin? Well, leptin is produced while you sleep. So if you get less than 6 hours of rest per night, chances are that levels of the hormone will be low in your body.
Your body does this so you can eat more to make up for your lack of energy. In the long term, that can have disastrous effects.
#4 – Lift Weights
As you lift weight, your body produces more of the hormone testosterone. And why would you want that? Well, for one, it helps you build muscle. Studies have also shown that testosterone helps you lose weight! Whether you're a man or a woman, lifting enough to make you feel sore is all you need to kick your testosterone into action.#5 – Breathe
Breathing exercises can boost the efficiency of weight loss hormones in your body, particularly those produced by the adrenal glands. These hormones – cortisol and aldosterone – play a major role in keeping your metabolism going strong.
In one study, researchers had participants breathe through each nostril 27 times, 4 times daily. By the end of the month-long study, the participants had an increase in resting metabolic rate of 37%.
#6 – Increase Your Oxytocin Levels
Oxytocin is one of the hormones linked to relaxation and reduced stress. That's important because, as we all know, stress throws responsible eating habits out the window. There are several ways to boost your oxytocin levels. Interacting with animals is one way. Experts also recommend giving no less than 8 hugs daily.#7 – Take It Easy With The Sugar
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body pull excess sugar from your bloodstream. When you make insulin work extra hard, you wind up with what's known as insulin sensitivity – diabetes.
The best way to avoid this – and keep insulin effective – is to cut back on foods containing high amounts of processed sugar. Especially soda!
