A blood test is one of the most common ways to test hormone levels. This test can detect testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and thyroid levels. You should order a test that's specific to your gender, as a women's hormone test will look for different levels of sex hormones than a men's test.
Does the 'hormone diet' work? Generally, the hormone diet recommended in this book is not bad nutritional advice. But the key here is that any potential weight loss will probably be from the change in calorie intake, rather than an effect (if any) on your hormones.
Leptin. What it is: Leptin is derived from the Greek word for “thin,” because rising levels of this hormone signal the body to shed body fat. Leptin also helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, fertility and more.
The hormone leptin is produced by fat cells and is secreted into our bloodstream. Leptin reduces a person's appetite by acting on specific centres of their brain to reduce their urge to eat. It also seems to control how the body manages its store of body fat.
Energy loss that often comes with age-related hormonal imbalance contributes to weight gain in both men and women. Bioidentical hormone therapy can bring your hormones back into balance so that you can experience weight loss from the increase in energy, better sleep, and higher metabolism.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet, regular physical activity, proper sleep, and stress modification can help with managing and reversing hormonal weight gain and decreasing the associated health risks that may result if it is not addressed.
It is advisable to steer clear of processed foods, sugary snacks, and foods with high saturated fat content while following the Hormone Type 6 diet. These changes will help reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, and support hormonal balance.
Hormonal belly FAQs
Yes, your hormones can trigger weight gain for a variety of reasons. Fluctuations in estrogen and testosterone can affect your metabolism. Other hormones, like cortisol (related to stress) and insulin (related to blood sugar), can trigger cravings and weight gain.
People with Hormone Type #2, for example, have “hormone overload,” according to Dr. Teta, because they're estrogen dominant. Women with this hormone type may experience bloating and water retention, a slow thyroid, extreme menstrual cramps, and unpredictable periods, for example.
Beyond any specific workout routine, aim to walk daily (a good goal is 10,000 steps per day, as often as you can) and spend as little time as possible being sedentary.
A hormonal belly looks like an accumulation of fat around the belly. It looks like excess fat on the stomach that cannot be removed. Hormonal imbalances can lead to excess fat accumulation in the belly area.
Caffeine can disrupt your hormonal cascade.
If you're adding cream and sugar to make your daily brew palatable, these additions have the potential to spike your blood sugar. Caffeine itself can cause your body to produce extra cortisol.
Exercises to fight hormonal belly fat
“It's making sure that you're incorporating a combination of cardio and weight-bearing activity.” Dr. Shepherd suggests trying high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and “short bursts of exercise” to rev up your metabolism and lose weight.