When people think of hormones, they may link them to sex, reproduction, happiness, or stress. But actually, that’s not all they do. Your body relies on a delicate hormone balance to maintain many functions and overall health. And for anyone who’s interested in fitness, trying to control their weight, hormones can have a huge impact on weight loss or gain. This article is for you.
Here are 8 hormones that affect your weight, and some helpful tricks—you can turn the tables and use them to lose weight:
1. Insulin, the Blood Sugar-Breaking Hormone
(Djem/Shutterstock)Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It helps to carry glucose into the cells to be used as energy. It also tells fat cells to store fat and prevents stored fat from being broken down. Overconsumption of refined carbohydrates, alcohol, or artificially sweetened drinks can lead to the body developing a resistance to insulin. When cells are insulin resistant, meaning they can’t recognize glucose-bound insulin, glucose will remain in the bloodstream. Both blood sugar and insulin levels then go up significantly, leading to weight gain and even diabetes.
To normalize insulin levels and improve insulin sensitivity, you can eat more green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, fatty fish, and nuts. Drinking green tea also helps.
(Related: 9 Medical Benefits of Green Tea)
2. Cortisol, the Stress Hormone
(Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys. It’s known as a “stress hormone” because it’s released when your body is under stress, anxiety, or anger. Cortisol fights stress by increasing blood sugar levels, suppressing the immune system, and accelerating the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Having too much cortisal in your system can turn overeating into a habit, leading to weight gain.
To keep at a healthy level of cortisal, you will need to get enough sleep and keep a balanced diet. Relaxation practices such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditation will definitely help.
3. Ghrelin, the “Hunger Hormone”
(Savvapanf Photo/Shutterstock)Produced primarily by the stomach, ghrelin is known as the “hunger hormone.” Ghrelin stimulates the appetite and increases fat deposition. When your stomach is empty, it releases ghrelin, which sends a signal to the hypothalamus, telling you it’s time to eat. Normally, ghrelin levels reach the peak before eating and drop sharply about an hour after you’ve had a meal. However, for overweight and obese people, ghrelin only decreases slightly after eating a meal. As a result, the hypothalamus doesn’t receive as strong of a signal to stop, which can lead to overeating.
Eating protein at every meal, especially breakfast, can reduce ghrelin levels and maintain the feeling of fullness.
4. Leptin, the “Fullness Hormone”
(Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock)Leptin is produced by your fat cells. It’s known as a “fullness hormone” which reduces appetite. Its most important job is to communicate with the hypothalamus, the part of your brain that regulates appetite and food intake. Leptin basically tells your brain that there’s enough fat in storage and no more is needed, so you won’t overeat. Unfortunately, the more sugary food we eat, the more leptin resistant we become. When the message to stop eating doesn’t get through to the brain as it should, your brain thinks it’s still starving, so you’re driven to eat.
To improve leptin sensitivity, you may want to avoid or limit sugary foods and drinks. In addition, keep yourself hydrated and get a lot of sleep.
5. Estrogen, the Female Sex Hormone
(George Rudy/Shutterstock)Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone. It is mainly produced by the ovaries and is involved in regulating the female reproductive system. Any imbalance in levels of estrogen in the body can lead to weight gain. High estrogen levels can hinder insulin production and drive insulin resistance. Estrogen levels too low, on the other hand, cause the body to look for other sources to produce estrogen. One such source is from fat cells. Therefore, when the estrogen levels drop, the body starts converting all available sources of energy into fat, leading to weight gain.
Whole grains, vegetables, and fruits rich in fiber are known to reduce estrogen levels. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi also have beneficial effects on estrogen.
6. Neuropeptide Y, the “Feeding Hormone”
(twinsterphoto/iStock)Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a hormone produced by cells in the brain and nervous system. It’s best known as a powerful simulator of feeding behavior. In animal testing, injections of antibodies inhibiting NPY effectively stops animals from eating. NPY stimulates appetite, particularly for carbohydrates, and is highest during periods of fasting or food deprivation. Levels of NPY are elevated during times of stress, which can lead to overeating and fat gain on the waist.
Make sure you eat enough protein, because eating too little protein has been shown to increase NPY levels. Eat plenty of soluble prebiotic fiber, too, so that your beneficial gut bacteria are well fed and are able to work harder to reduce NPY. If you plan to reduce your overall food intake, you may not want to fast for too long; fasting can dramatically increase NPY levels, having the opposite effect intended.
7. Melatonin, the Sleep Hormone
Illustration (Shutterstock)You may wonder how melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, might affect weight loss and gain. But a regular routine of sufficient, high-quality sleep can make a real difference in weight management, and can help to reduce the risks of serious health problems, including diabetes and other metabolic disorders. New research has shown that melatonin may encourage weight loss by increasing the presence of a particular kind of fat that actually helps burn energy. Scientists have identified specific types of fat that burn energy rather than storing it, as regular fat cells do. Stimulating the presence of energy-burning body fats has been made a prospective treatment for obesity and diabetes. To naturally balance your melatonin level, make sure your bedroom is dark and protected from outside light. Give yourself an hour or so before bed, away from brightly-lit digital screens, to allow your body to get used to the evening darkness.
8: Thyroid Hormones, the Metabolism-Controlling Hormones
(Tharakorn/iStock)The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. It produces hormones that control the speed of your metabolism. Low levels of thyroid hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism, is often associated with weight gain, mostly due to the accumulation of water in the body, making a person look bloated. By contrast, if the thyroid produces more hormones than the body needs, you may lose weight but in a very unhealthy way. This is known as hyperthyroidism—something less common.
Your thyroid needs iodine to work well. Most people in the U.S. get enough of this element from their diet, mostly through iodized table salt, fish, and dairy products. Leafy greens and whole-grain foods are also good for the thyroid.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
