10 hormones that factor with your weight loss

Leptin- (source is the fat cells)leptin manages how much fat is stored around the organs and under the skin. Over weight population tend to produce too much leptin. From refined carbs, low fat products, high fructose corn syrup and trans fat. These foods signals to the body as starvation, which makes the body burn fewer calories and store fat. High leptin levels lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and obesity. Eat real food! veggies, fruits, whole grains. Foods with natural fats, and fish

Thyroid hormone- (T3 triiodoththyronine/T4 thyroxine) Are used for energy and metabolism. These hormones are referring to the number of iodine molecules in each thyroid hormone molecule. Around 80% is T4 and 20% T3. Underactive thyroid makes your metabolism slow so you gain weight even when you don’t eat much food. These hormones provide energy and improve thinking abilities, boost immune system, decreases bad cholesterol (LDL), lower blood pressure.

Hypeothyroidism is an under active thyroid and is caused when the thyroid isn’t making enough of the hormone. This causes a the metabolism to slow down, lower body temp, fatigue, slow heartbeat, high triglycerdies , dry skin/hair, depression, memory disturbances, and weight gain.

Hyperthyroidism is an over active thyroid and causes unhealthy weight loss. This is an autoimmune disease, which means the body attacks the thyroid gland and making less of the thyroid hormone.

Foods that balance the thyroid hormone-  sea salt (moderation), fish, shellfish, and sea veggies. ***Iodine is the key also fruits and veggies are the safe types of carbs to eat and increase thyroxin.

Foods that influence sluggish thyroid: low-fat, carb, and protein diets. Excess alcohol, vinegar, salt, fluorie in tap water, soybean and corn oil

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)- produced in the pituitary gland and controls the growth and repair of tissues. HGH levels began to decrease after the age 21. This is when we start aging, when HGH decreases the body regenerates itself at a much slower rate. We become deficient in HGH when we get over weight. Body fat is an inhibitory of HGH the more body fat you have the lower HGH you have. HGH stops insulin, the fat storing hormone. So as HGH declines your insulin remains the same (in hormone production). Fasting has been known to help induce HGH secretion.

Foods that balance HGH- veggies, fruits, poultry, eggs, fish, anaerobic exercise, weight loss, and fasting

Food that is bad for HGH- low-protein diets, alcohol, vinegar, white bread, pasta, low-fat products, cereals, and no exercise

Cortisol- is produced in the adrenal glands and is used for energy and inflammation control in the body. This is a stress hormone that gives us energy. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels, raises blood pressure, and neutralizes inflammation. When we have excess sugar this causes impairment on insulin and has a negative effect on cortisol. This hormone was originally made for us to be used when we encountered a stressful situation. Now it’s used anytime we have a sugar overload.

Foods that balance Cortisol-  veggies, fruits, fish, eggs, poultry, red meat (limited), and relaxation.

Foods that are bad for Cortisol- sugar, alcohol, sweets, soda, cookies, cereals, fat-free food, trans fat, and stress

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)- also from the adrenal glands and is in control of numerous functions.  As we get older our DHEA levels decrease (like HGH). DHEA can be converted into other hormones and has physiologic functions. DHEA naturally increases of serotonin which tells us were full when eating and converts glucose into fat.

Foods that balance DHEA- veggies, fruits, poultry, eggs, and saturated fat (butter)

Foods that decrease DHEA- sugar, sweets, alcohol, margarine, coffee, white beard, soy, pasta.

Estrogen and Progesterone- produced mostly in ovaries but also the adrenal glands. This is the female sex hormones but males also produce it in small amounts also. Estrogen stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, increases alertness, lowers body fat, increases insulin sensitivity, and improves glucose tolerance. Estrogen is produced in women everyday and progesterone is produced 2 weeks before a women’s period.

Foods that balance these hormones- eggs, butter, poultry, whole milk, and weight loss

Foods that imbalance these hormones- sugar, fat free foods, margarine, excess alcohol, smoking, drugs, lack of sexual activity, fat free dairy, and obesity

Testosterone- produces in the testes in men and adrenal glands of men and women. In males this hormone is necessary to maintain muscle mass and strength, bone mass, normal hair, libido, and sperm production. Food that boost testosterone- eggs, liver, butter, fish, poultry, and frequent sexual activity.

Food and decrease testosterone- sugar, fat free foods, margarine, excess alcohol, tobacco use, durgs, lack of sexual activity

Hormone	Source	Target tissue	Function
Insulin	Pancreas	Throughout the body	Regulates blood glucose levels, Increases storage of glycogen, facilitates glucose intake by the body cells
Glucagon	Pancreas	Liver	Stimulates the breakdown of glycogen (stored carbs) into glucose (blood sugar), regulates glucose levels
Leptin	Fat cells	Brain	Satiety control
Thyroid Hormone	Thyroid gland	Throughout the body	Increase metabolic functions, promotes normal growth
HGH	Anterior pituitary gland	Throughout the body	Stimulates growth and development
Cortisol	Adrenal glad	Throughout the body	Key role in stress response, increases blood glucose levels and mobilizes fat stores, reduces inflammation
DHEA	Adrenal glad	Throughout the body	Father of sex hormones
Estrogen	Ovaries	Female sex hormone	Causes sexual development and growth, maintains proper functions of female reproductive system
Progesterone	Ovaries	Mammary glands uterus	Prepares uterus for pregnancy
Testosterone	Testes	Throughout the body	Sexual development and growth spurt, maintains proper functioning of male reproductive system

Source:

The perfect 10 diet by Michael Aziz, M.D. published by Cumberland house, an imprint of source books inc. 2009 Naperville, Illinois

Ways to drink more water!

Fill a large jug with water, sliced fruit (try citrus, berries or melon) and ice; refrigerate overnight.

Let pineapple chunks soak in water for at least two hours

Mash up blueberries or raspberries in the bottom of your glass, then add sparkling or still water.

Pour in a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice.

Make ice cubes out of no-sugar-added juice and add to sparkling or still water and cranberry juicewater.

Tear up some fresh mint leaves and leave to steep in water before drinking.

Add sliced cucumber for a refreshing zing.

Freeze clementine slices and use as ice cubes.

Make half the glass sparkling water, half the glass still water; it’s not as gassy as sparkling alone.

Crush some basil leaves, add to water and leave overnight.

After boiling vegetables, such as carrots, reserve the water and chill overnight for a vitamin-packed blast of flavor.

Brew green or white tea, then chill.

Add an herbal tea bag like passion fruit; heat with lemon.

Add a dash of Acai juice blend, like Sambazon.

Cut cucumber slices and mint in cold water 

Ingredients to avoid

Looking at a label on our food can be intimidating. I always say if you have to ask yourself what is that, when reading the ingredients on a label, and then you should probably stay away from it. The truth is, our food is packed with artificial flavors, colors, emulsifiers, and sweeteners. Our food can be very toxic to us if we don’t stop consuming it.

Artificial flavors/colors- This is made from chemicals and is in all processed foods. You can find artificial flavors/colors in many of our food products. The truth is it will be hard to avoid unless you switch to organic products.

Hydrogenated/fractionated oils- these oils are not natural to the human system. The process of fractionated oils is that it separates the liquid from the oil, leaving concentrated unhealthy fat behind which is toxic for humans. Hydrogenated oils are made from healthy at the start, but once the oil under go processing (heating to one thousand degrees), they become poisonous to our bodies because its now a preservative. Hydrogenated oil is actually only one molecule off from being plastic.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) also called: natural flavoring, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast extract, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, caseinate, textured protein, hydrolyzed pea protein. MSG is not natural to the human body.

Unnatural sugars (not fruit or veggies) Sugar is one of the largest sources of calories for most Americans. Sugar is added to almost everything and can be hard to avoid. Sugar changes metabolism, raises blood pressure and can cause the altering of signaling hormones throughout the body.

High Fructose Corn Syrup is made from genetically modified corn. It causes insulin resistance, hypertension, and increased weight gain.

Potassium Benzoate/ Sodium Benzoate are both carcinogenic poison when combined with absorbic acid. Benzoate damages the DNA of cells known as the mitochondria, this poison when put directly onto a cell deactivate the cell. (Professor Peter Piper tested sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in his laboratory and found the discovery of benzoate deactivating cells.)

Sucralose also known as splenda which is chlorinated sugar. Sucralose is a common additive in protein mixes and drinks so what out for this!

Soy lecithin is literally in most processed food and is left over sludge from soy oil. The leftover product from the process degumming, makes soy lecithin. This is a toxic extraction process that is done with soybean oil. Stay away from it!!!!

Polysorbate 80 impacts the rate of maturing. You will find this in ice cream. Stay away from this! It causes infertility and causes change to the vagina, womb lining, hormones, and ovary deformities.

Canola oil or rapeseed oil is made from genetically modified plants and is designed to go through intensive breeding and genetic engineering techniques. It’s really hard to find products that don’t contil this oil. Going organic and reading labels will help.

Enriched wheat is when the wheat had additives (niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, and iron) but other nutrients (fiber) are stripped out during the refining process. The grains that are usually enriched are wheat, rye, and rice. Enriched flour goes through the same process and even having nutrients re-added still doesn’t make up for what was taken out.

Sodium chloride is good in small amounts, but we tend to take in more than needed. This is our table salt but now it’s used to extend shelf life in our food. Go with rock or sea salt before using table salt. If you see sodium chloride listed in the ingredients avoid that food!