Hormones and Belly Fat Part I
It’s no surprise that the dramatic dietary changes that we adopted because of our fear of fat and due to our increased intake of sugary foods have wreaked havoc on our hormones. In turn we’ve become a sick society.
A hormone, by definition, is a substance that regulates bodily functions. Hormones regulate everything. Your heart beat, breathing, blood pressure, energy, weight and so on. It’s no exaggeration to say that hormones are crucial to every single function of survival.
10 Key Hormones That Hold the Secret to Losing Weight and Feeling Great Fast
Insulin. The source of your insulin is in the pancreas. Insulin sweeps sugar inside cells, turns amino acids from protein into muscle, and transforms fatty acids into fat. Insulin secretion is promoted by all food groups. However, a low-fat diet full of excess carbs causes the pancreas to over produce insulin. The bad carbs of white bread, white rice, pasta and starchy vegetables put you at risk.
If you are wondering whether or not you’re producing too much insulin, just look at your belly. If you can’t see your abs, your pancreas is secreting too much insulin. Get it?
Foods and factors that disturb insulin include sugar, low-fat products, artificial sweeteners, sweets, margarine, enriched, refined and processed foods; and a sedentary lifestyle.
Glucagon. The source of your glucagon is in the pancreas. It performs the exact opposite function of insulin. It melts fat. Don’t you love this hormone already? When glucagon metabolizes your fat into energy, you lose weight. When food is available, glucagon production is inhibited. It’s simple glucagon production is inhibited every time insulin is present in your bloodstream. Insulin and glucagon are like night and day; they can’t be present at the same time in the bloodstream because they have opposing actions.
When you eat adequate amounts of protein , and avoid bad carbs, your insulin secretion is regulated. It follows that your glucagon will also be regulated, and you’ll lose weight. I realize you have been taught to fear fat all your life, but you have to change the way you think so you can start to melt the pounds the smart and easy way.
Leptin. Leptin is secreted by the fat cells, and not an endocrine gland. Leptin manages how much fat is stored around the organs and under the skin. When fat cells are filled with an abundance of food, more leptin is secreted, and the leptin enters the brain to curb your appetite. As a result you feel full and satisfied.
Scientists believed that if you gave leptin to overweight people, it would stimulate fat burning. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. When scientists measured leptin in overweight individuals, they were in for a big surprise. Overweight people were not leptin deficient; in fact they produced too much leptin. When leptin is high because of all the fake food you eat, your satiety switch becomes broken. As a result, you gain weight.
Thyroid Hormone. The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. The gland is found in the neck just below the thyroid cartilage (known as the Adam’s apple in men) and it is controlled by the brain’s hypothalamus and pituitary.
Thyroid hormone has actions beyond metabolism and keeping you fit; it provides energy, improves thinking abilities, boosts the immune system against infections and cancer, decreases bad cholesterol and lowers blood pressure.
Low-fat diets lead to a disturbance in both high insulin and leptin levels. Leptin is the master hormone that helps regulate thyroid. In times of starvation, leptin levels fall, signaling the thyroid and other hormones to switch into conservation mode.
Foods that can balance thyroid hormone include: sea salt (in moderation), fish, shellfish and sea vegetables. The iodine present in these food groups is the right amount for proper function of the thyroid gland. When you eat enough of the (safe) types of carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, you increase your production of thyroxine. Eliminate bad carbohydrates, excess alcohol and fluoride in tap water, as well as polyunsaturated fats such as soybean and corn oils.
Human Growth Hormone. Human growth hormone (HGH) is considered the anti-aging hormone. HGH is released from a small gland in the brain called the pituitary. Without HGH, we’d all be dwarfs. With too much, we’d all be giants. Doctors call HGH the fountain of youth.
HGH levels in our bodies start to decline gradually from age 21 forward, all the way until we die. Many Americans are deficient in HGH, mostly because of their body fat. Body fat is a great inhibitor of HGH secretion. The more body fat you have, the lower your HGH will be. HGH keeps us fit and that’s why it is harder to lose weight when you are already overweight.
HGH levels are also disturbed by frequent meals. In developed countries like the US, we have an abundance of food, which keeps our HGH levels low. HGH levels rise when you fast. Fasting has been used for centuries to promote longevity, and it is among the most potent ways to induce HGH secretion.
Foods that help balance HGH include: vegetables, fruits, poultry, eggs, fish. Anaerobic exercise, weight loss and fasting help balance HGH.