Difficulty Losing Weight? The Hormone and Weight Loss Connection
Dr. Shannon Feely BSc, ND
Weight loss happens when you metabolize your food into energy and burn it off through exercise and basic life functions, such as breathing. But the key to optimizing your metabolism, is to understand that it is controlled by your hormones. This is often the critical part of weight loss that is missing. Weight loss is not only about nutrition and exercise, but also about balanced hormone levels.
Let’s take a look at some important hormones and hormonal glands that determine your weight.
Inflammation: Inflammatory hormones are naturally released in the body when you experience an infection or injury. But inflammation can also be triggered by poor digestive health, food allergies/sensitivities, poor liver function, over-eating or under-eating certain nutrients, lack of exercise, abdominal fat, stress, insulin resistance, estrogen and progesterone imbalances and environmental toxins. When these inflammatory hormones are activated for longer periods of time (months/years), they interfere with our key fat-burning pathways in the liver and muscle cells.
Liver: The marvelous liver! Within our liver cells we house special receptors that regulate fat metabolism, blood sugar and the hormone insulin. Balanced blood sugar and insulin levels burn fat and glucose. Detoxifying and supporting your liver cells with plenty of water, the anti-oxidants, the vitamins and the minerals they need to regulate insulin and blood sugar is essential to weight loss.
Serotonin: Serotonin is a hormone that makes us feel good and much of it is made in our digestive tract. The production of serotonin increases when we’re exposed to sunlight and is also very dependent on the vitamin B6 and the amino acid tryptophan. Lack of a balanced diet, daylight and high stress deplete the body of the nutrients it needs to make serotonin. One of the ways the body tries to cope when it’s serotonin is low, is to increase the amount of refined carbohydrates, such as sugary foods, because these foods mimic the soothing effects of serotonin. Hormones, such as serotonin, that govern our moods must be balanced for long-term weight loss.
Thyroid: The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that speed up or slow down our metabolism. Causes of low thyroid function can include imbalances in other hormones. For example, high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone, a common scenario in menopause, can inhibit thyroid function. As well, high levels of stress can eventually cause a deficiency of the hormone DHEA and an excess of the hormone cortisol, which can also stop your thyroid hormones from correctly functioning.
The web of hormones that govern our weight is complex, but with the correct analysis, testing and advice, you can balance your hormones and maximize your metabolism. Please feel welcome to come in for a free 15 min consult with me if you are interested in learning more about how to balance your hormone levels to lose weight.
You can contact the clinic at: 604.925.2560 and ask for a free 15 min consult with Dr. Shannon.
