Weight Management
Weight and Hormones: Balance Helps Fight the Fat
Weight loss research shows that, because of shifting hormone production, the average person will add one to two pounds around their middle each year between the ages of thirty five and fifty five. As long as the body's cellular metabolism is compromised by untreated hormone imbalances - most particularly estrogen dominance - those extra pounds around the middle will be next to impossible to lose no matter what diet you try or how much you exercise.
What is Estrogen Dominance?
Most women don't realize that as soon as they enter their early to mid-30's the balance of hormones within the female body begins to shift.Progesterone is the first hormone whose production declines. In fact, progesterone production declines 120 times more rapidly than does estrogen production. It is this downward shift in progesterone production that causes the body to become estrogen dominant.
Contrary to popular belief that estrogen is a "female" hormone, men can also be estrogen dominant. In men, progesterone is produced in the adrenal and testicular tissue. According to the late John R. Lee, M.D., author of Hormone Balance for Men, A man's progesterone production will decline with age. Falling progesterone levels lead to a fall in testosterone levels. As both the progesterone and testosterone levels decline, the male body becomes estrogen dominant.
It is important to understand that a condition of estrogen dominance does not imply that the body is producing too much estrogen; rather it means that the body's estrogen production is not balanced by progesterone production. Estrogen dominance occurs when the natural ratio of estrogen to progesterone is upset. In other words, the body' internal estrogen-to-progesterone seesaw becomes tilted.
How Estrogen Dominance Causes Weight Gain
When the body is not producing sufficient progesterone and is consequently estrogen dominant, a host of metabolic disturbances ensue. First, the body is unable to effectively use fat stores for energy. Second, without enough progesterone, the body is compromised in its ability to metabolize calories or to distribute weight evenly. Finally, water retention and fat deposits on the abdomen, hips and thighs are external signs that the body's internal hormonal ratio of progesterone to estrogen is disturbed.
The thyroid gland is best known for its metabolic function affecting weight. Estrogen dominance causes an increase in thyroid binding globulin resulting in a condition of hypothyroidism. When this occurs, the thyroid hormones are bound in such a way that they become dysfunctional. Because a primary function of the thyroid is to run the body’s metabolism, hypothyroidism causes the body's metabolism to slow down.
Too much estrogen also causes tissues around the abdominal area to retain water, or bloat. In younger women, this bloating is most noticeable around their menstrual cycle when their progesterone levels naturally drop to precipitate menstruation. As women age and their progesterone levels do not cycle back up during the month, then the resulting estrogen dominance causes the bloating to be a constant issue.
Changes in the blood sugar levels that occur with age and as a result of hormone imbalance are also linked to weight gain. As the body's production of progesterone decreases and the circulating estrogen becomes dominant, insulin is released more rapidly and more often. When fluctuating hormones unnaturally stimulate insulin release, the body craves sugar. Food cravings can sometimes be uncontrollable. Persons who are estrogen dominant tend to consume more sweets even when they are not truly hungry. As a result, they ingest more calories than their bodies require and pack on even more pounds.
What Can You Do?
How awful if your only choice was to become resigned to getting fatter with each passing year? The good news is that I can offer you a better option for losing those pounds and keeping them off. If you are a woman over 30 or a man over 40 and you want to lose weight while also improving your overall health and well-being, it is essential that you address your body's progesterone deficiencies.
When you boost your body's progesterone levels, you take an important first step towards neutralizing your underlying condition of estrogen dominance and finally losing those extra pounds. Here's what happens when the amount of progesterone circulating within the body is elevated to a level that sufficient to neutralize the condition of estrogen dominance:
First, the hypothyroid condition is eliminated. In other words, progesterone triggers a metabolic response allowing weight loss to occur.
Secondly, when progesterone is added back into the body to eliminate an underlying condition of estrogen dominance, it acts as a natural diuretic, thereby reducing the bloating.
Finally, when progesterone and estrogen levels are re-balanced, insulin release is tempered. The result: normalized blood sugar levels and reduced food cravings.
While it may sound overly simple, the bio-chemical reality is that when bio-identical progesterone is used to neutralize the body's underlying condition of estrogen dominance, weight loss is catalyzed at the cellular level.
What is Estrogen Dominance?
Most women don't realize that as soon as they enter their early to mid-30's the balance of hormones within the female body begins to shift.Progesterone is the first hormone whose production declines. In fact, progesterone production declines 120 times more rapidly than does estrogen production. It is this downward shift in progesterone production that causes the body to become estrogen dominant.
Contrary to popular belief that estrogen is a "female" hormone, men can also be estrogen dominant. In men, progesterone is produced in the adrenal and testicular tissue. According to the late John R. Lee, M.D., author of Hormone Balance for Men, A man's progesterone production will decline with age. Falling progesterone levels lead to a fall in testosterone levels. As both the progesterone and testosterone levels decline, the male body becomes estrogen dominant.
It is important to understand that a condition of estrogen dominance does not imply that the body is producing too much estrogen; rather it means that the body's estrogen production is not balanced by progesterone production. Estrogen dominance occurs when the natural ratio of estrogen to progesterone is upset. In other words, the body' internal estrogen-to-progesterone seesaw becomes tilted.
How Estrogen Dominance Causes Weight Gain
When the body is not producing sufficient progesterone and is consequently estrogen dominant, a host of metabolic disturbances ensue. First, the body is unable to effectively use fat stores for energy. Second, without enough progesterone, the body is compromised in its ability to metabolize calories or to distribute weight evenly. Finally, water retention and fat deposits on the abdomen, hips and thighs are external signs that the body's internal hormonal ratio of progesterone to estrogen is disturbed.
The thyroid gland is best known for its metabolic function affecting weight. Estrogen dominance causes an increase in thyroid binding globulin resulting in a condition of hypothyroidism. When this occurs, the thyroid hormones are bound in such a way that they become dysfunctional. Because a primary function of the thyroid is to run the body’s metabolism, hypothyroidism causes the body's metabolism to slow down.
Too much estrogen also causes tissues around the abdominal area to retain water, or bloat. In younger women, this bloating is most noticeable around their menstrual cycle when their progesterone levels naturally drop to precipitate menstruation. As women age and their progesterone levels do not cycle back up during the month, then the resulting estrogen dominance causes the bloating to be a constant issue.
Changes in the blood sugar levels that occur with age and as a result of hormone imbalance are also linked to weight gain. As the body's production of progesterone decreases and the circulating estrogen becomes dominant, insulin is released more rapidly and more often. When fluctuating hormones unnaturally stimulate insulin release, the body craves sugar. Food cravings can sometimes be uncontrollable. Persons who are estrogen dominant tend to consume more sweets even when they are not truly hungry. As a result, they ingest more calories than their bodies require and pack on even more pounds.
What Can You Do?
How awful if your only choice was to become resigned to getting fatter with each passing year? The good news is that I can offer you a better option for losing those pounds and keeping them off. If you are a woman over 30 or a man over 40 and you want to lose weight while also improving your overall health and well-being, it is essential that you address your body's progesterone deficiencies.
When you boost your body's progesterone levels, you take an important first step towards neutralizing your underlying condition of estrogen dominance and finally losing those extra pounds. Here's what happens when the amount of progesterone circulating within the body is elevated to a level that sufficient to neutralize the condition of estrogen dominance:
First, the hypothyroid condition is eliminated. In other words, progesterone triggers a metabolic response allowing weight loss to occur.
Secondly, when progesterone is added back into the body to eliminate an underlying condition of estrogen dominance, it acts as a natural diuretic, thereby reducing the bloating.
Finally, when progesterone and estrogen levels are re-balanced, insulin release is tempered. The result: normalized blood sugar levels and reduced food cravings.
While it may sound overly simple, the bio-chemical reality is that when bio-identical progesterone is used to neutralize the body's underlying condition of estrogen dominance, weight loss is catalyzed at the cellular level.
Fill up on foods that are beneficial for the body’s defenses, immune system, brain, heart, and energy systems. In the meantime, there is still plenty of time to burn off some of those stored excess pounds while becoming aware of what we put into our mouths!
Forgo These Foods Forever
(Products to Avoid)
(Products to Avoid)
- Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, cyclamate, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, etc.
- Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol, which often cause gas and intestinal upset.
- Artificial fats such as olestra
- Artificial colorings
- Preservatives such as BHA and BHT
- Brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a known toxic additive that is found in some citrus sodas
- Heptyl paraben (a preservative used in beer and some noncarbonated drinks)
- Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate (a sweetner)
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (a flavor enhancer added to instant soups, sauce mixes, and hot dogs)
- Monosodium glutamate (a flavor enhancer added to many foods but shown to cause reactions in some people, perhaps by over stimulating brain activity)
- Propyl gallate (a preservative found in edible fats, such as mayonnaise, oils, shortening, baked goods, and dried meats)
- Potassium bromate (a flavor enhancer found in breads and banned in several countries as a carcinogen)
- Sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate (preservatives found in processed meats that have been linked to cancer)
- Sulfites (sulfur dioxide and sodium bisulfite, preservatives found in wine, dried fruit, instant potatoes, French fries, pizza, and other foods, liked to headaches and severe allergic reactions in some)
(once or twice a month)
- White flour and white flour and white flour products. “Wheat flour” or “enriched wheat flour” is essentially the same as white flour, unless the label explicitly lists “whole wheat flour” as the first ingredient.
- Refined sugars. Refined sugar is most often sugar separated from the stalk of sugar cane or from the beet root of the sugar beet. The sugar-containing juice is extracted, processed, and dried into sugar crystals.
- Highly saturated animal fat in meats and dairy products (fatty meats, deli meats. Sausage, etc. as well as dairy fat).
- Alcohol (should be avoided altogether by sensitive individuals.
Susan's Suggestions for Success
While you prepare and cook your meals, keep these suggestions in mind. They can make cooking a relaxing and enjoyable experience, allowing food to become your ally instead of your enemy and your kitchen to become a sanctuary instead of a battleground. With a little patience and practice, you will feel very comfortable in the kitchen.
- Get organized, think through the week ahead, and take one day each week to spend a few hours shopping and cooking.
- Review your shopping list carefully before you head to the store.
- When you come home from the store, organize your groceries in the refrigerator and pantry
- Don’t be intimidated by the recipes; simply read over each one carefully before starting to cook.
- Put on some fun music and wash and cut up vegetables on the weekend or the day before and store in Ziploc bags in the refrigerator. Have them all ready to go. You are much more likely to eat them if they are all ready to cook.
- Multitask while in the kitchen: simmer some soup or cook a grain for the next day while preparing dinner.
- Also, double or even triple the recipes and freeze some for later use.
- Having a meal ready to go in the freezer is as good as having money in the bank!
Legal Notice: The Author specifically invokes the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. The information written is published for informational purposes only under the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution for the United States of America, and should not in any way be used as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other licensed health care practitioner. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products discussed herein are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Images, text and logic are copyright protected. ALL rights are explicitly reserved without prejudice, and no part of this essay may be reproduced except by written consent.
©2010 by Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary.
©2010 by Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary.
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